National Grid HQ Aims for LEED Gold Status

Energy distribution company National Grid is opening its new energy-efficient U.S. headquarters in Waltham, Mass.

The building takes advantage of optimized lighting, rooftop solar arrays, water conservation measures and high efficiency heating and cooling. It was built using a variety of recycled and sustainably sourced materials, according to a press release.

According to the release, the building features:

• Optimized lighting that requires 40 percent less electricity than a code-compliant building in Mass.; occupancy sensors; task oriented lighting; and daylight sensors at workstations saving more than 800,000 kwh per year - enough to power 133 homes for one year
• High efficiency heating and cooling systems with adaptable controls to sense outdoor and indoor temperatures
• Water conservation measures that are expected to reduce water use by approximately 2.4 million gallons per year through use of dual-flush toilets; automatic sensor faucets and a recycled storm water system
• Approximately 20,000 square feet of roof top solar power panels (736 photovoltaic cells) that generate enough electricity to power about 30 homes each year and offset 400,000 lbs. of CO2 annually
• Exterior shading devices on southern facing exposures
• A highly reflective white roof
• Superior air quality systems that feature carbon dioxide sensors installed in ventilation ducts; air refreshed at a rate of 1 1/3 air changes per hour from outside air; all adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings contain low quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOC's)
• Sustainable materials: 28 percent of the materials and furnishing are recycled; 66 percent of the wood is sourced from sustainably-managed forests, including cafe floors made of rapidly renewable bamboo with environmentally preferable glue; carpet tiles consist of 42 percent pre-consumer recycled materials; workstation fabrics are made of 100 percent recycled content; recycled aluminum ceiling tiles are manufactured regionally
• More than 93 percent of construction waste was recycled

Because the company is consolidating work forces from several area buildings into the new headquarters, National Grid's carbon footprint per employee will fall.About 1,800 people will work in the building.

The building was constructed to meet Gold-level LEED status from the U.S. Green Building Council.

National Grid has implemented a pilot smart grid project in Massachussets.

National Grid earlier this year implemented a program to incentivize carbon reduction among its executive team.