Santa Clara County, CA. Valley Health Center (VHC) Downtown has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. The newest health center in a network of centers operated by Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, provides a wide range of healthcare services to the downtown San Jose community. The new health center has been open since June, 2016.
The LEED program is the most extensive and well-recognized standard that distinguishes green buildings from other buildings. The LEED program promotes high performance building practices through sustainable site design, water efficiency, energy efficiency, sustainable material selection and overall environmental quality, and use of environmentally preferred products and practices. VHC Downtown features for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification include:
- Enhanced exterior wall system to minimize heat loss and gain, and improve patient and staff comfort;
- Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) building materials to reduce indoor air pollution;
- Landscape design to minimize irrigation through the use of reclaimed water for all of irrigation and minimize storm water run-off;
- Water efficient plumbing fixtures;
- Recycling of a high percentage of construction waste;
- Use of sustainably harvested wood; and,
- Healthy, energy-efficient ventilation system.
Project Details:
- Ground Floor: Urgent Care, Laboratory, Radiology, and Pharmacy.
- 2nd Floor: Family Medicine, Women’s Health Services, Pediatric Primary Care, and Pediatric Healthy Lifestyles Clinic.
- 3rd Floor: Diabetes Management and Behavioral Health Services.
- Basement includes a Pharmacy and other support services.
- PG&E Savings by Design rebate of $150,000 for designing and constructing an energy efficient building, and exceeding California Title 24 energy efficiency standards.
The total project cost: $53 million.