MADISON, Wisc.
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a LEED-EB facility at the Gold level—the group’s second highest rating.
The four levels of LEED certification include “Certified,” “Silver,” “Gold” and “Platinum.” Certification levels are determined by the number of points a project earns following a USGBC review.
“Building operations are nearly 40% of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “While climate change is a global problem, innovative organizations like Monona Terrace are addressing it through local solutions.”
In the summer of 2007, Monona Terrace became the first convention center in the nation to earn a LEED-EB Silver certified level. The facility has seen steady support from green conferences and conventions, serving as a return on the investment in getting certified in 2007 and recertified in 2015.
Monona Terrace achieved LEED Gold level certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Some significant measurables used in obtaining this certification include:
- Monona Terrace has an energy use rating 27% below similar facilities across the nation.
- Water use has been reduced to 46% below the LEED benchmark.
- Purchase of Green Energy to offset 100% electric power consumption, and 100% offset of non-electric carbon emissions. This equates to 1,465 metric tons of carbon dioxide, and purchase of 7,328,482 KH certified clean source electricity.
- Conversion from fluorescent and metal halide lighting to LED technology.
- Recycled 2,533 lbs of electronic equipment during performance period.
- Partnership with UW Madison We Conserve to compost over 20 tons of pre-consumer, organic kitchen waste.
- Donation of approximately 8,000 lbs. of food to charity each year.
For Monona Terrace, this award also recognizes the legacy of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who managed and designed the Monona Terrace project from 1938-1959. Before the world was talking about green buildings, Wright pioneered an organic approach to construction that honored the relationship between man and nature, and employed local material and solar influences.
