KCP&L Headquarters Awarded LEED Gold Certification

While the green building movement has swept the country, many businesses who lease space may not realize they also can work towards LEED® certification for their offices. KCP&L is leading that charge in downtown Kansas City. The company’s 12 floors in One Kansas City Place have now officially been LEED Gold certified within the LEED for Commercial Interiors™ rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC). The remodel, which took place over seven months in 2009, was designed by BNIM and implemented by an integrated team including KCP&L, JE Dunn and Executive Hills.

KCP&L has encouraged residential and commercial customers to adopt sustainable behaviors, such as enrolling in energy efficiency programs. The company also has begun to take business customers and community leaders on tours of the facility, sharing information about the path to LEED certification.

To receive the certification, KCP&L’s space was measured on how well it performs in the categories of energy and water efficiency, reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, improved indoor environmental quality and use of resources.

Energy-reduction measures employed in the remodel will result in annual energy consumption savings of more than 30 percent. These measures include:

* High-efficiency lighting that automatically dims or brightens, depending on the amount of incoming daylight.
* Energy-efficient under-floor HVAC and easy-access voice and data cabling
* Water-efficient restrooms that reduce water usage by 44%
* Carpet and furniture materials that don’t release pollutants typical of traditional office materials
* A focus on proven contributors to employee productivity, including thermal comfort, access to daylight and views, minimizing interior pollutants and controllability of lighting and temperature.