Shaw dormitory earns national environmental award Published March 30, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) -- Shaw Air Force Base's newest Airmen's dormitory, building 421, has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The award was presented in a ceremony here March 16. The building earned the distinction for a number of reasons including procuring construction materials from regional sources, using recycled materials in construction and using geothermal wells to support room and water heating for the facility. 1st Lt. Natalie Chounet, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron programs flight deputy commander, explained this reduces the energy requirement from outside sources, prevents cross-contamination of a legacy environmental cleanup site and does not drain any natural resources. The building is one of 50 in the state of South Carolina to have LEED certification, said Jenny Wiedower, executive director for the South Carolina chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Buildings are subject to third party review to determine certification. This building is also the second project to receive this certification here, Lieutenant Chounet said. The library was the first to earn the certification. Such certification is now a requirement for all new military construction projects as of 2009, she said. "Green buildings save a lot of money for the Air Force," said Col. Dean Anderson, 20th Fighter Wing vice commander.