AMERICAN EMBASSY-LEED CERTIFIED
In March 2007, the U.S. embassy in Sofia became not only the first building in Bulgaria, but also the first U.S. diplomatic compound in the world, to earn LEED certification. The State Department aims to complete 15 LEED certified embassies by the close of fiscal year 2009.
The plan for the Sofia embassy began with the Standard Embassy Design, a stock model developed in the wake of the 1998 al Qaeda bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Although dozens of embassies have since been based on this design, Sofia’s is the first to incorporate green strategies.
the project team was able to set aside four acres of wildlife habitat, twice the amount required by LEED. The team also planted 400 trees on the site. The project features several innovative strategies for water management and conservation. A sophisticated irrigation system and water-efficient fixtures inside the building contribute to an annual water savings of 136,000 gallons, about 20 percent less than a comparable conventional building. The project also uses electrical pulses instead of harsh chemicals to treat its water.
Sensors and timers ensure that lights are turned off when rooms are unoccupied or when there is sufficient daylight. Lightshelves contribute to the daylighting, and energy use is further reduced by a solar water heater and extra insulation. One third of the project’s materials were sourced from within 500 miles of the project site. Occupants are treated to superior indoor air quality via the use of HEPA filters, humidity control, separate ventilation for rooms with high chemical emissions, and a carbon-dioxide monitoring system. Green design is a national effort being carried over to global projects. Please support ecological design, policy makers and designers.
The plan for the Sofia embassy began with the Standard Embassy Design, a stock model developed in the wake of the 1998 al Qaeda bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Although dozens of embassies have since been based on this design, Sofia’s is the first to incorporate green strategies.
the project team was able to set aside four acres of wildlife habitat, twice the amount required by LEED. The team also planted 400 trees on the site. The project features several innovative strategies for water management and conservation. A sophisticated irrigation system and water-efficient fixtures inside the building contribute to an annual water savings of 136,000 gallons, about 20 percent less than a comparable conventional building. The project also uses electrical pulses instead of harsh chemicals to treat its water.
Sensors and timers ensure that lights are turned off when rooms are unoccupied or when there is sufficient daylight. Lightshelves contribute to the daylighting, and energy use is further reduced by a solar water heater and extra insulation. One third of the project’s materials were sourced from within 500 miles of the project site. Occupants are treated to superior indoor air quality via the use of HEPA filters, humidity control, separate ventilation for rooms with high chemical emissions, and a carbon-dioxide monitoring system. Green design is a national effort being carried over to global projects. Please support ecological design, policy makers and designers.
The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ is the national benchmark for the design, construction, and operations of high-performance green buildings.
For more information on LEED visit: http://www.usgbc.org/Default.aspx
For more information on LEED visit: http://www.usgbc.org/Default.aspx
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