Durham, N.C. – The Durham County Animal Control building, located at 3005 Glenn Road, recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which developed LEED certification, awarded the new building with Silver designation.  The building’s label of Silver designation came as a surprise to the County as the certification is a level higher than targeted.  The higher certification was awarded by achieving exemplary performance in the categories of regional materials and recycled content.  The County’s new structure exceeds minimum LEED requirements in these categories by using more than 50 percent of locally manufactured building materials.  Additionally, the recycled content of all materials used in the building exceeded 31percent. 

The Animal Control Division of Durham County’s General Services Department moved to the newly constructed location in late February 2009.  A few features of the building that makes it LEED worthy include low flow lavatories, showers and sinks.  The design also includes north and south facing glass to provide a high level of natural lighting, allowing less use of interior lights during daytime hours.  Low emitting interior materials were also used on the interior of the building to improve indoor air quality. 

According to Glen Whisler, county engineer for Durham County Government, striving for LEED certification is a regular practice of the Durham County Government as new buildings are refurbished or built.  “The construction of the new Animal Control building continues to demonstrate the County’s commitment to construct sustainable buildings,” Whisler said.

The certification of the Animal Control building adds another LEED certification to the County’s growing number of designated buildings.  There are now four county buildings that have achieved LEED certification.  Currently, there are five county projects in design or construction that are pursuing LEED certification.

USGBC is a non-profit organization developed to transform the way building and communities are designed, striving to secure a sustainable future for the country through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

To learn more about Durham County’s LEED certified buildings, contact Whisler at 919-560-0735 or via e-mail at gwhisler@durhamcountync.gov.

About the Durham County Animal Control Davison

Durham County Animal Control is committed to servicing and protecting the citizens and animals of Durham County by providing timely responsible customer service; the humane treatment of healthy, injured, unwanted, dangerous and stray animals; the enforcement of the Durham County Animal Control Ordinance (DCACO) education for the public give them an opportunity to foster proper care and relief for animal overpopulation.  For more information about this department, visit the County’s Web page.  

About the Durham County Engineering Department

The mission of the Durham County Engineering Department is to protect regional water quality through the administration of the sewer use, stormwater and erosion control ordinances, to improve County facilities through the management of capital projects, to preserve natural and scenic lands, farms and forests, and to coordinate sustainability initiatives in the City and County.  For more information about this department, visit the County’s Web page.