LEED Certified Projects

Skagit Valley College Science and Allied Health Building, Mount Vernon, WA
LEED NC 2.2 Platinum (with partner Schreiber, Starling & Lane Architects)

Pacific University Health Professions Campus Building B, Hillsboro, OR
LEED NC 2.2 Gold

Olympic College Humanities & Student Services Building, Bremerton, WA
LEED NC 2.1 Gold

Portland State University Associated Student Recreation Center, Portland, OR
LEED NC 2.2 Gold

General Services Administration San Luis II Land Port of Entry, San Luis, AZ
LEED NC 2.2 Gold

DOW Chemical Houston Regional Office, Houston, TX
LEED ID+C 2.1 Gold

Oregon State University Kelley Engineering Center, Corvallis, OR
LEED NC 2.1 Gold

Staff Education

Our firm hosts weekly lunchtime speakers and “Thursday at 4” presentations that provide detailed information relevant to the firm’s project and design goals. These can include general topics related to practice (for example, recent changes to local energy codes) or new products (like a spray-on roof membrane that enhances green-roof construction). Often, these presentations are approved for continuing education credits, but generally, it is a way for staff to stay informed of major developments in the industry.

Alternative Transportation

YGH offers alternative transportation incentives to all of its employees. The firm subsidizes the cost of public transportation, which is easy to use because the office is located downtown on a major transit mall thoroughfare. YGH also offers a monetary incentive (compensated quarterly) to all employees who choose to bike or walk commute to and from work at least 75% of their monthly working days. Finally, YGH participates in Zipcar’s car-sharing program, which enables employees to borrow vehicles as necessary for meetings and site visits when walking or using public transportation is not feasible.

Recycling and Composting

Our comprehensive recycling program includes collection of paper, metal, glass, batteries, and plastic containers. In 2008, we upgraded our compost program from a grassroots coffee-only system to comprehensive composting of all food waste and related soiled paper products.

Office Supplies

We make it a priority to provide refillable, recycled content (esp. post-consumer), sustainably produced office supplies to our employees, including items such as pens, pencils, scissors, correction tape, binders, labels, and notepads. Our primary copier/printer paper and our plotter paper are both composed of 100% post-consumer recycled content and all computers default to double-sided printing. Methods for tracking and reducing our paper use are currently under development.

Catering

For in-house meetings, we require family-style catering rather than individual packaging. We provide our own durable dishware and request that all platters, serving dishes, tableware, utensils, and glasses that are brought in by caterers be washable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Recyclable items must be compliant with the Portland Metro recycling guidelines and compostable items must be compliant with the Cedar Grove composting guidelines. Pitchers of water and glasses are provided in lieu of plastic water bottles. We also recognize that the business practices of a caterer impact the sustainability of the meal. Therefore, we consider the following aspects when selecting caterers: use of local, seasonal, and organic ingredients; use of free-range and/or grass fed meat and/or eggs; geographic proximity to YGH or event location; and method of delivery.