Energy Dept. Names 'Race to Zero Student Design Competition' Winners
Prairie View A&M University was named Grand Winner in the U.S. Department of Energy's collegiate competition engaging university students to design zero-energy ready homes. First and second place winners were named in four other categories. A major goal of the competition is to advance building science curriculum in university programs across the country.
Hampshire College to Open 17,000-SqFt Off Grid Building
The soon to open R.W. Kern Center has been designed not only to make all of its energy needs, but to provide its own water and treat its own waste. The college's goal is for the building to earn the Living Building Certification (LBC), which requires the creation of a net-zero energy, waste and water building.
American U Building Claims LEED Silver
Earning Silver certification in the LEED for Existing Buildings category, American University's Gray Hall features LEED-approved air-quality levels, adherence to a green cleaning program, water-efficient sinks, toilets and landscaping practices. The building uses 100 percent renewable energy via renewable energy credits and offsets.
California State U Monterey Bay Uses Falcons in Demolitions
As the university prepares for demolition of some buildings, it is using a technique called bird abatement where birds of prey, in this case falcons, are used with handlers to deter other avian friends from making homes in the vacant, soon-to-be torn down structures. Simulating hunting patterns, the falcons do not hunt the other birds, their presence provides enough of a threat to warn other birds not to nest. If a nest is completed or found with eggs in or near any of the buildings, the demolition will have to be halted until the eggs hatch and the birds mature enough to fly on their own.
Wilfrid Laurier U Signs Energy Improvements Contract
Led by the university's Sustainability Office and Physical Resources, the university recently signed a contract with Johnson Controls, Inc., that includes solar installations and energy system upgrades. Energy conservation measures indicated in the agreement include lighting retrofits using LED technology, low-flow water fixtures, demand control ventilation, solar electricity and hot water, and ground source heating and cooling.
Duke U Research Lab Earns LEED Gold
The university's 12,000-square-foot marine lab in Beaufort, N.C., features natural light and ventilation, reduced water use, use of permeable, light-reflecting materials for walkways and other exterior surfaces to reduce runoff and heat-island effect, and energy-efficient heating and cooling.
U Central Florida Students Install 5 KW Floating Solar Array
A senior design team of five recently installed a 10-panel, 5-kilowatt (kW) pilot floating solar array in the campus' retention pond. The pilot project, assuming success, is expected to increase to a 900kW array at full scale, where the energy generated will add to the campus energy grid to completely offset the Bright House Stadium’s current energy usage. This offset is part of Sustainability Initiatives’ goal to reach 15 percent carbon neutrality by 2020 under the Climate Action Plan.
U Alberta Building Garners BOMA Recognition
The university's Triffo Hall recently won the 2016 Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award in the historical building category from Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Edmonton, an internationally recognized award for building management. Originally built in 1915, all areas of the building's operations were carefully evaluated for safety and security, environmental stewardship and community involvement. The building features skylights that run the length of the building and rainwater collection and usage.
U Connecticut and Yale U Win $54M in Resilience Competition
The National Disaster Resilience Competition, held by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, awarded the two universities and several partners $54.3 million to build on a project that began after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012. A coalition of regulators, municipalities and university researchers designed a demonstration project in Bridgeport, Connecticut, that works with the ecology and shoreline geography to protect critical energy infrastructure and residents in one of the state’s poorest, most vulnerable neighborhoods. Most of the federal money will go toward elevating a street that runs through the University of Bridgeport and constructing a greenway earthen berm to protect the community against storm surges.
Cornell U Building Scores LEED Gold
The newly renovated building features natural light that reduces the need for electricity, heating and cooling systems that reduce the building's energy use, and nearly 55 percent of the building’s material and furnishings are regionally manufactured.
Duke Kunshan U Campus to Receive LEED Certification
Duke Kunshan University is the first Chinese university campus to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) campus program, with all five campus buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The campus is distinguished by its use of aquatic elements to absorb, store, permeate, purify and reuse rainwater. Classrooms are equipped with air filtration and carbon dioxide monitoring and 32 percent of the campus site is covered in oxygen-generating native plants. Buildings make use of natural light to reduce energy consumption, high-efficiency water fixtures and solar thermal collectors.
Bucknell U Buildings Earn LEED Gold
The university's South Campus Apartments and Student Commons building, now displaying the Gold designation, feature natural light and energy-efficient lighting technology, FSC-certified wood, efficient plumbing fixtures, wind power and native plant landscaping.
Cornell U Constructs Two Photovoltaic Arrays
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Cornell University, along with Distributed Sun and Building Energy, announced that new rooftop solar arrays have been installed atop two university buildings to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a clean energy future. The university received support for these solar projects under New York Governor Cuomo's $1 billion NY-Sun Initiative, administered by NYSERDA, which is designed to advance the scale-up of solar and move New York State closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry.
