Green has long been the color associated with the environment, and today “green” construction denotes buildings that are exceptionally energy efficient.
As a supporter of green construction, AmerenUE, with the U.S. Green Building Council-St. Louis Regional Chapter, recently presented $90,000 in grants to 18 project owners or developers who are seeking the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for environmentally friendly building projects.
The awards, presented in St. Louis on March 14, are part of the LEED Incentive Grant Program funded by AmerenUE and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council-St. Louis Regional Chapter. Each recipient was awarded a $5,000 grant. The grants will be used to cover administrative costs associated with applying for LEED certification.
“We are very excited to announce the winners of this unique grant program in AmerenUE’s electric service area,” said AmerenUE Senior Vice President Richard Mark. “The LEED Incentive Grant Program is an innovative way for Ameren to promote good, green-building practices in the state of Missouri. That’s good for our customers and good for our environment.”
LEED is a voluntary rating system that serves as a national standard for the development of high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED-certified buildings meet the demanding requirements of the LEED Green Building Rating system, which include standards for energy efficiency, the wise use of resources and other sustainable green building practices.
AmerenUE’s support of this program is part of a settlement approved in 2002 by the Missouri Public Service Commission. Through the settlement, AmerenUE’s Missouri electricity customers received $110 million in phased-in electric rate reductions, in addition to other programs that help low-income customers and encourage energy efficiency.
Find more information on the LEED Incentive Grant Program on our Renewable Energy Initiatives page.
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