First LEED for Existing Buildings Project in Tennessee to Achieve Recertification

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR), a leader among engineering firms in designing, consulting, and commissioning projects announced that Caterpillar Financial Center has achieved LEED Gold^® recertification.

Caterpillar Financial Center is an 11-story, 324,000 SF Class A office building in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. In March 2009, this property became the first privately owned commercial office building in the state to achieve LEED for Existing Buildings certification. LEED Gold^® recertification was achieved in May 2014, making Caterpillar Financial Center the first LEED for Existing Buildings project in the state of Tennessee to achieve recertification.

Caterpillar Financial formed a Sustainability Committee with employee representatives from various departments to assist with sustainability initiatives around the building. Water consumption was reduced by 7.7 million gallons from March 2008 to December 2013; sewer load was reduced over 5.5 million gallons (total water/sewer expense reduction over $123,000); and a cumulative energy savings of over 15 million kWh was achieved (total electrical expense reduction of over $257,000). Additionally, the facility has a highly effective recycling and composting program in place, including coordination with Vanderbilt University to convert cafeteria grease to biofuel. The facility’s ENERGY STAR rating has increased from 65 to 85 since 2008 and an ENERGY STAR label has been maintained since April 2011.

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. Over 68,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 10.3 billion SF of construction space in all 50 states and 135 countries.