In May, Aurora St. Luke’s hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin dedicated its new rooftop healing garden and conservatory. The garden has wide walkways that can accommodate hospital beds so that bed-bound patients can benefit from time outdoors. At the time, the hospital was in the middle of the LEED certification process but enough points for the base level certification had already been confirmed.

 

Fast forward a few months and the LEED certification process has been completed and the Vince Lombardi Charitable Funds Healing Garden and the Agnes and Morland Hamilton Healing Conservatory has received LEED Gold certification. The project was certified using the LEED for New Construction 2.2 checklist. Projects earning between 39 and 51 points are eligible for Gold certification using the LEED-NC 2.2 checklist, the healing garden earned 41 points.

 

The project earned points for stormwater management features, optimal energy performance, construction waste management, attention to air quality, the use of low-emitting materials, and several other eco-friendly design options.

 

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc is preparing for the American launch of the first hybrid-only luxury vehicle, the Lexus HS 250h, later this summer. The new HS 250h isn’t Toyota’s only eco-friendly reason to celebrate, the company’s Lexus Florida Training Center in Florida recently received LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) certification.

 

The facility achieved Gold level certification by implementing several eco-conscious design features including a stormwater management system, low-flow plumbing, efficient lighting, recycled furniture, and low emitting products.

 

Toyota now has four LEED certified buildings – TMS Headquarters South Campus in Portland is LEED-NC Gold certified, the Toyota Logistic Services building is also LEED-NC Gold certified, and Toyota Motor America in D.C. is LEED-CI Silver certified. Several Toyota dealerships are also LEED certified.