Jan 30 2008
While the William J. Clinton Presidential Center has earned a reputation as the gold standard in environmentally friendly design, the Little Rock, Ark., structure has added a new designation -- the Platinum rating for its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification, thanks in part to its agreement with Green Mountain Energy Company's BeGreen division. Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's leading provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset products, worked with the Clinton Presidential Center to offset 100 percent of its electricity consumption with renewable energy credits (RECs).
With the help of Green Mountain Energy's strategic approach, the Clinton Presidential Center's purchase of renewable energy from Green Mountain will offset 100 percent of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electricity usage through the end of 2008. Green Mountain has provided similar services to many organizations nationwide, helping these companies achieve LEED certification more than two dozen times since 2006.
"This purchase demonstrates how more businesses today understand the importance of renewable energy and reducing their carbon footprints. They are including the purchase of renewable energy, which helps them meet LEED certification goals, in their sustainability programs," said Gillan Taddune, chief environmental officer of Green Mountain Energy Company.
"Still, achieving LEED certification is not easy. Because Green Mountain itself has been through the process of certifying its own offices, the company has become much more than a REC provider for our customers -- they look to us for guidance and experience in navigating the process."
"The Clinton Foundation and The Clinton Presidential Center are excited about working with BeGreen and Green Mountain Energy Company as we continue to fortify our position as a leader in environmental stewardship," said Debbie Shock, director of facilities and operations for The Clinton Foundation. "Former President Clinton takes great pride in green design and protecting the environment. Purchasing renewable energy credits is one way to make sure the Clinton Presidential Center is doing all that it can to make a positive environmental impact."
The Clinton Presidential Center is the latest in a roster of eco-friendly companies and organizations that have teamed up with Green Mountain Energy Company's BeGreen division to reduce their environmental impact through LEED certification. In a similar partnership earlier this year, BeGreen assisted the McKinney Green Building in suburban Dallas to attain the Core and Shell Platinum Pre-Certification LEED rating. This certification level is designed for designers, builders, developers and new building owners who want to address sustainable design for new core and shell construction, including base building elements such as structure, envelope and the HVAC system. The building was dubbed by the Dallas Morning News as possibly "the most eco-friendly multi-tenant office building in Dallas-Fort Worth."