At a recent Addison County Chamber of Commerce mixer, Bread Loaf Corporation presented Darcy Tarte, Financial Services Manager for Chittenden’s newest branch in Middlebury, with a plaque acknowledging the project’s recent LEED™ Certification. The LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® was developed and is supported by the United States Green Building Council and is an international standard for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. LEED™ recognizes common and state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The Middlebury Chittenden Bank, designed and constructed by Bread Loaf Corporation, is the first financial services building in the state of Vermont to receive LEED™ certification, and the second building in Addison County to be LEED™ Certified. Only 22 buildings in Vermont have received LEED™ certification.

Some specific green and sustainable features of this project include:

Sustainable Site Development:

The Bank is located adjacent to a residential community and other basic services and encourages pedestrian access. Bike racks are provided, as well as preferred parking for fuel efficient vehicles. Storm water discharge was designed to prevent erosion and improve the water quality. Landscape plantings were chosen to minimize requirements for watering.

Water Savings:

Flow restrictors were used on the sink and shower fixtures, and low-flow toilets were installed in all bathrooms.

Energy Efficiency:

A well-insulated, air sealed building envelope is comprised of structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the brick backup and roof. Daylighting was maximized by skylights and window systems, while specialized controls regulate artificial lighting levels. Building systems were sized appropriately using high efficiency motors, advanced controls and commissioning prior to occupancy.

Indoor Air Quality:

Good indoor air quality both during construction and once the building was occupied was paramount. To eliminate or at the very least limit the off-gassing of materials into the spaces, interior finishes (i.e., carpet, sheet flooring, counter laminates, etc.) with very low, or preferably no, VOC (volatile organic compound) levels were specified. In addition, interior paints and urethanes were specified as water based, also with low or no VOC levels. During construction, Bread Loaf sealed off all air vents so particles and dust would not get into the mechanical systems. A two-week period of building interior air flush-out and outside air exchange was conducted prior to occupancy.

Materials Selection:

A detailed construction waste management plan was established that diverted 82% of construction debris from the landfill to be recycled. In addition, materials with high post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content were specified and installed.Special attention was paid to specifying and installing locally produced materials.

The New Chittenden Middlebury South Village Bank is a terrific example of “green, sustainable, and responsible architecture and development,” and the benefits of this will produce many returns to Chittenden Bank, building occupants, the town, and our environment for years to come.