OREANDA-NEWS.  The General Motors Korea Design Center here has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first automotive facility in South Korea and GM’s seventh worldwide to achieve LEED certification.

Elements of the facility’s environmental design include:

Adopting energy-efficient technology and LED lighting throughout the facility, reducing energy cost by 26 percent
Reusing rainwater for toilets and landscaping, cutting overall water consumption in half
Installing a chlorofluorocarbon, or CFC-free cooling system
Using recycled and regional materials for construction, and monitoring construction waste disposal
Using storage and collection facilities for recyclables
Installing a ventilation system, using low volatile organic compound, or VOC, paints and adhesives, and removing indoor air contaminants through high-efficiency filtration systems
According to the building council, LEED-certified buildings are designed to have healthier, cleaner indoor environmental quality, which means health benefits for occupants.

“Green buildings with increased ventilation and better lighting support the health and productivity of employees,” said Doug Ravas, General Motors senior manager, global facilities. “With seven LEED-certified facilities, GM is demonstrating its long-term commitment to its employees and the environment.”

Worldwide, GM pursues green building design and construction practices on all projects. Whether constructing new facilities or upgrading existing ones, it uses LEED design and engineering guidelines for resource efficiency, conservation and sustainable materials.

The USD 40 million GM Korea Design Center opened in April 2014. It houses exterior and interior vehicle styling, digital design and studio engineering operations that support GM’s global vehicle programs.