The California Central Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is pleased to recognize and
honor Don Walter of Walter Bros. Properties for the most recent Central Coast LEED certified buildingthe
California Department of Industrial Relations offices at 4740 Allene Way, in San Luis Obispo.
Designed by local architect, Bruce Fraser of Fraser Seiple Architects, the DIR offices achieved several
important LEED Certification benchmarks. Most notable is the building uses 97% less water than a
typical office building by using reclaimed water, low flow and waterless fixtures. The building also
uses 27% less energy through integrated cooling strategies, improved building envelope design,
efficient fixtures, occupancy sensors and natural day-lighting in all occupied spaces. Sustainably
grown and harvested FSC certified wood, and recycled, non-toxic materials were also used throughout
the building. Perhaps most importantly, the new LEED Gold Certified building serves to educate its
many visitors about sustainable buildings with a public informational display about the building design,
and real-time monitor illustrating the LEED design features and systems operations.
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification, developed by the USGBC, is the
leading and most stringent building certification documenting and certifying green buildings in a
consistent and comprehensive system. Studies have shown that LEED Certified buildings typically use
24-50% less energy, emit 33-39% less CO2 emissions, use 40% less water and produce 70% less
solid waste that goes to the landfill. In addition we are now seeing studies that show that healthier
environments of LEED buildings reduce illness, absenteeism and significantly increase productivity
and employee retention which can result in considerably more cost savings that all the other energy,
water and waste savings combined.
This project will take its place among the California Central Coast LEED Project Case Studies on the
USGBC-C4 website and is one of the local projects and award winners being showcased in the C4
2010-2011 Green Awards Book recently published to recognize and document the many exciting
sustainable design accomplishments of the Central Coast.
For more information visit www.usgbcc4.org, email communications@usgbcc4.org or
contact Marilyn Farmer at 544-6075.
