Nonprofits and Green Building: Gates Foundation Earns LEED Platinum
For example, in Fall 2011, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation achieved LEED-New Construction (NC) Platinum certification on its campus in downtown Seattle.
Its LEED-NC Platinum certification makes the project the world's largest nonprofit LEED Platinum building. LEED-NC Platinum is the highest possible certification a development can receive under the rating system.
The project incorporates a number of innovative green building strategies, including a 1-million gallon underground rainwater storage tank and two acres of "living roofs." According to the firm, conservation strategies cut the campus' potable water use by 80 percent. More than 40 percent of the site, which was formerly a parking lot, has been reconverted to green space.
Green Colleges and LEED
Similarly, many colleges and universities, such as Duke, have adopted LEED and green building practices on their campuses.
The American College and University President’s Climate Commitment had 672 signatories as of October 24, 2011. This commitment requires signatories to take tangible actions to reducing greenhouse gases.