LEED Certification
Qualcomm is committed to being a positive force in the protection and enhancement of the local and global environment.
Qualcomm has earned the distinction of LEED Gold Certification for the W campus. The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance sustainable building. 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 environment quality.
Energy-efficiency enhancements in Building WT include:
- Photo voltaic cells, which convert light into electricity, installed on the roof and shade structure of the garage, the total kilowatt output will be sufficient to support all lighting requirements for the building, parking structure and co-generation plant.
- Drip irrigation system (versus spray irrigation) uses 50% less water.
- Plant species native to the San Diego region and that are low water consumption plants, such as cacti.
- Efficient water faucets and flush valves that utilize infrared sensors that run only when a person is standing at the fixture, as well as low flow efficient shower heads.
- Approximately 60% of Building W was re-used. Demolished concrete panels from old Building W were broken down and sold to a recycler that reused this in new concrete for under foundations.
- Badge controlled room in WT for 67 bikes to be locked on wall mounts.
- 45 carpool spaces are available today and up to 100 can be made available if the need arises.
- Shade Canopies on the south side of the building, positioned to block the summer sun while allowing direct sunlight during the winter when the sun is lower on the horizon.
- Abundant use of daylighting, high-efficiency lighting fixtures, motion sensors and light-level sensors (daylighting controls).
- High-efficiency gas absorption chillers, boilers and water heaters.
- A heat transfer system that conditions the makeup air entering the building.
