The Marine Corps’ first ever Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Platinum certification ceremony was held for Camp Pendleton’s Wounded Warrior Battalion-West’s Barracks, April 21.

The platinum-certified project cost $24.6 million to create and will serve as a rehabilitation facility and home for Marines attached to the Wounded Warrior Battalion-West.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council web site, LEED is a third-party certification program, which evaluates the construction and operation of high-performance buildings. LEED recognizes projects that implement strategies that strive to better the environment and do so by giving facilities a rating of bronze, silver, gold or platinum upon completion.

The 66,464 square-foot barracks, which took a total of 87,521 man-hours to complete, will provide a home to more than 200 ill and injured Marines and sailors.

“It gives me great honor to present this project with the first ever LEED Platinum certification,” said Nate Kredich, vice president of residential market development, U.S. Green Building Council. “Barracks such as this one is exactly what the brave men and women of this country deserve for all their hard work and sacrifice.”

According to Kredich, the project earned LEED Platinum certification by exhibiting exceptional energy performance and construction performance across 5 categories; sustainable site development, energy savings, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality improvements and carbon dioxide emissions reduction by using recycled and reused materials.

Energy savings within the barracks is more than 38 percent, saving Camp Pendleton over $40,000 a year. Water savings within the building are more than 37 percent and water efficiency in the landscaping over 66 percent as calculated in the LEED rating system. Water saving from low-flow showers and toilets within the newly designed barracks save more than 911,000 gallons a year.

“I just want to thank all that had anything to do with this project,” said Lt. Col Gregory Martin, commanding officer, Wounded Warrior Battalion-West. “There are not enough words that can express how thankful my Marines and I are for all the time and effort it took to build this amazing home.”