Penn State Building Collects LEED Gold Designation
After a three-year effort, the university's Smeal College is now adorned with the USGBC LEED-EB (Existing Building) Gold certification. Since the building will need to be re-certified every five years to keep its designation, business building will act as a living laboratory for students to conduct research and participate in experiential learning.
Penn State to End Coal Shipments
In an effort to decrease greenhouse gases and increase the efficiency of energy use, the university will receive its last coal shipment March 2016. After 160 years of relying on coal for electricity and heat, the university is transitioning to natural gas, in part, to help the university comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's National Enforcement Initiatives.
Umpqua CC to Install 36KW Photovoltaic Array
As part of an ongoing energy efficiency overhaul for the campus, the community college will be installing a 36-kilowatt solar energy system that will have the ability to be expanded up to 300-kilowatt capacity.
Stanford U Athletics Implements Energy & Water Saving Measures
The university's Athletics Department, which operates 70 buildings on campus, recently completed projects that significantly reduce energy consumption, waste and water including the installation of new HVAC equipment, additional composting and recycling bins, and hand watering turf versus automatic sprinkler use.
Lawnstarter Releases 11 "Greenest" Basketball Arenas in US
Lawnstarter, a new landscaping startup company based in Austin, Texas, recently identified the 11 "greenest" basketball arenas in the U.S. Lawnstarter gave priority to newly constructed arenas that received LEED Gold status, followed by renovated arenas with LEED Gold status and renovated arenas with LEED Silver status. The LEED scores for the projects, if available, came from the U.S. Green Building Council and the universities. In order of rank, they are University of Texas at Arlington, Towson University, University of Oregon, University of Michigan, George Washington University, University of Toledo, University of Iowa, University of California Los Angeles, University of Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University and University of South Florida.
Harvard U Lab Renovation Receives LEED Gold
The purpose of the project was to revitalize a high performance space and to create an energy-efficient indoor environment focused on occupant health, resulting in 100 percent of the project's adhesives, paints and flooring systems were low-emitting. Energy conservation measures include more efficient LED lamps, and lighting sensors and controls to help improve the occupants’ research and time in lab.
U California Davis Building Earns LEED Gold
The campus' main administration building is the university's 19th to be LEED certified. It features water-conserving plumbing fixtures, environmentally friendly lamps, energy efficient equipment and construction materials, and adoption of LEED's High-Performance Green Cleaning Program.
Rice U Building Earns LEED Gold Certification
The university's new Continuing Studies facility features occupancy sensors, a solar array, stormwater management, daylighting and low emissive materials and is the first all-LED lighting building on campus.
U California San Diego Building Receives LEED Platinum
The university's new Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility II includes reuse of all moisture generated by the cooling system and non-potable water collected from numerous sites within building for irrigation of outside lawn; all plumbing is low-flow and can use non-potable water; windows are operable and employ both fixed and computer controlled exterior shading; specialized systems and equipment monitor and optimize energy usage in labs; and building materials selected for low emission of volatile organic compounds, with much recycled and locally sourced.
U Dayton Building Earns LEED Gold
The university's newly renovated 1869 chapel features building materials that were recycled or are low-emitting materials, a plumbing system designed to reduce water consumption by 40 percent, and LED lighting to reduce electric consumption. The university purchased renewable energy credits for two years to offset 70 percent of the building’s energy usage.
North Carolina State U Student Union Scores LEED Silver
The university's new 283,000-square-foot Talley Student Union features an open design that maximizes daylight, occupant health and productivity, low-emitting finishes and furniture, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, a 50,000-gallon rainwater cistern, and energy-efficient HVAC systems.
Cornell U Parking Garage Attains Sustainability Designation
Certified by the Green Parking Council and one of seven such structures in the U.S., the building's features include the operation of environmental controls in this mostly enclosed parking garage. Exhaust air from the building above moves through the garage to moderate the temperature and flushe out carbon monoxide generated by cars in the garage. EV charging stations and LED lights included.
Duke U Hall Receives LEED Platinum
The new home of the university's Nicholas School of the Environment features photovoltaic technology that supplies nine percent of the building's total energy needs, solar thermal panels for domestic hot water, a vegetated roof, 100 percent FSC-certified wood for interior, water recycling systems and 95 percent of construction waste was recycled.
Duke U Library Receives LEED Gold
The university's Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, dedicated recently following a 2-year restoration/renovation, used more than 20 percent pre- and post-consumer recycled content in materials and recycled more than 75 percent of construction waste. Low-VOC finishes, carpets, and sealants contribute to the building’s indoor air quality. The original building was preserved.
