Bluffton Hospital has been awarded LEED Silver certification for the design, construction and operation of the new Bluffton Hospital ER and Surgery expansion as a high performance "green" building according to Bill Watkins, chief administrative officer of the hospital.

Bluffton Hospital achieved this LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies into the project. Bluffton is one of the first hospitals in Ohio to earn this certification.

By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings such as the new Bluffton Hospital expansion save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the community.

"We are proud to offer our community health care services in a building that is leading the way in sustainable design. Because of the many generous donors who made this project possible, we can improve the quality of life for the people we serve through exceptional health care and care of our environment," said Bill Watkins, chief administrative officer of Bluffton Hospital.

"The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council.

"The work of innovative building projects such as Bluffton Hospital is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement."

The LEED certification is the nation's preeminent program for this certification, and was established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GCBI).

Bluffton Hospital is a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, which provides a total continuum of care to more than 100,000 households in an eight-county area.

U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising more than 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.