MNN - Mother Nature Network

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California is home to the first airplane hangar to receive LEED Platinum certification - Hangar 25.  Built by Shangri-La Industries, the hangar will be used by Avjet Corporation. 

"Hangar 25 tackles the major cost and carbon challenges related to the aviation industry's ground operations, from reducing jet fuel to diminishing operational electricity usage. This improves efficiency and addresses the environmental demands of our customers."  Source:  PR Newswire

The company's press release detailed a few of the specific eco-friendly products that helped the company reach their goal of LEED Platinum certification.  The solar power generated from the building produces 110% of the energy needed to power the building.  Another important feature was the implementation of an efficient plumbing system; the effect is a 60% reduction in water usage.

The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED Green Building Certification System in 2000.  "LEED certification offers third party validation of a project’s green features and verifies that the building is operating exactly the way it was designed to."  Source:  USGBC

Buildings receive points in the following categories:  sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation & design process.  The maximum score is 69 points and a minimum score of 26 points is required to have a building LEED certified.

LEED Platinum is the most honored of the certification levels and only buildings that score in the 52 to 69 point range achieve Platinum certification.   Hangar 25 received 55 total points and even qualified for all 17 points available in the Energy & Atmosphere section.  Source: Shangri-La Construction