Project of the Month - National Grid's Northborough, Mass. facility earns LEED Gold for Green Design Innovations

National Grid's recently renovated facility has earned Gold-level LEED commercial interior certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its "green" design, construction and amenities. The building, which houses 800 employees, is the hub for National Grid's New England control center and customer service operations. The following companies worked with National Grid to complete the renovation project and thereby contributed to the achievement of gold-level LEED commercial interior certification: * Jones Lang LaSalle - development manager * Spagnolo Gisness & Associates - architect/interior designer * AHA Engineers - LEED consultant /engineer * A/Z Corporation (A/Z) - construction manager In order to determine the rating for National Grid's Northborough facility, USGCB measured several important elements such as lighting, finishes, furniture, and space layout. Highlights of the building's green and energy-efficient attributes include: * Lighting that uses approximately 30% less electricity than a typical commercial office building in Mass., saving more than 84,000 kilowatt hours annually - enough to power roughly 13 homes for one year; * High-efficiency heating and cooling systems with adaptable controls to sense outdoor and indoor temperatures; * Water conservation measures including dual-flush toilets, automatic sensor faucets and waterless urinals that together are expected to reduce consumption by about 575,000 gallons per year, or more than 48%; * Sustainable materials: about 25% of the materials and furnishings are recycled; more than 58% of the wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests; more than 74% of the furniture used in the project is either reused or refurbished; * Low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings throughout the building; more than 53% regionally manufactured materials; * More than 83% of construction waste was recycled; * More than 86% of the appliances and office equipment are Energy Star rated. "A/Z is proud to have been a part of this important project. The entire team successfully collaborated to transform National Grid's vision into a reality. Additionally, we have been fortunate to develop longstanding relationships, and we look forward to the opportunity to provide our services on National Grid's future endeavors," said Steve Lusi, LEED AP, senior project manager, A/Z. "We're proud to have again received this prestigious recognition as we strive as a company to reduce our carbon footprint and demonstrate our passion and commitment to sustainability and being stewards of the environment," said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, Mass. "This achievement illustrates for customers that we take energy efficiency very seriously and we 'walk the talk' when it comes to greening our workspace. We're appreciative of the innovation, talent and hard work demonstrated by everyone who helped us earn this award." Jones Lang LaSalle vice president and project manager Michael Lamphier said, "National Grid continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and reduction of their carbon footprint. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to assist them with the delivery of this critical project." Jones Lang LaSalle also served as project manager on National Grid's LEED Platinum corporate campus in Waltham, Mass. Renovations to National Grid's 145,000 s/f, two-story building were completed in 2010. This is the second consecutive year that a National Grid building has received LEED distinction. Last year, the company's Waltham corporate center at Reservoir Woods earned Platinum-level LEED certification - the highest rating - from the USGBC for its green design. As part of its ongoing dedication to serving as an example and supporting green initiatives, National Grid has begun to enlist a number of green friendly practices such as carpooling and a shuttle bus service linked to public transportation, recycling at individual workstations and providing recycled cups and mugs to reduce the use of paper and plastic products.