21 Acres Center Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

21 Acres is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture, healthy eating and green building through its Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living, LEED Platinum certified building and bio-diverse, certified organic farm.

21 Acres announced recently they were awarded LEED ® Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the category of LEED for New Construction v2.2 rating system. The 12,000 square foot building was awarded the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for its integration of innovative building and on-site systems.

The 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living has the unique distinction of being surrounded by a bio-diverse, certified organic farm. The building houses a year-round retail farm market, a commercial kitchen, offices and spaces for classes, meetings and events. The project is an ongoing effort to explore the leading edge of sustainable practices through engagement with the local community.
 
“After years of collaboration with our team of architects, builders, contractors and dedicated volunteers, we are humbled to be recognized by USGBC’s LEED Platinum certification for the 21 Acres Center,” said Gretchen Garth, founder. “This is only a starting point to begin the discussion and collaboration around how we move toward a more sustainable and regenerative world.”
 
LEED certified projects typically source sustainable materials, protect indoor air quality, use low emitting materials, install low flow water fixtures and encourage alternate, low-impact transportation. Features that helped the 21 Acres Center achieve its Platinum rating, include:

·        Insulated concrete form walls, ambient light and occupancy sensors, thermal windows and a gearless traction elevator. The building’s energy cost reduction is close to 47%.
·        A 25.2 kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array generates approximately 25,000 kilowatt hours annually, offsetting about 15% of the facility’s annual electricity consumption.
·        Low flow fixtures, including composting toilets and waterless urinals, save approximately 38,000 gallons of water annually.
·        All wastewater is handled on-site via a biofilter system, diverting 46,000 gallons of wastewater from the municipal sewer system annually.
·        Drive and pedestrian surfaces utilize pavers that allow runoff to penetrate and infiltrate into the ground.  A living roof captures and filters rainwater.
·        During construction, more than two-thirds of the original vegetation was protected or restored.

To learn more about 21 Acres, its LEED Platinum green building and organic farm, please visit: www.21acres.org.