Johnson County Conservation Board Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification

The Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) has been awarded LEED® certification at the Gold Level, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) for the new Conservation Headquarters building and the Conservation Maintenance Facility building at F.W. Kent Park, 2048 Highway 6 NW, Oxford, IA.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System was designed by the USGBC to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings.

LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The Conservation Headquarters building and Conservation Maintenance Facility building were both certified LEED GOLD for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, these LEED certified buildings save money for taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

LEED certification of GOLD was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include: a sustainable site,

water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and

innovation and design process.

“The Johnson County Conservation Board's LEED Gold certification for these two buildings demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council.

Fedrizzi went on to state that: “The work of innovative building projects, such as the two conservation buildings, are a fundamental driving force in the green building movement. Building operations are nearly 40% of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” “While climate change is a global problem, innovative agencies of local government, like the Johnson County Conservation Board, are addressing it through local solutions.