RICHLAND, Wash. – Gesa CU said it has completed construction of a 5,600-square-foot environmentally friendly branch in nearby Kennewick.
The branch was designed and built to rigorous Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] standards for sustainable building design and performance.
The building features significant energy and water savings. Water-saving fixtures, such as dual flush toilets and low flow sinks, reduce the branch's water consumption by 46%. Rapidly renewable materials, such as cork, have been incorporated into the design, as well as the use of an eco-friendly refrigerant that does not cause global warming or ozone depletion. Due to the use of open design and clerestories, more than 75% of the occupied space has natural lighting. The building also features a decrease in electric use by 22% and a decrease in gas use by 43%.
The green branch was built by Clayco of St. Louis, who also built the credit union’s new 76,000-foot headquarters here.
