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Soon the Alliance will have a new home. After more than ten years at the corner of 18th and M Street, NW, in the heart of our nation’s capitol, we have decided to relocate. Our new headquarters will be right around the block at 1850 M St., NW literally within a stones throw of the old offices. The move allows the Alliance to accommodate recent growth and gives us the opportunity to make significant improvements and renovations to the new 17,995 square foot interior space.
 In fact, we are currently applying for and hope to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) certification. LEED-CI is an exciting, relatively new, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) designation that allows occupants of commercial buildings to showcase environmental and energy sustainability while attaining some measure of green building status.
You may be wondering how an organization goes about attaining LEED certification. The USGBC maintains a point system which is organized into five broad categories. The majority of the Alliance’s improvements (and points) are related to the demolition and re-use of existing materials and products, installation of efficient lighting, use of non-VOC paint and carpet, sourcing local manufacturers and equipment (this helps to reduce transportation of goods and thus reduces the overall environmental footprint of the project), use of advanced light metering (infrared and motion sensors), new ENERGY STAR appliances, glass panels embedded into office walls to increase working light, and finally thorough monitoring, measurement and verification of energy use. The USGBC also awards discretionary points based on innovations in design – which the Alliance hopes to earn.
The Alliance is excited to have received the participation and many generous donations from countless Associates to help us toward our goal of a LEED-CI silver designation. Be sure to check back in the following weeks for updates on our progress, pictures of the build-out and information on products and materials that have been contributed to the project.
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