The West Bank Suburban Centre of Northern Illinois Food Bank has received LEED Gold certification.
Northern Illinois Food Bank's West Suburban Center (www.SolveHungerToday.org) is the first new-construction food bank in the nation to receive LEED(R) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, it was announced today. USGBC Board Member George K. Tushowski III congratulates Northern Illinois Food Bank staff and building partners as Northern Illinois Food Bank President and CEO Pete Schaefer, left, and employee Jose (Pepe) Xolta look on. The energy savings realized as a result of the green efforts will allow the food bank to provide an additional 300,000 meals annually to hungry people in northern Illinois. (PRNewsFoto/Northern Illinois Food Bank)
This is the first food bank to receive the certification. Features that helped the food bank earn the certification are usage of air cooled heat pumps, energy saving features, motion controlled lighting, white roof and recycled products. Preferred parking has been created for car pooling and bikes. The heat recovery system of the building uses energy created from a large cooler system to heat the warehouse.
Refurbished furnishing was used for the office thus saving $15,000 which can be used to provide additional meals to people in the neighbourhood. The building is located in Geneva III and measures an area of 147,000 sq.ft. The space has now been doubled since its opening during the last fall. Companies that joined Northern Illinois Food Bank in installing these features include Jeffrey Flemming who was the AIA, LEED-AP, NCARB and architect, Ryan Companies, Larson Engineering and Owner Services Group. The certification stresses on how a non-profit organisation can contribute to saving energy by 20 to 30% over regular energy spending.
Northern Illinois Food Bank provides food to more than 60,000 people every week across 13 Illinois counties with the help of a 600 member network. Last year alone the organisation distributed 29 million meals.
Source: http://www.solvehungertoday.org