More than 200 "Lead America" High School Students Tour the EcoCenter and Heron's Head Park

This month on July 8th and again today on July 22nd, more than 200 students total toured the EcoCenter and Heron's Head Park.  The students ranged from 15 to 18 years of age and came from all walks of life and from all over the US and abroad. For many it was not only their first time in California, but this was their first visit to a facility that can boast so many sustainable features and systems. Lead America is a summer youth leadership program focused on experiential learning. The group's focus and interest was on "Green" business innovation and its applications. In addition to a tour of the sustainable systems at the EcoCenter, the students were introduced to the many local and state policies that help drive the green economy in San Francisco and that make a facility like the EcoCenter possible. A discussion of the formation of Heron's Head Park, environmental justice concerns, and the continuing transformation of the area into a eco-industrial park were also discussed.

The EcoCenter Achieves LEED Platinum Certification!

We received great news today from the US Green Building Council. The final review and decision regarding our application for LEED certification was completed.  We garnered enough points (52 out of 56 attempted) to achieve a Platinum rating! This makes the EcoCenter one of a only handful of buildings with this level of certification in the City, the first Zero Net Energy Building in San Francisco, and the only LEED certified building in the southeast sector of San Francisco.

Though it took years to complete, many thanks to all those involved. The project administrator was Heidi Liebes, a San Francisco based LEED-certified architect and speaker at CCSF's Green Careers Seminar Series. Many thanks go to our project team members that included Laurie Schoeman, Justin Lee, Rick Unvarsky, Matthew Macko, Toby Long and Peggy Lopipero-Langmo.  Rick and Matthew and many of their colleagues also contributed to this effort and performed work pro bono.  We are indebted to them for their generosity.  Thanks also to CCSF students enrolled in the Applied Research In Sustainability work experience class at the EcoCenter for the hours spent pouring through thousands of pages of records. Special thanks to students Lisa Milos and Katrina Tice for their work on the materials and water sections of the LEED application.  Come visit and read our plaque and certificate. Be sure to ask us questions about how a LEED certification is achieved.

To learn more about the EcoCenter's LEED scorecard click here.

To learn more about the USGBC and LEED click here.