On May 16, 2009, BUTLER SQUARE became the first building of its kind IN THE NATION to secure LEED – EB O&M Certification!

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. It is a certification granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification is achieved by measuring performance against a building rating system that encourages a best-practice approach of developing, maintaining, and operating green buildings. Progress is measured and monitored against established benchmarks, baselines and third-party criteria.

This certification makes Butler Square:

• The first century-old, multi-tenant commercial building in the nation to achieve LEED – EB O&M certification.
• The oldest building in Minnesota and the Midwest to achieve LEED certification.
• The first building in Minnesota to be certified under the LEED – EB O&M program.

LEED is a whole building approach, and to secure certification Butler Square earned LEED points for the following green practices and improvements:

• Optimizing Energy Efficiency
  Due to regular investments in energy-efficient building systems and a commitment to maintaining a high-quality building envelope Butler Square earned the EPA's ENERGY STAR and easily met LEED – EB O&M program requirements. Butler Square’s efficient use of energy places it among the top 15% of commercial buildings of all ages nationwide.
• Conserving Water
  Butler Square’s plumbing fixture replacement program is expected to reduce the consumption of water by more than 750,000 gallons each year – more than enough to fill an Olympic size pool.
• Improving Lighting While Reducing CO2 Emissions and Environmental Contaminants
  USGBC awarded Butler Square an "exemplary performance" innovation credit for substantially reducing the levels of mercury in lighting sources. Ongoing lighting improvements have reduced CO2 emissions by more that 68,000 pounds in the past year alone. This is equivalent to taking six cars off the road for a year.
• Instituting Green Cleaning Procedures/Using Green Cleaning Equipment and Products
  Butler Square earned eight out of a possible nine credits in this category because of its commendable green cleaning and purchasing practices.
• Promoting and Facilitating Alternative Modes of Commuting
  Butler Square promotes mass transit and has taken steps to encourage bicycle commuting.

We will continue to identify ways to improve and better maintain the building while focusing on efficiency and environmental sustainability.