Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. announced Wednesday that it has been awarded LEED Silver level certification for its Herndon, Va. office building. LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, established by the USGBC and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.
"We are an environmentally responsible company from our cars to our LEED-aggressive manufacturing plant being built in Chattanooga," said Stefan Jacoby, president and chief executive officer for Volkswagen Group of America. "Greening our workspace is another example of our commitment to a sustainable future."
Following a three-month performance review period, Volkswagen Group achieved LEED Silver level certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. Volkswagen Group uses energy-efficient building features such as compact florescent bulbs at each desk, employs green cleaning techniques and has a comprehensive recycling program. The building also has motion-sensored lights throughout, and the company reinforces eco-smart behavior like turning off each and every piece of electronics at the end of the day.
Recently, Volkswagen Group enhanced its energy-conservation initiatives by introducing a battery-recycling program, a light bulb recycling program and sustainable product purchasing where Volkswagen Group and the property management company evaluate the products purchased for the building to identify sustainable alternatives. New features will continue to be added.
"With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC's vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Volkswagen Group is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement."