TRANSIT HUB HONORED AS `GREEN' BUILDING.

Byline: Daily News

SANTA CLARITA -- A national environmental advocacy group gave Santa Clarita's new Transit Maintenance Facility its Gold rating -- the second highest -- for its ``green'' construction.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance environmentally friendly buildings, bestowed the award.

Green buildings are those that are built to be environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthful place to live and work.

The $30 million transit maintenance facility in the Valencia Industrial Center is a state-of-the-art ``green'' building where city buses are housed, fueled, cleaned and maintained. Construction techniques are expected to save the city more than $1 million a year.

The building, which opened last year, is Santa Clarita's first environmentally friendly facility and is designed to conserve water, power and materials and to guard the health of employees.

It was built with rice straw as insulation, has an alternative fuel station and heating and cooling systems that take advantage of daylight and cool night air.

Wheat grains, soybeans, sunflower seeds and recycled paper products are imbedded in decorative woodwork.

LEED-certified buildings reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, have lower operating costs and have increased asset values. Businesses that qualify for certification receive tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives. Projects are awarded Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum certification.