First LEED-certified building in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, TN — The Hamilton on Cherry, an old hotel that was recently renovated and updated, has become the first building in Chattanooga to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified at the Gold level, according to The Chattanoogan.

In keeping with the aim of LEED certification, which is sustainability, the original floors, brick walls, wainscoting and even the kitchen sink were salvaged, cleaned and given new life, the story stated.

The new building uses 30 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than a traditional non-LEED building thanks to, among other things, energy efficient lights and low-flow fixtures, the story noted.

Rick Fedrizzi, president of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), said: "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."

The building incorporated a green roof that utilizes stormwater runoff for irrigation and reduces the urban heat island effect, saving precious money on cooling the structure in the summer months, the story added.

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