DALLAS, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Behringer Harvard announced today that Three Eldridge Place, a newly constructed 13-story office property in the portfolio of Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc., has recently been awarded LEED® Core and Shell Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System(TM) is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The certification was based on a number of green design features that positively impact the property itself and the broader community. The use of recycled materials accounted for approximately 20 percent of overall construction requirements. The architect and the property's management teams also met high standards of sustainability aligned with the LEED model of energy and water conservation, site stewardship and resource efficiency. Landscape watering requirements have been essentially halved through the use of native plantings and mechanical water control systems that efficiently divert storm water for landscape irrigation. As a result of these and similar conservation practices, Three Eldridge Place has reduced estimated energy consumption to approximately 10.5 percent below average levels and earned the ENERGY STAR® label. Sustainability initiatives focused on the creation of "green" working environments that maximize natural daylight and reduce overall energy costs passed through to tenants. Indoor air quality was enhanced by low-emitting building materials, pollutant control systems and chemically-safe cleaning products and practices. In addition to lower energy costs, these programs promote employee health and productivity. Potential benefits for tenants include higher employee satisfaction, lower absenteeism and reduced medical costs.
