Green Building Initiative Certifies 100th U.S. Facility

Last week, a veterans medical center in Houston, Texas, became the 100th U.S. facility to be certified through the Green Building Initiative's (GBI) Green Globes rating system, which recognizes achievements in energy efficiency and environmental management practices.

The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center became one of 15 Veteran's Affairs facilities that have been certified through the Green Globes system. The rating system provides a less costly (but no less diligent) alternative to the more popular Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, and has been increasing in popularity over the years.

Writes popular Capitol Hill blogger Tim Kauffman in the blog Fedline: the Beltway & Beyond, "Like the little engine that could, Green Globes is steadily making inroads in the marketplace."

Says GBI President Ward Hubbell, "Reaching the 100 building mark is a significant milestone for the GBI as we continue our work to make green rating tools practical and affordable. Projects like this that obtain a Green Globes rating demonstrate to the building community that it is possible to benchmark and improve the environmental performance of an existing building, even with a limited budget and resources."