SUNY Oswego Building Earns LEED Gold
Opened in fall 2013, the 230,000-square-foot building features a geothermal-well installation, windows and shades that optimize daylight and energy savings, a vertical wind turbine and rooftop solar panels that tie in to the building, water bottle filling stations, small roof gardens and four stormwater retention basins.
Western Illinois U Claims Governor Sustainability Awards
One of 19 companies and organizations that submitted for the award, the university received the 2015 Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award for excellence in environmental performance. The university's application included sustainability-related projects that staff members in Facilities have undertaken and completed in recent years, as well as on the unit's everyday practices.
Harvard U Building Obtains LEED Gold
The recent 26,000-square-foot renovation includes a focus on occupant health and indoor environmental air quality by using low chemical emitting building materials and finishes, energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that use water to heat and cool, occupancy sensors and daylighting.
Maharishi U Building Case Study Earns Place in U.N. Book
A two-page case study of the university's Sustainable Living Center is being included in a new 160-page electronic book published by the U.N. that seeks to inspire, encourage and support universities to develop and implement their own transformative strategies for establishing green, resource-efficient, and low carbon campuses.
U Winnipeg Complex Achieves LEED Gold
The new building, previously the site of a roller rink, includes an atrium featuring living fig trees and a wooden wall made from the roller rink's wood flooring, natural daylighting, a heat recovery system to aid in energy efficiency, and reclaimed materials.
Shippensburg U Residence Halls Earn LEED Certification
Three university residence halls, opened in August 2014, were recently cloaked with LEED certification. Combined the halls have nearly 400 total student units with more than 900 beds. Students involved in the buildings' planning process stressed LEED as a key component.
Arizona State U Facility Earns LEED Gold
College Avenue Commons, the newest university building used primarily by the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, features environmental systems monitoring, an orientation that helps minimize the western exposure and adjustable LED lighting. One major goal of the project was to provide a living and learning resource for engineering and construction education.
Drew U Center Claims LEED Silver
The university's newly redesigned Ehinger Center features a renewable energy system, low-emission paint and recycled construction materials. Other features include an indoor composting station, pervious concrete pavers that allow rainwater to be reabsorbed and waterless urinals in the men’s bathroom.
Energy Department Defines Zero Energy Buildings
After leading a stakeholder engagement process over the past year and a half, the Energy Department states a Zero Energy Building is “an energy-efficient building where, on a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported energy." The findings were released in the recently published A Common Definition for Zero Energy Buildings.
University Business 'Inside Look: Sustainable Campus Buildings'
The recent article from University Business highlights the upward trend of colleges and universities that incorporate sustainability into new construction and renovations including energy and water efficiency, aesthetics, monitoring systems and learning opportunities for students.
Eastern Connecticut State U Enters $2M Built Environment Agreement
The new $2 million cooperative agreement involving the university's Institute for Sustainable Energy will launch a pilot program called Accelerate Performance that integrates performance-based procurement into new construction or major renovation projects. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and includes Seventhwave and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Frostburg State U Building Obtains LEED Gold
The university's newest LEED Gold-certified building utilizes recycled materials, conserves energy and water, manages storm water quality, minimizes the heat island effect and automatically adjusts temperature and lighting to fit the environment outside.
U Alberta Building Incorporates Sustainability Features
The university's Faculty of Engineering is now housed in the most energy-efficient building on campus and is on track to for LEED Gold certification. The new facility integrates many notable sustainable features including fan wall technology, chilled beam technology, motion-sensor lighting and low-flow fixtures. Future plans include installing a 60-kilowatt photovoltaic system.
Santa Fe CC Building Achieves LEED Platinum
The community college's Trades & Advanced Technology Center building boasts solar thermal and photovoltaic rooftop systems, concentrating solar hot water collectors, rainwater catchment for lavatory use, motion-sensing technology with LED lighting, all wood used is FSC-certified, zero use of refrigerants, and bicycle storage and parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
U Maryland Building Receives LEED and Green Globes Recognition
A new campus building that houses the Department of Building and Landscape Maintenance recently achieved LEED Silver certification and a rating of Three Green Globes from the Green Building Initiative rating system. This is the first University of Maryland building to receive dual recognition from both LEED and Green Globes.
U Alberta Contracts With Green Cleaning Partners
Aligning with the university’s Cleaning for a Healthy U program, the university’s Buildings and Grounds Services recently announced a new primary custodial services business contract, Avmor, Wesclean Equipment & Cleaning Supplies and BeeClean Building Maintenance, to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products and cleaning equipment.
