Green Globe Certification Awarded to 15 VA Medical Centers

Shinseki Cites Strides in Energy Efficiency

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 15 of its medical centers have been cited by the Green Building Initiative for their efforts to achieve sustainable energy.

"We continue to take steps to assess and reduce our environmental impact," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "Ensuring the sustainability of our facilities across the country gives us energy efficient buildings to accomplish our primary mission - serving Veterans with the best care."

As a federal agency, VA is required to have 15 percent of buildings incorporate sustainable practices by 2015 in accordance with Executive Order 13423. The recent Green Globe certifications raise VA's sustainable building inventory and contribute toward reaching the department's goals.

The Green Globes system is an independent ratings system based on environmental assessments. The ratings criteria include building energy efficiency, low greenhouse gas emissions, conservation and protection of water, comprehensive recycling of waste, high indoor air quality, reduced environmental impact of products and materials, employee use of public transportation and many other factors.

Green Globes and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are the only two environmental building rating systems developed by organizations that are accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The top rating under the Green Globes system is four green globes.

"Reaching the goal of 21 third-party certifications in 2010 will make VA a leading example of 'green' achievement," Shinseki said. "We will proudly reach and surpass the 15 percent requirement before 2015."

    Sites Recognized for Energy Use

                                                             Number of Green
               Name of Facility               City, State     Globes Awarded
               ----------------               -----------    ---------------
    Birmingham VA Medical Center           Birmingham, Ala.                  3
    ----------------------------           ----------------                ---
    Loma Linda Health Care System         Loma Linda, Calif.                 3
    -----------------------------         ------------------               ---
    Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center        Los Angeles                    2
    ----------------------------------        -----------                  ---
    San Diego Healthcare System            San Diego, Calif.                 3
    ---------------------------            -----------------               ---
    Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center        Augusta, Ga.                    3
    ---------------------------------        ------------                  ---
    Atlanta VA Medical Center                Decatur, Ga.                    3
    -------------------------                ------------                  ---
    John D. Dingell VA Medical Center           Detroit                      3
    ---------------------------------           -------                    ---
    Asheville VA Medical Center             Asheville, N.C.                  3
    ---------------------------             ---------------                ---
    Durham VA Medical Center                 Durham, N.C.                    2
    ------------------------                 ------------                  ---
    W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center    Salisbury, N.C.                  3
    ------------------------------------    ---------------                ---
    Portland VA Medical Center              Portland, Ore.                   3
    --------------------------              --------------                 ---
    Dallas VA Medical Center                    Dallas                       3
    ------------------------                    ------                     ---
    Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical
     Center                                  Richmond, Va.                   3
    --------------------------------         -------------                 ---
    VA Puget Sound Health Care System           Seattle                      3
    ---------------------------------           -------                    ---
    Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center      Milwaukee                     3
    -------------------------------------      ---------                   ---

SOURCE U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs