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Proximity is the First LEED® Platinum Hotel

Named the highest rated “Green” hotel and restaurant in America

Press Release, For more info:LEEDceremony
Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels
Virginia Phelps, [email protected]
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USGBC Case Study for Proximity’s LEED Platinum Certification

October 2008 (Greensboro, NC) — Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels announce that Proximity Hotel and Print Works Bistro have been awarded LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the USGBC’s rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. Opened in late 2007, Proximity Hotel and Print Works Bistro are the first in the hospitality industry to obtain the USGBC’s top level of certification.

Dennis Quaintance , the CEO and CDO (Chief Design Officer) of Quaintance-Weaver, is obviously delighted. “When we started the design process four years ago, I would have never believed that we could use 39% less energy and 33% less water without one iota of compromise in comfort or luxury and with minimal additional construction costs,” says Quaintance. “It just goes to show what a determined team can accomplish if they use common sense and get a little bit of help from the sun.”

His “sun” comment refers to the 100 solar rooftop panels that heat water for the AAA Four Diamond hotel. To illustrate how the hotel and bistro save energy without negatively affecting guest comfort, he asks, “How is it a compromise for a guest to shower with water that is heated by the sun? Or, how is it a compromise for a bistro guest if his or her dishes are washed with solar heated water?”

Quaintance collaborated with his subcontractors on every little detail and personally tested most products. “We tested so many different toilets at home that our children were anxious to see what they called the ‘commode du jour’,” he says. “We finally found one that works wonderfully and uses a third of a gallon less with each flush, and it did not cost one cent more than a conventional toilet.”

The rigorous testing for a variety of water saving products is paying off. The hotel and restaurant is on track to use two million gallons less water during the first year, saving more than $13,000 by spending less than $7,000 in additional construction costs.

“I’ve come to believe that it is an urban legend that employing sustainable practices with new construction is too expensive,” concludes Quaintance. “We are very happy with the results, including the costs and returns, of everything that we did. It’s not easy — but it’s not hard. And it’s definitely worth it.”

Proximity and Print Works did not attain this milestone by just using less

Proximity Hotel is the first LEED Platinum Hotel

energy and water. They also:

  • Recycled 87% of the construction debris (1,535 tons)
  • Sourced over 40% of the building materials locally
  • Used over 20% recycled content
  • Restored 700 feet of an adjacent stream
  • Installed the first regenerative drive elevators in North America, generating electricity on the descent for the ascent
  • Provided natural lighting (day-lighting) to 97% of the occupied space
  • Used elaborate energy recovery systems to provide large amounts of fresh outside air to all guests
  • Sourced 90% of the furniture locally
  • Commissioned local artists and craftspeople for original art in every guestroom, a cantilevered reception desk, spiral staircases in the lobby, furniture and accessories
  • Plus more than 60 other sustainable practices

LEED certification covers energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. LEED verifies environmental performance, occupant health and financial return. LEED was established for market leaders to design & construct buildings that protect and save precious resources while also making good economic sense.

“Proximity Hotel is especially to be commended for achieving LEED Platinum. This facility is one that both the community and its guests can be proud of,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO, Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “Proximity is a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy environment, and an inspiration for others.”

Officials from the USGBC will present the LEED Platinum plaque to the Proximity and Print Works Bistro at a ceremony at the hotel on November 10. On that same day, Proximity will hold its second Sustainable Practices Symposium, a three-hour discussion and tour about the design and building process using the LEED criteria. There is no charge for attendance, but advance registration at www.proximityhotel.com is required.

Built and operated by Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels, the Proximity is just a stone’s throw away from its sister businesses, Lucky 32 Kitchen and Wine Bar, Green Valley Grill and the Four Diamond O.Henry Hotel. For more information about Proximity Hotel, call 336-379-8200 or visit www.proximityhotel.com.  

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities.

Incentives for LEED are available at the state and local level and LEED has also been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.

LEED-NC Credits

New Construction

PURPOSE: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System was designed by the US Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings.

