MCM Holds Second LEED Training at Tsinghua University

Oct 21, 2010 | Press Room

The Sustainable Design Institute (SDI), a division of MCM Group International, held the company’s second LEED Certification Training Seminar at Tsinghua University, attended by more than 100 professional architects, designers, planners and project managers from different companies, institutes and universities from the surrounding Tianjin provinces.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a third-party certification program and a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The two-day certification was led by John Irving, director of Client Services for CTG Energetics, a MCM Group International partner company.

“Our job at CTG,” said Irvine, “is to systematically assess existing building’s energy performance and identify opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of systems and equipment, including affordable energy improvements that can be readily implemented.” CTG is the responsible U.S. Green Building Council agent to review projects seeking LEED Certification in China.

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Irvine spoke on the importance of utilizing the LEED certification program in China and addressed questions from the audience related to the history of LEED and specific strategies for sustainable planning and construction.

Irvine is slated to return to Tianjin in November 2010, to conduct another training session. He hopes for an increase in the number of Chinese professionals from the design and architecture industry who will join and aspire to obtain LEED certification, as well as learn about sustainable building.