Energy Innovation Center Receives LEED ‘Double Platinum’

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) announced that its Energy Innovation Center (EIC), which showcases smart energy initiatives and green building practices, has now received two LEED Platinum certifications from the USGBC.

In 2012, the facility received LEED Platinum for new construction. However, the USGBC was also recently awarded the center LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance.

“The LEED Platinum certification for the operations and maintenance of the Energy Innovation Center is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our employees to sustainability and environmentally friendly practices,” said Caroline Winn, SDGE’s vice president of customer services, in a statement. “From biking to work and carefully ensuring each piece of waste is disposed of properly on site, our team at the Energy Innovation Center is setting an example for how we can all work together as a region to save energy and protect our natural resources. We encourage our customers to visit the Energy Innovation Center to learn more about energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable materials for use in their homes.”

The LEED Platinum EBOM certification was achieved through the facility’s implementation of several sustainable practices. These practices include the use of low-impact paints, pesticides and fertilizers; more than 50 percent reduction in employee commuting trips; thousands of gallons of water saved by using low flow plumbing fixture; 70 percent of total energy for the building is generated by renewables; and the special handling of all waste including composting all food waste.

The 27,000-square-foot EIC also promotes sustainability in its function. The demonstration facility invites visitors to learn about energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability and alternative fuel technologies, as well as participate in classes focused on green building. The center welcomed more than 30,000 visitors in 2013.

The EIC joins San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences and Bren Hall at University of California, Santa Barbara as the only three LEED double platinum buildings in California.

“This achievement is a major milestone. While it is the 10th double-platinum facility in the world, it is the first in our region,” said Douglas Kot, executive director of the San Diego Green Building Council, in a statement. “This is a crowning achievement for a previously underutilized commercial neighborhood center that is now setting the bar for sustainable and efficient construction and operations.”