Michaels' Practice

Bakersfield is getting “greener” by the day, and not just because spring is almost here. Kern County has more than a dozen building projects registered for LEED certification with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Most are right here in Bakersfield, California.

A LEED certified building has documented “green” achievements in multiple environmental areas. Certification is just the start-the higher levels of silver, gold and platinum each require more environmental credits.

As you might expect from this city, businesses lead the charge. Every one of the Bakersfield projects “out of the ground” is in the private sector and the majority was designed locally.

Frito-Lay is registered for an “existing building” certification. Castle and Cooke has two newly certified (one made silver) office buildings. Banking institutions count three projects in the “new construction” category. Kern Schools Federal Credit Union’s headquarters was Bakersfield’s first LEED certified building, and two are in the works for San Joaquin/Citizens Business Bank. Rounding out the crop is the newly complete office for PCL Industrial Services, aiming for the “gold” level.

There are more LEED buildings on the way and the trend looks promising. Few communities see this kind of private initiative. It is a refreshing distinction that we can be proud of.

Ted Blockley, AIA

Bakersfield

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