LEED CREDITS: The environmental categories are subdivided into the established LEED credits, which are based on desired performance goals within each category. An assessment of whether the credit is earned or denied is made and a narrative describes the basis for the assessment.

CREDITS ACHIEVED (55): The applicant has provided the mandatory documentation which supports the achievements of the credit requirements, achieving the associated points. Currently the project has scored the adjacent points in this category.

RATING: Platinum

OFFICIAL SCORES: Official LEED v2.2-2008 Scores: Certified: 26-32 Silver Rating: 33-38 Gold Rating: 39-51 Platinum Rating: 52+

Sustainable Sites

Credits Earn 12, Possible Points 14


CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY POLLUTION PREVENTION — PREREQUISITE
The project has followed local erosion and sedimentation control standards and codes, which are more stringent than the NPDES program requirements.

1 SITE SELECTION
The hotel site does not meet any of the prohibited criteria.

1 DEVELOPMENT DENSITY; COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY
The project has been renovated or constructed on a previously developed site within 1/2 mile of a residential zone or neighborhood with an average density of 10 units per acre net and within 1/2 mile of at least 10 Basic Services.

1 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCESS
The project is located within 1/4 mile of one or more stops for two or more public or campus bus lines usable by building occupants.

1 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION: BICYCLE STORAGE; CHANGING ROOMS
Secure bicycle racks/storage has been provided for at least 5% of all peak building users within 200 yards of a building entrance and shower/changing facilities have been provided within 200 yards of the building entrance for at least 0.5% of Full-Time Equivalent occupants.

1 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION: LOW-EMITTING; FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES
Preferred parking has been provided for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site

1 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION: PARKING CAPACITY
The parking capacity has been sized to meet, but not exceed, the minimum local zoning requirements, and that preferred parking has been provided for 5% of the total provided parking spaces.

1 SITE DEVELOPMENT: PROTECT OR RESTORE HABITAT
A minimum of 50% of the site area that does not fall within the building footprint has been restored with native planting.

1 SITE DEVELOPMENT: MAXIMIZE OPEN SPACE CREDIT
Local zoning requirements do not require open space, so an area of open space has been allocated which is equal to or greater than 20% of the total site area.

1 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: QUANTITY CONTROL
Existing Imperviousness less than or equal to 50%. A stormwater management plan or stream channel protection strategy has been implemented that protects receiving stream channels from excessive erosion.

1 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: QUALITY CONTROL

1 HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: ROOF CREDIT
Reflective roofing materials have been used for at least 75% of the project’s roof surface.

1 LIGHT POLLUTION REDUCTION
The maximum candela value from interior fixtures does not intersect transparent or translucent exterior building surfaces OR automatic lighting controls turn off non-essential lighting during non-business hours and the Lighting Power Density is within the LEED Allowable threshold and the percentage of site lamp lumens above 90 degrees from nadir is no greater than 2%.


WATER EFFICIENCY

Credits Earned 4 | Possible Points 5

2 WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
The landscaping and irrigation systems have been designed to reduce irrigation water consumption from a calculated baseline and the irrigation water used on site is supplied by a non-potable source.

2 WATER USE REDUCTION
Water use has been reduced by 33.5% through the use of low-flow fixtures.


ENERGY; ATMOSPHERE

Credits Earned 16 | Possible Points 17

FUNDAMENTAL COMMISIONING — PREREQUISITE

MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE — PREREQUISITE

FUNDAMENTAL REFRIGERANT MANAGEMENT — PREREQUISITE
The project’s HVAC & Refrigeration systems do not contain CFC-based refrigerants.

9 OPTIMIZE ENERGY PERFORMANCE
The energy modeling output indicate a 39.2% savings between the design case and the budget case based on ASHRAE 90.1-2004.

3 ON-SITE RENEWABLE ENERGY
Calculations indicate that 8.49% of the building’s regulated energy cost is provided by on-site renewable energy.

1 ENHANCED COMMISSIONING

1 ENHANCED REFRIGERANT MANAGEMENT
The base building HVAC & Refrigeration equipment does not exceed the LEED Ozone Depletion and Global Warming maximum threshold formula

1 MEASUREMENT; VERIFICATION
The project has developed and implemented a measurement and verification plan consistentwith Option (D) of the IPMVP.

1 GREEN POWER
35% of the Electricity is from renewable sources.


MATERIALS; RESOURCES

Credits Earned 6 | Possible Points 13

STORAGE; COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLES — PREREQUISITE
Appropriate facilities for recycling have been provided.

2 CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT
The project diverted 1,535 tons (86.9%) of on-site generated construction waste from landfill.

RECYCLED CONTENT
22.4% of the total building materials content, by value, have been manufactured using recycled materials.

REGIONAL MATERIALS
45.9% of the total building materials value is comprised of building materials and/or products that have been extracted, processed and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.


INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Credits Earned 12 | Possible Points 15

MINIMUM INDOOR AIR QUALITY PERFORMANCE — PREREQUISITE
The requirements of ASHRAE 62.1-2004 have been met.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS) CONTROL — PREREQUISITE
No smoking is allowed in the building and designated exterior smoking areas are located at least 25 feet away from entries, outdoor air intakes and operable windows.

1 OUTDOOR AIR DELIVERY MONITORING
A CO2 monitoring system has been installed.

1 INCREASED VENTILATION
Outdoor air ventilation rates have been increased to all occupied spaces by at least 30% above the minimum rates required by ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004.

1 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN: DURING CONSTRUCTION
The project developed and implemented a construction IAQ management plan that followed the referenced SMACNA Guidelines. A copy of the project’s IAQ Management Plan and photos highlighting the implemented IAQ measures have been provided.

1 LOW-EMITTING MATERIALS: ADHESIVES; SEALANTS
All adhesive and sealant products comply with the VOC (Volital Organic Compounds) limits.

1 LOW-EMITTING MATERIALS: PAINTS; COATINGS
All indoor paints, stains, and clear finishes comply with the VOC (Volital Organic Compounds) limits of the referenced Green Seal and SCAQMD standards.

1 LOW-EMITTING MATERIALS: CARPET SYSTEMS
Installed carpet systems comply with the VOC (Volital Organic Compounds) limits of the CRI Green Label Plus Testing Program.

1 CONTROLLABILITY OF SYSTEMS: LIGHTING
Sufficient lighting controls have been provided for all shared multi-occupant spaces and that at least 50% of the individual workstations have been provided with lighting controls.

1 CONTROLLABILITY OF SYSTEMS: THERMAL COMFORT
Individual comfort controls have been provided.

1 THERMAL COMFORT: DESIGN
The project has been designed to maintain indoor comfort within the ranges established by ASHRAE 55-2004.

1 THERMAL COMFORT: VERIFICATION
A post-occupancy survey will be conducted to determine occupant thermal comfort satisfaction.

1 DAYLIGHTING; VIEWS: DAYLIGHT 75% OF SPACES

DAYLIGHTING; VIEWS: VIEWS FOR 90% OF SPACES
97.15% of critical visual task areas have direct access to views of the outdoors.


INNOVATION; DESIGN PROCESS

Credits Earned 5 | Possible Points 5

1 INNOVATION IN DESIGN
Achieving views for 97.15% of critical visual task areas.

1 INNOVATION IN DESIGN
Green Building Education efforts.

  • Poster board narratives
  •  A series of “Sustainable Practices Symposiums” available to the public
    • Outreach to the education community
    • Providing speakers (in the first year, over 70 speaking engagements were fulfilled by team speakers)
    • Sustainable Practices tours (over 9,000 in the first year)
  • NC A&T State University collaboration program with their Center of Energy Research and Technology

1 INNOVATION IN DESIGN CREDIT
Restoration of 700 linear feet of stream to the NC Department of Water quality standards.

INNOVATION IN DESIGN
Over 40% of the building materials sourced locally.

LEED ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
A LEED AP has been a participant on the project development team.

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