MNN - Mother Nature Network

The U.S. Marine Corps have received their first LEED Platinum certification. The Wounded Warrior Barracks, located at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California earned the highest certification available under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Rating System.

 

Nate Kredich, vice president of residential market development for the USGBC, comments on the unique nature of this project:

“One of the most remarkable features about this project was the way the LEED rating system was utilized. The project team prioritized the features of greatest importance to the building’s future tenants such as indoor air quality and natural daylighting. The end result is a building that is more healthy, comfortable and peaceful – all of which can help these Marines and sailors rehabilitate and heal. The project team put people at the center of its decisions, which is precisely the way LEED was intended to be used.” Source: Balfour Beatty

The 66,464 square-foot LEED Platinum-certified Wounded Warrior Barracks features 100 semi-private suites that can house up to 200 injured Marines and sailors. The project scored extremely high in the interiors section thanks to the use of recycled material and energy efficient products in all areas of the facility including the suites, hallways and even the recreational areas.

 

The energy efficiency upgrades alone are saving Camp Pendleton more than $40,000 each year. The use of low-flow plumbing and other water savings features have led to a 37 percent reduction in water use, saving more than 911,000 gallons of water per year.