HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A project to make the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence more energy-efficient has earned the 42-year-old building Gold LEED-EB Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council, the Department of General Services announced today. "The greening of the Governor's Residence underscores our commitment to make state-owned buildings as energy-efficient as possible," said DGS Secretary James P. Creedon, who also serves as co-chairperson of the Governor's Green Government Council. "By using fewer resources, we are saving taxpayers' money while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a healthier environment." Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the nation's preeminent certification program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The rating system measures new and existing buildings for performance in six categories, including sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovations in upgrades. Energy-efficient improvements to the Governor's Residence included the installation of an automated energy management system, a geothermal ground-source heat pump system, a humidification system and high-efficiency motors for ventilation fans and water pumps. In addition, insulation was adding to the attic and incandescent lights were replaced with fluorescent lighting. Overall, Pennsylvania's Governor's Residence earned 51 credits, making it the most credits achieved over any of the LEED-EB-certified Governor's Residences in the nation.
