Bedford offices earn LEED Gold

Doty & Miller Architects building in Bedford, OH, recently became the first free-standing architectural offices in the country to earn LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the best known ranking system for green buildings.

The building is a renovation of a historic post office, and it demonstrates the compatibility between adaptive reuse of a historic building and implementation of modern green building technologies.

Green building features include:

Sustainable site

• Redevelopment of urban site with access to mass transit. 
• Elimination of night sky pollution with shielded fixtures. 
• Reduced pavement area / added landscaping. 
• Drought tolerant plant species for landscaping. 
• Bicycle storage system and changing room with shower.

Water efficiency/quality

• Water efficient landscaping / no irrigation system. 
• Low flow toilets, waterless urinal, instant on / off sensors on sinks and urinal, 30% water-use reduction.

Energy and atmosphere

• No HCFC refrigerant in new HVAC equipment.
• Energy efficient building envelope (high insulation R-values, zoned demand and setback thermostats).
• 20% improvement over ASHRAE 90.1. 
• Day lighting sensors on T-5 fluorescent. 
• New skylight for central day lighting. 
• Energy star appliances, building received Energy Star rating of 91. 
• 5% of building’s energy from 3.4 KW solar array.

Materials and resources

• Recycling center used by employees.
• Reuse of 75% of the existing building.
• Diverted 85% of demolition waste from landfill to recycling. 
• Products and materials with recycled content including post consumer or post industry waste, MDF cabinets, linoleum. 
• Locally manufactured products, systems and materials. 
• Recycled, and rapidly renewable materials – bamboo, cork and wheat straw board.

Indoor environmental quality

• HVAC system based on enhanced ventilation standards.
• Low VOC (volatile organic chemical) emitting materials including carpets, adhesives, paints and sealants. 
• Operable windows for ventilation and outdoor views. 
• Salvaged materials such as doors for desk tops, carpet, light fixtures, drywall, metal studs, conference table and video screen.