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Contact: Sharene Rekow- GBI 503-546-2287 sharene@thegbi.org

U.S. State Department Building Achieves D.C.'s First Green Globes® Rating for Sustainability

Washington D.C. - November 17, 2010 – The U.S. State Department's SA-1 Columbia Plaza, the first federal building in D.C. to be Green Globes® certified, has been awarded three Globes, out of four possible, by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in green design and sustainable operations. The building was rated under the Green Globes environmental rating and assessment system for existing commercial buildings.

D.C.'s First Green Globes Rating Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations Steven J. Rodriguez and Green Building Initiative President Ward Hubbell. View More Photos

The announcement was made last Tuesday at a building dedication where Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations Steven J. Rodriguez accepted an Environmental Sustainability Award on behalf of the State Department. SA-1 Columbia Plaza, built in 1972, is a 626,000 square foot, 15 story office building.

Assistant Secretary Rodriguez commented, "We are particularly proud that the State Department has earned the first Green Globes designation for a building in Washington D.C. It is the fourth State Department facility to achieve Green Globes certification which we believe is helping us to accelerate our pace in improving our existing buildings and achieving the Secretary's Greening Diplomacy Initiative."

On January 24, 2006, The U.S. Department of State signed the Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Memorandum of Understanding. This document commits the Federal leadership to the practices of designing, building and operating their facilities in a high performance and sustainable manner through defined principles. Besides following the Plan, SA-1 Columbia Plaza established benchmarks to: reduce operating costs; improve energy efficiency and conservation efforts; promote sustainable environmental stewardship; and provide safe, healthy, and productive building environments.

Green Globes evaluates and certifies facilities on operations and maintenance in environmental areas such as energy and water, resource management and emissions and pollution. In addition to achieving three Green Globes, Columbia Plaza earned the highest rating under Energy Management criteria.

Ward Hubbell, President of the Green Building Initiative added, "The GBI congratulates the State Department for its fourth Green Globes certified building and for its leadership in demonstrating the importance of environmentally responsible building and building management practices."

Other State Department facilities achieving Green Globes certification include BIMC, Florida Regional Center, and National Visa Center.

To view photos from the event:
http://s1114.photobucket.com/albums/k532/Green_Building_Initiative/?albumview=slideshow

Media Contact: Sharene Rekow
Ph: 503-546-2287
eMail: sharene@thegbi.org

Download this Press Release in PDF format.

ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE: GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE (GBI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for residential and commercial construction. GBI is the exclusive U.S. licensee of Green Globes®, a revolutionary green building guidance and assessment program that offers an effective, practical and affordable way to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings.   For more information on the Green Building Initiative, please visit www.thegbi.org.