It’s more than just a trend- green and LEED-certified buildings are on the rise and one company in particular is leading the way. Google currently has over 30 LEED-certified buildings and continues to aim for the highest LEED ratings in future building projects.
Sustainable Materials is proud to share that all of our cork products are LEED-compliant. Several of our products have been selected and installed in multiple Google buildings including Mountain View, Austin, and Washington, D.C. We carefully select our products and materials to make sure that they reflect our passion for sustainability in building materials. We are always happy to help however we can with your projects- give us a call!
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED is available for a variety of building types, both commercial and residential. The more energy-efficient and green a building is, the more points it will earn towards LEED certification. There are 6 categories which cover everything from the building location to the materials used and even the innovation of design.
“When it comes to greening our office buildings, we apply the same focus that we use for any of our products: put the user first. We want to create the healthiest work environments possible where Googlers can thrive and innovate. From concept through design, construction and operations, we create buildings that function like living and breathing systems by optimizing access to nature, clean air and daylight.” – Google Blog
Green building requires re-thinking the selection of materials as well as the function of the space over time. Ideally, the materials and resources used for buildings will not only do less harm but perhaps take a step further and actually replenish the natural environments from which they came. Life cycle assessment is an important part of planning to help a design team make the best possible decisions.