(Photo: Ron Trumbla, NOAA)
(February 24, 2009) - The National Weather Service forecast office in Key West, Fla. has been recognized as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified green building. It is one of only three LEED certified facilities in the National Weather Service and one of only five in NOAA.
Key West project engineer Terrance Brisbin notes, "LEED certification is an important component of all new construction projects in NOAA and the National Weather Service as we seek to reduce our energy consumption and increase our use of recycled materials".
Launched by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1998, the LEED program has grown to encompass more than 14,000 projects in 50 U.S. states and 30 countries. LEED certified buildings are designed to use key resources more efficiently when compared to conventional buildings which are simply built to code. They also provide work and living environments, which contribute to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort.
Founded in 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit trade organization that promotes sustainability in the way buildings are designed, constructed and operated. It has more than 15,000 member organizations from every sector of the building industry.
In addition to being one of only three LEED certified green buildings in the National Weather Service, the forecast office in Key West is also the first designed to withstand winds speeds and storm surge levels associated with a catastrophic category 5 hurricane. Constructed with a combination of concrete, reinforcing steel and hurricane impact-resistant glass, the facility was built to withstand sustained winds of 165 mph. The interior contains an additional concrete structure designed to serve as a Severe Weather Occupancy Shelter to protect against winds up to 250 mph.
WFO Key West (Photo: Ron Trumbla, NOAA)