This is the JW info about the reward by the GBI for Wallkill
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GBI Green Building Initiative
Green Globes certification
https://www.thegbi.org/green-globes-certification/
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FEBRUARY 27, 2015
UNITED STATES
Witnesses Win Major Awards for Green Building Design and Construction
NEW YORK—Jehovah’s Witnesses, well-known for their global Bible education work, are receiving recognition for excellence in environmentally sustainable building design and construction.
The Green Building Initiative (GBI) awarded certifications for two new buildings at the Witnesses’ United States branch facilities in Wallkill, New York: the Watchtower Farms F Residence, completed in late 2012, and the Watchtower Wallkill Office Building, completed in 2014. Both of the buildings received the highest award of Four Green Globes.
Watchtower Wallkill Office Building
Shaina Sullivan, Marketing Director for GBI, notes: “Worldwide, less than 4 percent of all buildings assessed under the program have achieved this top certification of Four Green Globes.” Ms. Sullivan added that the Watchtower Wallkill Office Building “is the first nonresidential project in New York State to earn this rating.” Jenna Middaugh, Project Manager for GBI, commented: “Of the 23 buildings [in the United States] that have been certified with Four Green Globes since 2006, the Watchtower Wallkill Office Building achieved the highest point score with 94 percent.”
Watchtower Farms F Residence
GBI administers Green Globes as a commercial rating system and certification program that utilizes a third-party on-site assessment of sustainable design and construction. Achieving a Green Globes rating requires environmentally sensitive site design that focuses on water management, minimization of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing the impact on natural resources by selection of appropriate materials, and creating a healthful indoor environment.
Photovoltaic panels provide at least 10 percent of the electrical energy needs for the Watchtower Wallkill Office Building, a feature of the building’s award-winning sustainable design.
David Bean, sustainable design coordinator for the Witnesses’ facilities in the United States, says: “The achievement of these awards attests to the high standard of design and construction work that we set for all of our projects. We are also pursuing Green Globes certification in the design and construction of our new world headquarters in Warwick, New York.”
Installation of a green roof, one of the sustainable features of the Witnesses’ new world headquarters in Warwick, New York.
Zeny St. Jean, who coordinates global building projects for Jehovah’s Witnesses from their world headquarters, states: “While our primary focus is the advancement of Bible education, we appreciate these awards as professional recognition of the environmentally conscientious building design and construction that we strive to implement at our facilities around the world.”
Media Contact(s):
International: J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5000
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Witnesses Receive Highest Rating by GBI for Sustainable Design of New World Headquarters
NEW YORK—Upon completion of their new world headquarters in August 2016, Jehovah’s Witnesses received official recognition for the sustainable design of their new facility in Warwick, New York. The Green Building Initiative (GBI), an organization which offers environmental assessment and certification programs for commercial buildings, awarded the Witnesses the highest possible rating of Four Green Globes for all seven of their buildings that qualified for consideration.
Shaina Weinstein, senior director of engagement for GBI, states: “Out of 965 projects nationwide, only 64 buildings have received the highest rating of Four Green Globes. For Jehovah’s Witnesses to receive Four Green Globes for all seven of their buildings at Warwick is remarkable. This accomplishment represents a very high level of commitment to water, energy, and environmental efficiency.”
The Green Globes rating system, courtesy of GBI. All seven of the Witnesses’ headquarters buildings eligible for consideration scored at least 90 percent, equivalent to Four Green Globes.
The GBI, according to their official website, is “a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of building practices that result in resource efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings.” The GBI provides ratings in sustainable design and operation for newly constructed buildings. As part of the rating process, a third-party expert in the field conducts an on-site assessment to verify GBI’s findings.
David Bean, sustainable design coordinator for the Witnesses’ facilities in the United States, comments: “We appreciate these awards, which testify to the dedication of all involved to construct a campus that exemplifies many sustainable design features—a campus that integrates gracefully and appropriately into Sterling Forest State Park.”
The green roof of the Offices/Services Building, composed of native flora planted in a growing medium over a waterproof membrane. Storm water runoff from the building is treated on-site to reduce strain on the public water infrastructure.
The Witnesses’ strategy included preserving the trees on the property and incorporating felled trees into the construction project. “I appreciated the decision to mill the trees that were cut down to clear the site and reuse them in the new building designs,” says Jeffrey Hutchinson, former park manager for Sterling Forest. “The environmental aspects of what the Witnesses have done are excellent.” Shaina Weinstein also comments, “In our opinion, the Warwick project exemplifies what environmentally conscious design and construction are all about.”
Richard Devine, who was chairman of the Witnesses’ Warwick Construction Project Committee, explains: “For decades, our organization has maintained the aesthetics of our properties in Brooklyn. Now we look forward to maintaining our eco-friendly facility in Warwick and preserving the existing beauty of Sterling Forest.”
Media Contact:
David A. Semonian, Office of Public Information, 1-845-524-3000
