Press and News The Future Seeds LEED Certification

Future Seeds building

Future Seeds is the first ever genebank building in the world to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum-level certification.

Read the certification here: CIAT Genebank - Future Seeds | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)

Future Seeds holds in trust the global collections of beans, cassava, and tropical forages. Future Seeds has received generous donations from the Government of Colombia; Agrosavia (Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation); Bezos Earth Fund; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK; German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ); German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); Santo Domingo Foundation; Sall Family Foundation; and the CGIAR Genebank Platform; as well as CIAT's own resources (currently part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT).

What does the LEED Certification mean for Future Seeds? 

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. It provides a framework or healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.  

Future Seeds was designed to: 

  • Meet employee health needs,  
  • Create a healthier space with cleaner air and well-lit with natural daylight, 
  • Improve indoor air quality needs and, 

  • Reduce pollution through energy-efficiency and reduced water consumption. 

Why certify? 

LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. This green building system goes a long way towards creating a healthier and sustainable environment for people around the world. Millions of people are living, working and learning in LEED-certified buildings around the world.
 
In its evaluation process, Future Seeds implemented different sustainability strategies and the building’s performance was evaluated against several criteria including location and site, water, energy materials and air quality obtaining the results below.

 

water
 WATER
  • 100% of the water consumed in the project is raw or treated water from the  rainwater collection system; the roof is the main surface for collection, capturing  up to 4,234 m3 per year.
  • The project's black and gray waters are treated and filtered at the site, and  excess rainwater is managed internally, to create a closed hydrological cycle,  achieving Net Zero.
  • The bank has efficient toilets, urinals, showers and taps, generating savings in water consumption.
  • The vegetation in the project is native or adapted, which can live with the rain pouring in the region, generating savings in water consumption for irrigation.

 

water 1

 MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

  • During the construction of the bank, more than 90% of the waste generated was recycled or reused, reducing the impact on the environment.
  • The bank has a waste storage and a separation room, in order to recycle or reuse most of the waste during operations.
  • The wood used for the roof (canopy) is FSC certified.
  • During construction, a careful selection of paints, adhesives and sealants was made, always seeking the lowest level of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

 

energy
ENERGY
  • More than 40% of the energy consumed by Future Seeds comes from solar panels.
  • Only efficient LED-type lights are used in the bank, combined with a lighting control system that reduces energy consumption.
  • The bank's facade and roof elements and materials are intended to reduce energy consumption and guarantee the comfort of occupants and visitors.
  • The proper design of the bench and the implementation of renewable energies  allow savings of more than 54% compared to the baseline for this type of  building (ASHRAE 90.1-2010).
  • None of the air conditioning equipment uses refrigerants with CFCs, reducing  the impact on global warming and protecting the ozone layer. The equipment  is highly energy efficient.
life 2
AIR QUALITY
  • The Bank has a filtered air renewal system that guarantees the  quality of the air in any of the occupied space in the building, taking  care of the health of the occupants.
  • Before people started occupying the site, a cleaning (flush-out) of  the air in the buildings was carried out, seeking to eliminate  particulate matter and residual contaminants from the construction  stage.
  • The occupied spaces have monitoring and control systems for  temperature and CO2 levels, in order to improve comfort and  protect the health of the occupants.
  • The bank is smoke-free, as smoking is not allowed in any of the  covered or uncovered spaces.
     

 

life 1
QUALITY OF LIFE
  • The lighting system was designed to generate comfort for the occupants, taking into account the internal processes of the bank.
  • The area has a  bioclimatic design, which allows for controlled  thermal gains through the canopy, taking advantage of the benefits  of the tropical climate.
  • The project provides direct contact with natural elements, reducing  stress and improving the comfort of its occupants.
  • Different biophilia elements were included in the bank design,  creating a direct connection with nature and culture and bringing  comfort to users.
     

 

Download the full Future Seeds LEED Certification document below.

LEED Certification

Acknowledgement

LEED certification information copyright belongs to the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and can be found on their website www.usgbc.org  

There is no substitute for LEED Certification.

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