Boeing Corporation Earns Gold in LEED for Existing Buildings O&M

In conjunction with Boeing, Molina Walker Architects, UES, Jarreau & Associates, and KBM, Rice & Gardner took on the Retro-Commissioning Services for this existing 388,500 SF building. Systems included HVAC, energy management, DDC control systems, and lighting controls. The project was commissioned under LEED for Existing Buildings - Operations and Maintenance - to measure operations improvements and maintenance to maximize environmental impacts. The improvements to the building began in 2007 and the result was an energy usage reduction of over 2.2 million kWh as compared a comparable period in 2006. The improvements reduced energy consumption while maintaining or improving occupant comfort.

The commissioning was completed in October of 2008, and the Boeing Corporation’s Houston corporate headquarters building has just been awarded a Gold Level Certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operation & Maintenance (LEED EB O&M). LEED EB O&M is designed for owners of existing buildings to help improve energy efficiency, reduce potable water consumption, institute sustainable purchasing policies, recycle office waste products, and to improve overall indoor occupant comfort. The different certification levels involve earning prerequisites and various points as follows: Certified 34 – 42 points, Silver 43 – 50 points, Gold 51 – 67 points, and Platinum 68 -92 points.

As a good corporate citizen, the Boeing Corporation has instituted a “sustainable green” policy throughout all of its facilities and plants. In April of 2008, Bill Richard, Operations Manager for Boeing, assembled a “green” team to ensure the Houston headquarters building earned LEED Certification. The “green team” consisted of in-house facilities personnel as well as existing vendors and consultants. The team included Boeing personnel: Javier Ortega, Project Manager; Michael Hall, Wanda Jones, Lee Hurzeler, Jim Christian, and Rick Rivas for owner requirements; Mary Walker for Molina Walker Architects; Rice & Gardner Consultants Kevin Gardner, Jim Thornton, and Jim Rice, for engineering, commissioning and LEED AP; Kenny Sibley, from UES, for building automation and commissioning; Jo Ann Jarreau from Jarreau & Associates for landscaping; and Paul Condie from KBM for green cleaning.

Under the direction of Boeing’s Project Manager, Javier Ortega, and Jim Rice, who served as the LEED AP, the team met and developed a strategy to earn 59 various points. Responsibility for earning and documenting specific points was assigned to various members of the team, who completed and documented them over an 8 month period.

When submitted for review and grading by the USGBC, the project earned all 59 points, resulting in the team’s meeting their objective of earning the Gold Certification for Boeing’s Houston headquarters. In addition, measures implemented by Boeing resulted in a 22% reduction in annual potable water consumption and an Energy Star rating of 79.

LEED Credits are arranged in six distinct categories:

• Sustainable Sites Credits in this category include ways to minimize storm water runoff, reducing the use of pesticides or pest control and minimizing the heat island effect on the roof and parking lot.
• Water Efficiency Credits in this category include reducing potable water consumption in restroom facilities, landscape irrigation, and make up water for cooling towers.
• Energy & Atmosphere These credits include optimizing energy performance, refrigerant management, and emissions reduction.
• Materials & Resources Sustainable purchasing and minimizing waste headed for landfills are the primary targets for these credits.
• Indoor Environmental Quality Achieving comfortable temperature and humidity control for a majority of building occupants; utilizing green cleaning procedures, cleaning supplies, and equipment; and providing views to the out-of-doors for occupants are the focus of these credits.
• Innovation in Operations This category is intended to allow for creativity and thinking outside the box. It focuses on new ways to minimize the negative aspects of operating a building while providing for a quality built environment.

“LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources, and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types – commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fit out, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.” (U.S. Green Building Council, www.usgbc.org )