Finnish Embassy gets LEED certified
Just as the Finns were the first embassy in the US back in 2008 to receive the Energy Star compliance award, they are coming in first again with the unveiling of their sleek yet humble embassy in Washington DC just two weeks ago. Originally built in 1994, the recent energy improvements have made the building entirely carbon neutral and are a great step in the right direction for embassy row.
The idea of incorporating natural elements into the design resonates with this building that melts away into the Washington dc hillside surrounded by towering trees and landscape. They wanted that feeling to resonate with the people who passed by and through this building. Ambassador to Finland, Pekka Lintu, notes proudly that the Finns support their local neighbors and global community by creating green jobs by utilizing local businesses, including the local LEED consulting firm who designed and implemented LEED certified embassy.
It was not only important to show the community that the embassy could integrate so well with the community by aesthetics, but also that the carbon footprint could be significantly reduced. The embassy’s impact on the environment through electricity consumption was decreased by over 50% and the gas usage by over 65%. Since 2008, the embassy has seen a very notable savings of more than $150,000 in energy consumption! This is incredible.
So, Embassy Row is doing the ‘green’ thing! With the Finnish Embassy’s commitment to the environment and the community, they have certainly set a high standard for all others looking to prove their loyalty to our environment. The league of green embassies in Europe may also be paving the way; back in January of 2009, 28 embassies around the world dedicated their missions to to lessening their carbon footprint and spreading the word throughout their respective communities. Even the US embassy in Oslo has made the commitment. In a statement in July 2009, the US embassy at Oslo declared: “We believe that preserving the environment is a moral responsibility of each and every one of us, and advancing policy initiatives accomplishes little if we are unable to live in practice of these same goals. The U.S. Embassy is taking that responsibility seriously and we hope our efforts will pay off and encourage others to do the same.”
As a global community, we appreciate the Finnish Embassy and League of Green Embassies’ efforts and commitment to sustainability and can only hope that the idea will make a solid global impact. Arbour Realty continues to stay on the path of their green commitment right here in Arlington as the first green real estate firm to service Northern Virginia.
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