The County has done it again. The newly opened Public Health Lab recently achieved the highest Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification possible – platinum.
The U.S. Green Building Council operates the LEED certification program and calls it the most widely recognized green building rating system in the world.
General Services says this is the 34th County facility to win this rating. The others are the San Pasqual Academy (30 buildings), San Elijo Nature Center, County Operations Center Conference Center and the North Coastal Live Well Center. In all, the County now boasts 70 buildings with silver, gold or platinum LEED certifications.
“The new Public Health Lab sets a powerful example of climate-conscious design and innovation in a critical public facility.” said General Services Director Marko Medved. “This building reflects the County’s deep commitment to sustainability across every facet of design and construction.”
Designed to be all-electric, the Public Health Lab maximizes onsite roof top solar panels and uses additional renewable energy from the solar panels atop the newly built parking structure nearby.
Together, the two systems are expected to generate 805,000 kWh of energy that offsets roughly 44% of the building’s annual energy need. A 30kW energy storage system shifts solar energy to periods of peak demand, reducing energy costs and easing stress on the local grid.
Additional numbers show the impact of other environmentally friendly features.
Drought-tolerant landscaping and smart irrigation cut outdoor water use by a dramatic 67%. Low-flow fixtures reduce indoor water use by more than 40%.
The project reduced 88% of its construction waste across six categories: concrete, asphalt, wood, metal, drywall and mixed debris.
Lastly, the project reduced embodied carbon by 23% by using low-carbon construction materials.
“Altogether, the Public Health Lab reflects San Diego County’s leadership in advancing sustainable public buildings, demonstrating that even demanding, energy-intensive buildings can be designed with climate resilience and innovation at the forefront.” said General Services Capital Construction and Sustainability Chief Charles Marchesano.
For more information about County sustainability efforts, visit General Services.
