The 200 West Groundwater Treatment Facility is shown here after completion of construction this summer. | Photo courtesy of Zachary Carter with Mission Support Alliance (MSA) at Hanford.
What is LEED?
- LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system that rates buildings on criteria such as energy savings.
- It also rates buildings on water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and indoor air quality.
Even though the Olympics have ended, the Office of Environmental Management is still setting its sights on gold. The Energy Department and contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company achieved the first Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) “gold” certification for sustainable design at the 200 West Pump and Treat system. This new groundwater treatment plant at Hanford Site in southeast Washington State is setting a new standard for environmental sustainability.
Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute, LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system that rates buildings on criteria such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and indoor air quality. Gold Certification is the second highest benchmark set by the USGBC for high-performance green buildings.
The building’s efficient design is expected to result in an energy cost savings of more than 70 percent over the life of the facility. Electric energy savings should amount to 317,470 kWh/year. That’s enough energy to power nearly 28 American households according to U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates.
The facility is designed to treat contaminated groundwater beneath the center of the Hanford Site. Construction of the Pump and Treat system was completed in just two years—two months ahead of schedule and $41.4 million under budget.
The building will meet new Energy Department-mandated green building standards that address site sustainability, water efficiency, renewable energy, conservation of materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality, putting the concept of sustainability into practice.
