The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, today became the 100th facility in the U.S. to be certified through the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes rating system.
The medical center joins another 15 VA facilities that have been certified through the Green Globes system, which recognizes achievements in energy efficiency and environmental management practices.
In the U.S., Green Globes has trailed behind the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as the preferred tool for measuring and certifying green buildings. But like the little engine that could, Green Globes is steadily making inroads in the marketplace.
The Green Building Initiative has marketed Green Globes as an easier and less-costly alternative to LEED, and GBI President Ward Hubbell trumpeted that theme in a press release announcing the 100th certified building.
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.
