EXCISE TAX REFUND
FTB Awarded "Green" Building Standard
Sacramento – The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today received five certifications from the US Green Building Council for energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly buildings. The FTB campus is comprised of five buildings consisting of nearly 2 million square feet and houses more than 5,000 state employees. Awards came for each of the five buildings, which met the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards developed by the US Green Building Council.
Four of buildings attained the “Gold” status and one attained “Silver.” The green building standards annually saves the State $35,000 in operating costs. LEED standards for energy and resource efficiency include:
· Highly energy-efficient lighting fixtures, mechanical equipment, insulation, screens and sunshades, and double-pane window glazing reduce heating and cooling needs. Automatic lighting control system that adjusts interior light based on the amount of natural daylight. “Cool” white roofing that reflects heat from the sun to keep down inside temperatures and cooling costs.
· Low-flow plumbing and automatic flow sinks in restrooms. Exterior irrigation fixtures and drought tolerant landscaping.
· “Bio-swales” in parking lots that slow the rate of storm water runoff to sewer systems and reduce erosion. Bio-swales use vegetation to filter pollutants before runoff reaches streams and rivers.
· Tree-shaded parking lots.
· Resource-efficient construction practices that divert waste from landfills.
· Proximity to public transit.
· FTB previously won three silver LEED awards for new construction for the FTB campus expansion project completed in 2005. The new buildings were designed to exceed California energy efficiency standards by more than 20 percent.
Access California’s Green Building Directory at http://www.greenbuildings.dgs.ca.gov