USGBC’s Lauren Farkas said, “Projects like those at Northern Water play an important role in furthering sustainable building practices by allowing organizations to serve as leaders in their communities, setting the standard and demonstrating how it can be accomplished.”
There are many benefits to employees working in LEED certified buildings. Kinder said some of his favorite aspects that make a day-to-day difference are, “Better air quality, natural lighting, acoustic comfort, thermal comfort, responsible resource use, wellness-focused design and a sense of pride from working in a space that reflects environmental values.”
The LEED certification criteria provides a framework that promotes the wellbeing of people, communities and their environments. Buildings are scored based on several factors including outdoor sites, water efficiency, accessibility, energy use, environmental quality, materials and more. “I’m excited to see Northern Water be a leader and example in this community by achieving LEED certifications,” Farkas said.
Kinder is also excited that Northern Water is blazing the trail for green building in the Northern Colorado community. He said, “When a trusted public entity builds green, it shows that sustainability isn’t just for big tech or trendy startups – it’s practical and doable for local governments, utilities, schools and more.”
The future of green building includes LEED v5, which was drafted in September 2023 and will be released in early 2025. It was developed around three central areas of impact: decarbonization, quality of life and ecological conservation and restoration. The USGBC’s goal is to stay “with and ahead of the curve,” Farkas said.
Both Northern Water’s campuses and the recent expansion were designed by RB+B Architects who specialize in green building for schools and public buildings across the state.