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SYLVANIA SUPPORTS U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL’s LEED CERTIFICATION EFFORTS
Lighting Leader Supplies USGBC Washington Office and Boston Affiliate with Sustainable Lighting Systems

In its mission statement, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) describes itself as “promoting buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.”  The Council, which consists of more than 11,000 members and a network of 75 regional chapters and affiliates throughout the U.S., launched its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED®) Green Building Rating System™ in 2000.  Since then, USGBC has awarded LEED certification to over 800 buildings in North America.

In February of 2007, the USGBC moved its headquarters to the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.  In designing its new 22,000 square foot third-floor office space, located in a LEED Gold certified building, the Council set out to create a work environment for approximately 113 Council staff members, visiting members and customers that would exemplify its mission to employ the most advanced green building products and practices available. So it was only natural that they would also set a goal to achieve its own LEED Commercial Interior (CI) Platinum certification.

Lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electricity usage in a typical commercial building and also plays a key role in achieving LEED certification.  In striving for LEED CI Platinum certification– the highest level possible, energy efficiency was a key factor in the USGBC’s decision to approach OSRAM SYLVANIA to provide environmentally preferable lighting solutions. 

The open office work and conference spaces at the new headquarters facility are lit with SYLVANIA OCTRON® ECOLOGIC® FO32/830/XPS energy-efficient, long life 32-Watt T8 fluorescent lamps, operating on programmed start ballasts.  The linear fluorescents are supplemented with SYLVANIA DULUX 18-Watt pin-base amalgam compact fluorescent lamps in down lighting fixtures. The lighting systems are integrated with occupancy and daylight harvesting sensors which allowed the best chance for reaching their target goal of a 35 percent energy load reduction over ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers) 90.1 standards for lighting power.

SYLVANIA OCTRON ECOLOGIC FO17/830/XP T8 fluorescent lamps are used in the private offices and OCTRON ECOLOGIC FO40/830/XP lamps were installed in hallways, lobbies and reception areas.  These extended performance lamps have a newly-rated lamp life of 30,000 hours. 

The lighting strategy also included SYLVANIA PENTRON® ECOLOGIC FP14/830 T5 fluorescent lamps in the multi-function lunchroom which serves as an eating area, library, workspace and recycling center.

At a USGBC affiliate non-profit office, The Green Roundtable in downtown Boston, Mass., they recently completed the design and construction of the NEXUS Center, a 5,000 square foot Green Building Resource Center. Looking for new, environmentally-savvy lighting systems that would help them achieve LEED certification for Commercial Interiors, the facility developers again turned to OSRAM SYLVANIA for assistance.  As with the facility in D.C., the NEXUS Center was striving for a LEED-CI platinum certification, while also highlighting their very own mission as an advocate of green building design and construction. 

OSRAM SYLVANIA supplied lamps for a variety of general lighting and accent luminaires throughout the building spaces.  A combination of OCTRON ECOLOGIC FO32/830/XPS 32-Watt T8 lamps, high efficiency PENTRON ECOLOGIC FP28/830 28-Watt lamps and high output  PENTRON ECOLOGIC FP54/830 54-Watt T5 lamps were installed, providing a superior energy-saving lighting systems in the space. 

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were another integral part of the lighting plan at the NEXUS Center.  A combination of DULUX 18DT/E/IN/830 and CF26DT/E/IN/830 pin-based CFLs provide task lighting for employees at their work stations.  Screw-based DULUX EL 13-Watt Mini Twist CFLs showcase the café and bar area. 

Track fixtures throughout the facility, fitted with SYLVANIA TRU-AIM® 20-Watt MR16/IR/SP10/C halogen lamps, provide accent lighting and illumination of the many exhibits, demos and graphic display panels.