LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. – United Nations FCU reported its headquarters has received the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program Silver certification for its energy-saving, eco-friendly programs.
The 16-story, 274,000-square-foot building owned by UNFCU and managed by Cushman & Wakefield was completed in 2006. To earn the LEED designation, the CU performed several systematic upgrades to address five main areas: Sustainable Site, Energy/Atmosphere, Water Efficiency, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality. Coming in under budget, UNFCU reported it realized a total 58 points in the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance rating system; out of a possible 59 points in its "Silver" category.
Specifically, UNFCU said it achieved a 40,377-watt energy reduction by removing 1,077 non-essential lights, changing 186 of those to more efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting for a total reduction of 42,981 watts during the first six months of 2011.
Over the past year, the UNFCU Green Team became a Green Movement with 30 staff members regularly contributing ideas, organizing eco-fairs, recycling activities and participating in a local farming cooperative.
