First Green Bank receives coveted LEED Platinum Certification

MOUNT DORA — First Green Bank’s headquarters, located at 18251 U.S. Highway 441 in Mount Dora, recently received notification that its environmentally engineered building received the U.S. Green Building Council’s prized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification.

The state-of-the-art facility is considered to be a technologically advanced and environmentally conscious structure that emphasizes water conservation and energy efficiency, and that utilized recycled and healthy building materials for a minimal environmental impact during its construction.

“It’s amazing how much care and thought was placed into the building of this facility in order to obtain a highly functional commercial space, but also balancing the long-term environmental impacts,” said Scott Blankenship, Director of Lake County’s Economic Development & Tourism Department.  “The end result is a tribute to Lake County, and I’m happy that they are being recognized by being awarded the Platinum certification.”

Some of the features of the building’s exterior include solar panels on its roof that generate roughly 17 percent of the bank’s total operating energy. The lights in the parking lot utilize only 20 percent of the typical amount of energy required to produce 14,000 lumens.

Inside the building, specially designed fluorescent lighting and automated lighting controls reduce energy usage by almost 40 percent. Additionally, 90 percent of the bank’s employee work spaces have windows to capitalize on daylight and reduce indoor electrical consumption. Engineers also designed special green screens, efficient glazing and exterior shades to block infrared heat and decrease energy demand for interior cooling.

First Green Bank is the second Platinum LEED certified building in Lake County, with Headquarter Honda in Clermont being the first.

For more information about the U.S Green Building Council’s LEED certification program, visit http://new.usgbc.org.

For information on starting, growing or relocating your business in Lake County, contact the Lake County’s Economic Development & Tourism Department at 352-429-3918, email [email protected] or visit www.BusinessInLakeFL.com.