The building exceeded its previous Platinum performance by 5 points
For the second time, Watt Plaza has earned the highest possible LEED
certification, attaining LEED Platinum from the U.S. Green Building
Council. Watt Plaza exceeded its previous Platinum performance by 5
points due to ongoing improvements and sustainability commitments from
all vendors servicing the building.
Watt Plaza was the first building in Century City to achieve LEED
Platinum certification, and their LEED Platinum certification for
Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance is its third LEED
certification. The U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification system
is the nation’s benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of
the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient and high-performing
buildings.
“We are thrilled that Watt Plaza has earned LEED Platinum certification
once again, which is especially noteworthy because our building has been
operational for over 30 years,” said Nadine Watt, President of Watt
Companies. “Sustainability is a top priority for us, and we’re proud to
serve as an example of how a large commercial development can achieve
the highest level of sustainability without sacrificing a high-quality
experience to tenants. Our sustainability initiatives have been
multi-faceted and we’re constantly seeking new ways to remain a leader
in green development.”
Watt Plaza embraced groundbreaking initiatives to reduce their
environmental footprint. Realizing a reduction of over 31% in
conventional transportation trips through an Alternative Commuting
Transportation program, Watt Plaza is notably the first commercial
office building in Century City to install electric vehicle charging
stations in the parking facility to encourage the use of emission-free
vehicles. The installation of a white roof to reduce the “heat island
effect” was also part of its Sustainable Site Development measures.
Watt Plaza achieved a 66% reduction in annual landscape water use
compared to the already-low regional average. This significant
achievement was due in part to a landscape palette that centered around
drought-tolerant plants and utilization of recycled ground covers and a
web-based irrigation system that prevented overwatering and ensured the
health of the plants.
As part of the engineering team’s ongoing commitment to building
improvement, the building underwent a complete third party
retro-commissioning of all its equipment and systems in 2016. This
comprehensive process spanned multiple months and allowed the
engineering team to evaluate energy usage by system, develop cost
savings calculations on potential projects, and test the performance of
all building equipment. This process included upgrades to LED fixtures,
improvements to building’s automation system operating parameters, and
general renovations to improve both occupant comfort and energy
conservation.
Occupancy Sensors were also installed throughout offices, common areas
corridors, stairwells and restrooms, realizing a drop in electrical
consumption by 690,000 kWh and improving the environment with an annual
reduction of 936,655 pounds of carbon dioxide, 6,849 pounds of sulfur
dioxide and 3,624 pounds of nitrogen dioxide.
Thanks in part to these innovations, Watt Plaza has consistently
achieved high Energy Star ratings each year since 2004. The building
achieved an Energy Star rating of 98 out of 100 this year.
Besides decreasing energy use, Watt Plaza has made it a priority to
reduce waste. In addition to e-waste, battery, bulb and ballast
recycling programs, Watt Plaza implemented a waste-diversion program
that rerouted 75%--45% above the national average--of all building waste
to a materials recovery facility, leading to a reduction of 1,866 tons
of greenhouse gas emissions to date, equivalent to preserving 6,462
trees a year. In the future, Watt Plaza seeks to reach a 95% diversion
of waste, which would allow Watt Plaza to consider itself a “Zero Waste
Facility.”
Watt Plaza also demonstrated its commitment to renewable energy
development by offsetting 100% of its annual energy consumption through
renewable energy acquisitions. This purchase ensures that the amount of
energy consumed at Watt Plaza is replenished by renewable, responsible
energy sources. Watt Plaza’s commitment to supporting renewable energy
development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions has an impact similar
to taking 1,686 passenger vehicles off of the road for a year, or
planting 206,888 tree seedlings and growing them for ten years.
In addition their laudable greenhouse gas reduction efforts, the team at
Watt Plaza expanded their approach to sustainability this year by
investing in Pinhook Farms of Clarinda, Iowa, which has been on a
multi-decade quest to become a net zero operation that supports
untillable acreage through conservation education and tourism aimed at
protecting the Indiana Bat.
No detail is overlooked as Watt Plaza continues to strive for the
highest sustainability goals. Watt Plaza takes great pride in their
high-performance cleaning program, consisting of green-certified
products and equipment to reduce the environmental impacts of cleaning
products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags. Watt
Plaza enrolled the entire janitorial staff in the Green Janitor
Education Program, an environmental education program for janitors to
address the energy management and green cleaning practices of commercial
buildings in California.
To assist with the process, Watt Plaza enlisted the help of Healthy
Buildings International, Inc., to perform LEED consulting and project
management, as well as indoor air quality testing, ventilation testing,
ASHRAE audits, and commissioning services.
ABOUT WATT COMPANIES
The Watt Companies is a private, fully-integrated real estate operating
and investment company involved in commercial development, homebuilding,
asset management and the realization of capital investments for its
shareholders, investors, partners and customers across the United
States. The company is comprised of four divisions: Watt Investment
Partners, the primary new investment and acquisitions arm; Watt
Commercial Properties, the management and development services group;
Watt Communities, the urban infill residential development group; and
Watt Services, which houses the accounting, legal, reporting and
financial management activities. In its 60-year history, Watt Companies
has developed over eight million square feet of industrial and office
space, built more than 50 shopping centers, three first class hotels,
homes for over 100,000 families and six major master-planned
communities. For more information, please visit www.wattcompanies.com.
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