The Weather Channel has achieved a Gold LEED®-New Construction certification for its new HD broadcast facility in Atlanta, G.A., designed by Vocon Architecture of Cleveland, O.H.

Two examples of their pioneering initiatives are the use of heat from studio lights to warm the building and an underground pond which pumps out water only when nature itself doesn't send rain to irrigate the landscape.
 
"The decision by The Weather Channel to demonstrate environmental leadership in the
workplace has its roots in the position we took several years ago on climate change and our resolve to do everything we can to protect the environment," says Debora Wilson, president and CEO of The Weather Channel Companies.

"Constructing a new facility that is environmentally responsible sends a strong message about our commitment to helping people learn more about these issues. We are pleased that our efforts were so successful that we qualified for this great honor," she adds.
 
"The achievement of LEED Gold certification by The Weather Channel demonstrates
tremendous green building leadership," says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding
chair, USGBC. "The urgency of USGBC's mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and The Weather Channel serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish."
 
Construction for the 12,500-sq.-ft. facility, which adjoins the company headquarters,
began in May of 2007 and was completed in January of 2008.  The new studio's design and construction feature a variety of environmentally-friendly elements that include a weather sensitive irrigation system -- a 75,000 gallon underground retention pond that stores the water collected from rainfall which supplies the landscape irrigation system.  The system monitors the weather conditions for expected precipitation to determine when the landscape needs to be watered.

To counterbalance the energy needed to light a 24/7 television studio, The Weather Channel entered into an agreement with Renewable Choice Energy to purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) that will offset 35 percent of the electricity usage in the new studio over the next two years.  

The Weather Channel is one of just 10 organizations in Georgia to achieve the Gold LEED-NC ranking.  According to the LEED Project Directory, The Weather Channel is the only media company to achieve LEED Gold certification for New Construction for construction of a facility that houses a broadcast studio dedicated to 24/7 live TV presentation.   
 
URS Corp., of Columbus, O.H. and Atlanta, G.A., provided civil, structural, electrical and mechanical engineering services for the project.  The general contractor for the construction of the new facility was Brasfield & Gorrie of Atlanta, G.A.