The project was achieved over a period of 18 months. The building achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water, and material use as well as for incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.
LEED verifies environmental performance, occupant health and financial return. LEED was established for market leaders to design and construct buildings that protect and save precious resources while also making good economic sense.
To earn the Silver LEED status, Kohler made several enhancements to the building’s interior and exterior, along with installing several upgrades, and monitoring devices for energy and water usage. A 50% reduction in water usage was achieved by installing new faucets and fixtures in the bathrooms, including the Kohler Steward waterless urinal. High efficiency toilets such as the Kohler Highline 1.1gpf were also installed, and 0.5gpm faucets with Kohler Tripoint Touchless Technology all contributed to the significant water savings.
New landscaping around the building includes native Wisconsin plant life, all of which is easy to maintain, and are able to grow without the use of herbicides and extra potable water. A green cleaning program was developed for the building, for which environment-friendly cleaning products are used exclusively to maintain the building. Natural lighting is utilized throughout the building, and in the areas extra light is needed, low energy, long-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs are used.
Kohler received all five points in the Innovations Category for LEED, a not-so-common achievement for a LEED-EB building (Existing Building). Water bottles filter and fill station helped play a role in this accomplishment.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria.
