LEED Certification for Our Lady of the Angels Church

A new catholic church in Paradise Valley is in its final construction stage.  It’s Our Lady of the Angels Church at the Franciscan Renewal Center, and the new building will replace the small chapel that has been at the site for years.  The new church is being built under the guidelines set by LEED, a third-party, independent verification system that guarantees a “green” outcome.  Let’s look a little closer at how the LEED Certification program fits into the goal of a sustainable future.

LEED, an acronym for Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design, is a green-building certification program that guides a design through construction, operations, and maintenance toward sustainability.  It’s based on prerequisites and credits that a project meets to achieve a certification level of Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  LEED is a third-party, independent verification system that is the brainchild of members from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  Why is building green so important?  It’s important because buildings in the U.S. account for 38% of all CO2 emissions, 13.6% of all potable water, and 73% of the U.S. electricity consumption.  Buildings are the place to start as we strive for healthier, more productive places to live, work, worship, and play.

A LEED certification is smart business, and 88 of the Fortune 100 companies are already on board.  Why?  It’s because LEED buildings…

• save energy and resources while lowering operating costs,
• provide public relations community benefits,
• are cost effective,
• and optimize health by keep out harmful chemicals.

Start to notice the LEED Certification symbol etched on the exteriors of new buildings, and it will be a positive surprise that so many are committed to leaving a healthy planet for our children and grandchildren.