Admin l Saturday, February 18, 2017
WARWICK, New York, United States – Jehovah’s Witnesses have been awarded Four Green Globes rating, the highest rating by the Green Building Initiative, GBI for environmental friendly design of their new headquarters in New York.
The headquarters was completed in August 2016. The Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters buildings were picked among the 65 buildings given the highest GBI rating from 965 projects in the United States.
“Out of 965 projects nationwide, only 64 buildings have received the highest rating of Four Green Globes. For Jehovah’s Witnesses to receive Four Green Globes for all seven of their buildings at Warwick is remarkable. This accomplishment represents a very high level of commitment to water, energy, and environmental efficiency,” Shaina Weinstein, senior director of engagement for GBI, stated.
According to GBI, all seven of the Witnesses’ headquarters buildings eligible for consideration scored at least 90 percent, equivalent to Four Green Globes.
The GBI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of building practices that result in resource efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings and it provides ratings in sustainable design and operation for newly constructed buildings.
“ As part of the rating process, a third-party expert in the field conducts an on-site assessment to verify GBI’s findings”, the agency said on its website.
David Bean, sustainable design coordinator for the Witnesses’ facilities in the United States, comments: “We appreciate these awards, which testify to the dedication of all involved to construct a campus that exemplifies many sustainable design features—a campus that integrates gracefully and appropriately into Sterling Forest State Park.”
The green roof of the Offices/Services Building, composed of native flora planted in a growing medium over a waterproof membrane. Storm water runoff from the building is treated on-site to reduce strain on the public water infrastructure.
The Witnesses’ strategy included preserving the trees on the property and incorporating felled trees into the construction project.
“I appreciated the decision to mill the trees that were cut down to clear the site and reuse them in the new building designs,” says Jeffrey Hutchinson, former park manager for Sterling Forest. “The environmental aspects of what the Witnesses have done are excellent.” Shaina Weinstein also comments, “In our opinion, the Warwick project exemplifies what environmentally conscious design and construction are all about.”
Richard Devine, who was chairman of the Witnesses’ Warwick Construction Project Committee, explains: “For decades, our organization has maintained the aesthetics of our properties in Brooklyn. Now we look forward to maintaining our eco-friendly facility in Warwick and preserving the existing beauty of Sterling Forest.”