The Walter E. Washington Convention Center announced today that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.
“As we celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, the LEED Gold certification proves that our building is state-of-the-art. From our energy systems to our composting and recycling, Events DC’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center’s facility operations continues to score high to achieve this honor,” said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates. “Washington, DC is the first city in the world to achieve Platinum level LEED for Cities Certification. Our new certification shows Events DC’s, as well as the District’s, commitment to sustainability, operational excellence, efficiency and high-performance design.”
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center achieved LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Green buildings allow companies to operate more sustainably and give the people inside them a healthier, more comfortable space to work.
“LEED is a transformative tool that can be used and adapted for all kinds of projects, including large convention centers like the Water E. Washington Convention Center. The Center has been a landmark in the nation’s capital for the last 20 years, and its certification symbolizes a dedicated pledge to reduce its environmental footprint, showcasing a resolute commitment to sustainability to its staff, visitors and the wider community in the District of Columbia,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC.
The Convention Center uses a variety of sustainable strategies. For example, low-emission glass minimizes temperature fluctuations, as well as sensor-controlled high-efficiency lighting and a dedicated energy management system in its central plant contribute to significant energy conservation. Highly efficient bathroom fixtures reduce the demand for water supply and waste systems. Paint, adhesives, sealants and similar building materials contain low to no volatile organic compounds.
The Convention Center also has an extensive waste diversion program with a strong focus on education, to better educate the center staff, as well as its service partners. A waste audit was conducted to identify opportunities to reduce waste and increase recycling and composting by discovering exactly what the center’s staff, service partners and guests were disposing and how they were disposing the waste.
Certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the space is constructed and operated to the highest level of sustainability. More than 105,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 12 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 185 countries and territories.
