04/06/2012

Main Point Karlin Obtained the LEED Platinum Certification

The Main Point Karlin project, developed by PSJ INVEST, obtained the LEED Platinum certification, awarded by the U. S. Green Building Council – USGBC. The building reached the highest level possible within the framework of this prestigious, international rating system for green buildings. The City Green Court building (being developed by Skanska), which already obtained the LEED Platinum pre-certification last year, is also aiming towards achieving the highest level.
„We truly appreciate this award. This evaluation proves that the Main Point Karlin project developed by PSJ INVEST is, with the LEED PLATINUM certificate and the overall 87 points, a true leader in the field of sustainable building not only in the Czech Republic, but in Europe as a whole,“ said Martin Jaroš, M.Sc., Chairman of the board, with regards to obtaining the certification. LEED PLATINUM certification was given to the Main Point Karlin building for achieving outstanding results, primarily in the fields of energy use, quality of the interior environment and innovation.
According to these results, the building has a 38% higher energy efficiency than the standard office building as defined by ASHRAE. The company PSJ INVEST adapted the entire realization of the project to the aim of creating a leading sustainable building – starting with the choice of architectural design and the building site (the property is a revitalized older brownfield), and including sophisticated technical solutions within the building. The early stages of the project already included a number of ecological and energy saving measures. Cooperation with leading experts was also established, namely with the New York-based company Albanese. The end result of all these efforts is a a building which represents the high technological level of today and features a large number of unique innovations, which enabled them to surpass the 80 points goal needed for LEED Platinum by 7 points. Main Point Karlin is thus the first building in Central and Eastern Europe which can boast such a high rating. A building accommodating to its users „When energy savings are taken to the extreme, it’s the technology that dictates our lives,‘‘ states Jaroš. „Regulation prevails over freedom in the environment. However, that is not the case with this building. We achieved outstanding savings in energy use in Main Point, but we didn’t take away the residents‘ freedom to open the window or individually regulate the heating,‘‘ concludes Jaroš. „Buildings are an important example of how human systems are incorporated into natural systems,“ said Rick Fedrizzi, president, general manager and chairman of the USGBC. „The Main Point Karlin project efficiently uses natural resources of our planet and has an immediate, positive impact on it, which will especially benefit future generations,“ he adds. Innovation as the engine for development Main Point Karlin obtained the LEED PLATINUM certification based on a long list of innovative measure and ecological elements, which have a positive impact on the project itself, the interior environment as well as its wider environment. These elements include, for example, unique exterior cladding of the building with vertical concrete –glass pilasters which function as sun screens, cooling of the building using water from the Vltava river and also induction units. The latter help achieve better comfort parameters and better overall quality of the interior environment in the building than is the case in other office buildings which are in the highest A category. LEED awards the following levels of certifications: certified, silver, gold and, the highest – platinum. Certificates are awarded according to the total number of points obtained in each category, beginning with Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).