Leed
Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus awarded prestigious LEED® Green Building Certification
SAUKVILLE, WIS. – Officials from the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Ozaukee Campus announced today that the shelter has been awarded LEED® Gold certification, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
"The LEED Gold certification reflects a higher standard of commitment to sustainable design than with typical construction," said Beth Maresh, director of the WHS Ozaukee Campus, which opened in March 2011. "Our goal was to create a highly energy efficient, more environmentally responsible facility that reduces long-term energy and water use costs for the organization. As leaders of our community who advocate for treating animals with respect and kindness, it is also integral to our mission to be good stewards of our environment.”
The WHS Ozaukee Campus achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy, LEED certified buildings save money for families, taxpayers and businesses; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
“The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most-important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The work of innovative building projects such as the WHS Ozaukee Campus is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.”
LEED certification of the WHS Ozaukee Campus was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:
- Solar hot water panels on the roof to heat water for bathing dogs and puppies
- Use of building materials harvested or manufactured locally
- Strategies implemented to manage stormwater runoff, as well as use of native plants to eliminate need for site irrigation 
- Low-emitting paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants were used throughout the interior of the building 
- Ventilation system includes devices that monitor CO2 levels in the building. These monitors feed the information to the HVAC system, which will adjust the ventilation rates to accommodate the actual needs. 
- Energy recovery technology to stay energy efficient while using fresh outside air for the health of the animals. 
- Roofing materials used on the shelter were carefully selected to reduce heat absorption, thereby reducing the building’s tendency to be a heat island For more information about the U.S. Green Building Council or the LEED program, visit www.usgbc.org.
For more information about the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, visit www.ozaukeehumane.org.
- Saturday, July 20, 2013
