Lansing Insurance Office, Power Plant Rehab, Wins LEED Gold

LANSING -- Accident Fund Holdings Inc. announced today that it has been awarded LEED Gold Certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute, for its new national headquarters in  Lansing.

LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Long abandoned, deemed a brownfield site and threatening to deteriorate, the refurbished Ottawa Street Power Station is now the national headquarters for Accident Fund Holdings and a vibrant anchor in the core of Lansing's downtown.

"This building has been part of Lansing's skyline since 1938 and we have worked hard to maintain the property's historical significance, restoring the Power Station's original Art Deco architectural grandeur," Liz Haar, president and CEO of Accident Fund Holdings, said.  "We are thrilled to see that hard work paid off in our company earning the second-highest LEED certification available."

Accident Fund Holdings achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

"With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC's vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council.  "As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Accident Fund national headquarters is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement."

LEED certification of Accident Fund national headquarters was based upon a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community.

These features include brownfield redevelopment, construction activity pollution prevention, alternative transportation, public transportation access, bicycle storage and changing rooms, heat island effect (roof and non-roof), water efficient landscaping, water use reduction, fundamental commissioning of building energy systems, enhanced refrigerant management, storage and collection of recyclables, construction waste management – 96.5 percent of all construction waste, recycled content achieving both 10 and 20 percent of goals, regional materials usage (32 percent), minimum indoor air quality performance, use of low-emitting materials, indoor chemical and pollutant source control and thermal comfort design and verification.

For more information about Accident Fund Holdings, Inc. visit www.afhi.com.