LEED®-EB Gold Certification is Awarded to La Crosse State Office Building

(3BL Media) La Crosse, WI - March 20, 2012 - The La Crosse State Office Building, located at 3550 Mormon Coulee Road in La Crosse, Wisconsin, has earned LEED-EB Gold Certification.  The building is owned and managed by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Division of State Facilities. 

This certification recognizes that the La Crosse State Office Building has implemented continuous sustainability improvement measures guided by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED®-EB: O&M) v2009, a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Leonardo Academy was the LEED consultant supporting the successful achievement of Gold Certification.

LEED-EB Gold Certification is a prestigious rating given to existing buildings for maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts. The La Crosse State Office Building implemented many green actions to achieve Gold Certification, including:

• Implemented water efficiency measures that are expected to reduce water consumption by 299,813 gallons annually.
• Diverted 100% of the electronic equipment solid waste from the landfill as part of a comprehensive recycling program.
• Achieved an Energy Star Score of 96 out of a possible 100 points, making the building eligible for the ENERGY STAR label.
• Documented annual emissions reduction of 343 tons of CO₂ equivalents through Leonardo Academy’s Cleaner & Greener® Program.  This is the equivalent to the CO₂ emissions from the electricity use of 39 homes for one year.
• Implemented a Green Cleaning Policy and achieved a 100% compliant green cleaning product purchasing rate, with 87% of the cleaning equipment used meeting credit requirements.
• Used captured condensate water for irrigation, earning all five points under WEc3.
• Recycled 57% of the daily ongoing waste stream.
• Created a Green Team that helped plan and implement natural native plantings on site.

The La Crosse State Office Building was constructed in 1960. It provides approximately 45,510 square feet of office space to various state agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Workforce Development.

About Leonardo Academy
Leonardo Academy is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability by leveraging innovative tools and information to motivate the competitive market. By utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability strategies, education and implementation, we strive to make sustainability practical for everyone.  We develop integrative sustainability solutions designed to enhance the environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity of organizations, corporations and individuals. We see a world filled with sustainable opportunities that can transform the way we live today and ensure the prosperity of future generations.

Leonardo Academy works on a broad range of sustainability issues and provides comprehensive sustainability programs and services to help companies, organizations, families and individuals implement sustainability. Our programs and services include: organizational sustainability assessments and implementation; emissions footprints, reduction strategies and offsets; event emissions footprints, sustainability assessments and implementation; sustainable event certification through our Cleaner and Greener® Program; LEED® assessments, implementation and certification application preparation; sustainable land management; sustainability training; and sustainability standards development.

For More Information about Leonardo Academy visit http://www.leonardoacademy.org/

About DOA
The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) was created in 1959 to consolidate various independent units into a single agency. DOA offers direct services to Wisconsin residents and communities, including assistance with housing and energy efficiency improvements, but its primary function is to deliver a wide range of support services to other state agencies, such as maintaining the State Capitol and other state facilities.

The department is headed by a secretary appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. In addition to the Office of the Secretary, DOA is organized into nine divisions. Several small agencies, boards and commissions are also attached to DOA for administrative purposes.  The Department of Administration operates 27 office buildings throughout the state.  Two other state office buildings have achieved LEED certification: the Prairie Oaks State Office Building in Madison, which houses the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection; and the State Natural Resources Building that serves as the central headquarters of the Department of Natural Resources.

To learn more about DOA, please visit www.doa.state.wi.us