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Georgia Power's Bright Generations childcare
centers 'LEED' by example

Georgia Power's Bright Generations childcare centers recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, making them the first (and only) childcare centers in the state to do so.

"Obtaining LEED certification demonstrates to the community our company's commitment to the environment," said Dustin Dowdy, project manager. "It says a lot to our community and others when we lead by example, if you will."

"Our goal was originally LEED silver certification, but during construction, we recognized that a few additional changes could actually get us a few more points and help us obtain the gold."

— Dustin Dowdy, project manager

The LEED Green Building Rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Much like a nutrition label on a box of crackers, LEED provides the same kind of important detail about the green aspects of a building. For example, when a LEED building is under construction, points are awarded on a 100-point scale, and credits are weighted to reflect their potential environmental impacts. Additionally, bonus credits are available, four of which address regionally specific environmental issues. A project must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to be certified. Projects are rated on the following levels (from highest to lowest): platinum, gold, silver, and basic certification. Both Georgia Power's Atlanta and Henry County childcares received gold-level ranking.

"Our goal was originally LEED silver certification, but during construction, we recognized that a few additional changes could actually get us a few more points and help us obtain the gold," said Dowdy, who added that consultants at Heery International helped guide them through the process.

Some of the features that helped the centers obtain LEED status include the use of a rainwater harvest system that collects water from the roof to be used for the cooling system, the incorporation of bicycle racks, and the use of concrete paving versus asphalt.

In addition to the environmental LEED commitment, the building's design places heavy emphasis on safety, incorporating child-friendly features such as rounded walls and countertops to minimize injuries, door guards to protect little fingers and antimicrobial floors.

In recognition of this achievement, Georgia Power received plaques from the USGBC to display in the Henry County and Atlanta centers.