Indio's Polo Square Will Seek LEED Environmental Design Certification.

INDIO, Calif. -- Polo Square, Indio's 48-acre mixed-use project, will be Indio's first certified "green" project and one of the first in the Coachella Valley.

Developers are finalizing all building plans to conform to the national LEED rating system requiring sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and quality indoor environments.

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is the training and certification program sponsored and developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This voluntary, consensus-based organization has some 60 chapters throughout the country.

"We are going to incorporate the latest technology to make Polo Square as sustainable, and environmentally-friendly as possible," explains Bill Swank of Swank Development Company (SDC) who is developing the $400 Million project with John Megay & Associates of Rancho Mirage.

Polo Square was described as a "city within a city" when it was announced earlier this year. Ground is expected to be broken in late 2007. It will be located on the north side of Highway 111 at Shields Road and will have 350,000 square feet of "lifestyle" shopping, entertainment and dining along with 450 condos, a 250-room hotel and 200,000 square feet of commercial office space.

Swank believes it is every developer's responsibility to make every project as energy efficient and as environmentally friendly and affordable as possible for the sake of the environment, the world's over-subscribed resources as well as for eventual energy savings for residents and businesses occupying Polo Square.

"Everyone wins with LEED-certified construction," he states. "Besides the occupants, Consumers save indirectly when businesses have better control of their utility costs and can maintain the cost of goods and services," Swank says.

An underground parking garage is an example of how LEED sustainability improves desert living and shopping, Swank explains.

"Even though it's wonderful to have a cool place to park your car, you don't see much underground parking here because it requires lighting and exhaust fumes must be removed and replaced by fresh air on a constant basis," Swank continues. "This is a very expensive amenity in the desert where the cost of energy is so high.

"Using solar energy to light, cool and refresh the air makes an underground garage sustainable and affordable," Swank explains.

According to the USGBC, there are many statistics supporting the fact that buildings have a profound impact on the natural environment, economy, health and productivity.

Buildings in this country account for 65 percent of electricity consumption and 36 percent of total energy use. They are responsible for 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, 30 percent of raw material use, 30 percent of waste output and 12 percent of potable water consumption.

Indio's City Manager Glenn Southard and Mayor Ben Godfrey are pleased Polo Square will set a LEED standard for future development in Indio.

"Government and educational institutions have led the way with LEED projects so we are especially proud that developers from the private sector are planning to build a sustainable LEED project in our city. It sets a new standard for Indio and the private sector," Southard states.

Mayor Godfrey said he is pleased Polo Square is setting new standards for both mixed use development and sustainable energy for the City of Indio.

"Indio, the Valley's historic center, is once again leading the Valley with the Polo Square gateway to the city. The LEED certification adds another significant standard going forward," Godfrey said.

LEED for new construction was launched in 1999. Since then it has researched the most effective use of science and technology applicable to new construction. It has sponsored pilot projects and has sponsored many intense seminars throughout the country.

The first LEED project in the Coachella Valley was developed by the City of Palm Desert for its 8,200-square-foot Visitor Center. The city's Henderson Community Building is Palm Desert's second LEED-certified project.

The State of New York recently announced the new World Trade Center Office Tower, Memorial and Memorial Museum will be designed to earn the USGBC's LEED Gold Certificate.