USGBC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Image © Halkin Mason Photography
WASHINGTON, D.C.—One of the main accomplishments of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) recent headquarters renovation was the extensive reuse of materials—approximately 80 percent of the materials were repurposed. The headquarters was certified Platinum under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), TRUE and WELL (WELL Building Standard) standards. The reuse of materials resulted in a 44 percent reduction in carbon emissions, well below the Carbon Leadership Forum baseline for an interior buildout.

During the process of renovating for recertification under LEED v4.1 for Interior Design and Construction, the former USGBC workspace was used as a materials resource, providing the design team with ample products and materials including:

• 95 percent of the original construction materials were reused or diverted from landfills, including ceiling tiles, ceiling grid, drywall, glass panels, hardware, millwork and terrazzo flooring.

• 60 percent of furniture and supplies were reused. To further avoid landfill, the USGBC offered furniture to staff, donated items and sold items at auction.

• Multiple offices were kept in place and intact, reducing demolition waste.

On the headquarters project page, users can explore the materials used in the space through five categories: appliances, finishes, fixtures, furniture and plumbing.