Trane Columbia Operations Expansion Earns LEED Certification
July 23, 2020
The Trane Columbia Operations Expansion project receives its LEED Certification! Trane Technologies’ dedication to sustainability runs deep; core to their business strategy, their commitment extends to the environmental impact of their operations, products, services, and people. Working with Choate’s sustainability experts, the Trane team successfully implemented many green elements, such as:
Building Product Disclosure & Optimization Environmental Product Declaration: 41 unique products were used with environmentally, economically, and socially-preferable life-cycle impacts.
Material Ingredients: Minimizing the use of chemical ingredients and exposure to potentially harmful substances, 38 different products were used with a chemical makeup of 0.1% (1000 ppm).
Construction Waste Management
By recovering, reusing, and recycling materials, Choate reduced construction and demolition waste disposed in landfills and incineration facilities. On this project, 96.95% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills.
Energy Savings
The project achieved an energy cost savings of 32.7%. Renewable energy generated on-site has offset 10.7% of the total energy costs.
Enhanced Indoor Air Quality
Choate developed and implemented an indoor air quality (IAQ) management plan for the construction and preoccupancy phases of the building. This supports the well-being of construction workers and building occupants by minimizing indoor air quality problems associated with construction and renovation.
Ensuring proper air treatment, filtration, ventilation and decontamination, Trane Technologies helps keep people safe, productive, and comfortable through enhanced indoor air quality.
Light Pollution
The project earned Light Pollution Reduction credit with the intention to increase night sky access, improve nighttime visibility, and reduce the consequences of development for wildlife and people.
Lighting
90% of individual occupant spaces features individual lighting controls that enable occupants to adjust the lighting to suit their individual tasks, with at least three lighting levels or scenes. Multi-zone control systems enable occupants to adjust the lighting to meet group needs and preferences.
Low-Emitting Materials
Using Low-Emitting Materials reduces concentrations of chemical contaminants that can damage air quality, human health, productivity, and the environment. Choate installed the following Low-Emitting Materials: interior paints and coatings, interior adhesives and sealants, flooring, composite wood, ceilings, walls, thermal, and acoustic insulation.
Parking
5% of all parking spaces are designated as preferred parking for green vehicles. Choate installed electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in 2% of all parking spaces.
Water Use Outdoor: Drought-tolerant plants, indigenous to the region, were selected to complement the southern landscape. Since no outdoor water irrigation was installed, Outdoor Water Use was reduced by 100%!
Indoor: Using low-flow and WaterSense fixtures, the project achieved an indoor water reduction of 37%.
With a dedicated owner, committed to enhancing the work environment for its employees, the Trane Columbia Operations Expansion is an exemplary project, representing how sustainability can be applied within an industrial facility.
