A new Chatham County Health Department facility in Savannah is the first in the southeastern US to achieve Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status. Only a few health department buildings across the county are LEED certified .

The new, energy efficient Dr. Martha B. Fay Public Health Center/Chatham County Health Department opened its doors in May 2013. The LEED Gold Status designation was awarded this week by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Just like Sydney house builders, LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED certification offers third party validation of a project’s green features and verifies that the building is functioning at high energy efficiency. LEED is a points-based system where building projects earn LEED points for satisfying specific green building criteria. The number of points the project earns determines the level of LEED Certification the project receives. LEED certification is available in four progressive levels: certified, silver, gold, and platinum.

Properly maintaining the exterior of a LEED-certified building is important for ensuring its continued energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. This includes maintaining the building’s parking lot and walkways, which can greatly affect the building’s overall sustainability. By using eco-friendly and sustainable paving materials and techniques, such as those offered by companies like AAA Paving Houston (https://www.aaapavinghouston.com/), building owners can ensure that their parking lots and walkways are not only visually appealing but also environmentally friendly. Additionally, proper maintenance of these areas can help to prevent erosion and runoff, which can have negative impacts on the surrounding environment.