Skanska plans to incorporate the international environmental certification system LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in Poland. The first step is to certify Skanska’s own new office located in Deloitte House building in Warsaw and thereafter to certify the new project Atrium South, the next stage of the Atrium complex along al. Jana Pawła in the city centre of Warsaw.
LEED
LEED is one of the world’s leading systems for environmental certification of buildings. Resource utilization, the building’s location, design and indoor climate as well as energy and waste minimization are a few of the criteria on which LEED classification is based. The certification is carried out and verified by an independent third party through the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
First certifications
Skanska has started the certification process for its office with the aim to achieve LEED CI status. The new office is characterized by lower consumption of energy and water, lower environmental pollution and use of environmental friendly materials. Skanska also educates the staff by providing them with „little green books” full of eco ideas. By this certificate, Skanska’s office will be the first in Poland to get LEED certified.
Next certificates
Skanska’s next step is to develop whole office buildings in accordance with LEED standards. The coming project Atrium South is officially registered in USGBC base and a LEED Accredited Proffesional is involved already in the design process. Skanska will apply for LEED Gold certificate for Atrium South.
„We can see that our customers get more and more interested in ecological buildings as a result of an increased corporate environmental responsibility” says Nicklas Lindberg, CEO of Skanska Property Poland. “With offices certified according to LEED and GreenBuilding we can offer a chance to contribute to a better environment, without any additional costs” adds Lindberg.
Facts
Deloitte House (Atrium City) The fourteen level office building Atrium City constitutes the next stage of the highly successful Atrium complex developed by Skanska along Al. Jana Pawła in the city centre of Warsaw. The building, scheduled to be delivered in May 2009, will offer net rentable area of approximately 20 000 square meters, of which more than 90% has been already leased. Skanska is planning for another two office buildings within the project.
Atrium City has been designed by Kazimierski & Ryba architects. The project offer elegant and straightforward design solutions inspired by principles of modern Scandinavian architecture: quality materials, high technical standards, ample natural light to interior spaces and rational layouts and at the same time all aesthetically pleasing.
Sustainable solutions in Skanska’s office • Air conditioning system based on chilled beams. Among advantages of using this system there are: lower amount of electricity required to run it and very comfortable indoor climate conditions, • Taps with movement sensors allow to cut water use by 40% and double flush toilets by 60%, • Furniture made of wood with PEFC certificate and carpets partialy made of recyclable materials, • Separate bins for plastic, glass, metal and batteries and special bicyckle stands.
Skanska’s environmental certifications for offices
Skanska has trained employees to lead the LEED design and certification process. Special courses and exams allow Katarzyna Zawodna - Enviromental and Marketing Coordinator of Skanska Property Poland – to become a LEED Accredited Proffesional. There are only 9 other LEED APs in Poland and around 350 in Skanska group. Accreditation of the training is performed through the Green Building Certification Institute, an independent organization charged with administrating and monitoring this process.
Skanska has completed approximately 70 LEED Certified projects in the US and one project each in Finland and the Czech Republic. Currently, the first LEED projects in Sweden are being developed.
In Poland, LEED is another step taken by Skanska in the area of green office space development after the introduction of GreenBuilding Programme. So far seven Skanska projects, including Deloitte House in Warsaw, have achieved an EU GreenBuilding rating, which means at least 25-percent lower energy use than what is prescribed in national standards. In addition to energy, LEED covers wider environmental impact. LEED Certification and the EU GreenBuilding rating can be applied in parallel.
Skanska’s policy is based on the environmental friendly activities. The entire Group is environmentally certified in accordance with ISO 14001 since 2002.
About LEED
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) System is a voluntary system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED promotes environmental solutions for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection and indoor environmental quality.
Through fulfilling and documenting specified demands, buildings can receive LEED Green Building Certification. The aforementioned areas are assessed and points assigned. In the updated version, LEED 2009, reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gases are assigned increased weight and will comprise 31 percent of the total assessment.
LEED Green Building classification can be attained at four levels: LEED Platinum, LEED Gold, LEED Silver and LEED Certified, depending on the number of points attained. Renovation projects can also be certified.
The LEED System was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit membership organization with a vision of a sustainable built environment. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education through its LEED Green Building Rating System™.
Specially certified persons, designated LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) are responsible for leading and advising with regard to green building, These persons are trained and accredited by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). In the US, about 10 percent of newly constructed buildings attain LEED certification. California has the most (about 1,900 buildings), while New York, Texas and Washington also have many (>500) LEED Certified buildings.
Skanska has carried out about 70 LEED projects in the US. The local offices in New York, Atlanta and Seattle are LEED Certified. Skanska has some 350 LEED Accredited Professionals. Skanska’s Elizabeth Heider is a member of the Board of the U.S. Green Building Council. Skanska has also completed LEED projects in Finland and the Czech Republic.
More about LEED and USGBC at www.usgbc.com.