Harvard U Lab Renovation Earns LEED Platinum
(U.S.): A two-year demolition and reconstruction project to accommodate the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department has earned the Sherman Fairchild Building a LEED Commercial Interiors Platinum certification. New energy efficiency measures include an internal heat shift chiller that captures heat from high-load zones and redistributes it to other parts of the building; occupancy sensors that close fume hoods automatically when not in use; and windows to provide natural ventilation in non-lab spaces.
U Queensland Facility Awarded Green Star Certification
(Australia): The university’s new Advanced Engineering Building has received a 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. Sustainable features include a passive cooling system, natural ventilation, the use of recycled materials and building-wide monitoring systems that track the building’s environmental performance.
Champlain College Restoration Awarded LEED Platinum
The $12 million renovation and expansion of the college's Welcome and Admission Center features a geothermal heat pump to provide space heating and cooling, ecological landscaping for wildlife habitat and stormwater reduction, energy-efficient lighting and the use of local and recycled building materials.
Eastern Michigan U Installs Green Roof
The 3,000-square-foot rooftop garden, installed atop the university's new Science Complex, contains 16 plant species and is expected to save the university $3,600 in energy costs per year.
Maharishi U Mgmt Debuts Net-Zero Sustainable Living Center
Together, the building's 58 solar panels and 100-foot wind turbine are capable of producing 25 kilowatts, contributing to the building's ability to produce more energy than it consumes annually. Other energy-saving features include a heat pump and geothermal tubing, extensive use of daylighting, and strategic placement of windows and verandas. As more funds are raised, the university plans to take the center completely off the grid with respect to electricity, heating, cooling, water and waste.
Public Institutions Caught in Maintenance Funding Conundrum
In what Inside Higher Ed is calling "the other debt crisis," public colleges and universities are issuing their own debt to finance facility renovations, reports the online news source. Facing aging campuses, several years of backlogged maintenance projects, increased competition for students and little hope that states are going to fund the construction they need, institutions are "now catching up for several years of not being funded appropriately." Institutions that can't issue cheap debt are faced with choosing whether to hold off on projects (leading to an aging and potentially unsafe campus and more expensive renovations in the future), or funding projects from their operating budgets, potentially siphoning off resources for other priorities like faculty salaries and student services.
Rice U Renovation Earns LEED Silver
Sustainable features of the renovation of Will Rice College include salvaged roofing materials, water-efficient fixtures, occupancy sensors for lights and 54 new bicycle parking spots.
Syracuse U Basketball Center Awarded LEED Certification
The 54,000 square-foot complex is designed to use 30 percent less water and almost 20 percent less energy than a typical new building. About 20 percent of the materials used in the building are made from recycled materials and more than half of the construction and demolition waste was recycled or reused.
Finger Lakes CC Opens Green Student Center
(U.S.): The 78,000-square-foot building features stone quarried in the state, sustainably harvested wood products, 192 solar panels, low-maintenance landscaping, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
Appalachian State U Dorm Awarded LEED Gold
The second LEED Gold certification for Appalachian State University (North Carolina), the new residence hall received high marks for stewardship in areas including erosion control, landscaping and stormwater controls. Additional sustainable features include energy-efficient lighting, solar thermal and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
Bowling Green State U Achieves First LEED Gold
Bowling Green State University’s (Ohio) Stroh Center incorporates a variety of sustainable strategies including the optimization of heating and air conditioning performance, construction waste management, regional and recycled materials, and water-efficient restroom accessories. The building was also made accessible to alternative transportation.
Columbia U Awarded Several LEED Certifications
In its winter 2012 newsletter, Columbia University (New York) reports several recent LEED certifications including LEED Gold for its research facility, Northwest Corner, and University Medical Center; and LEED Silver for its administrative Studebaker building.
U Arizona Residence Halls Earn LEED Platinum
The University of Arizona’s two newest residence halls feature rainwater harvesting, drought tolerant landscaping, low-flow plumbing and a web-based software that allows students to monitor the amount of energy the building uses.
Harvard Lab Earns LEED Silver
Harvard University's (MA) Kramer Lab has earned LEED Silver certification. A heavy focus was placed on the reuse of existing elements, as well as the application of sustainable furniture and materials. The lab is the Faculty of Arts and Sciences' 25th LEED certification, achieving an average total 25.4 percent reduction in lighting power density.
New York U Law Building Achieves LEED Platinum
New York University’s WILF Hall has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. A green roof and two planted terraces help insulate the building year-round and filter pollutants out of rainwater, reducing runoff into the sewers. More than 90 percent of all construction and demolition debris was reused or recycled. Additional features include bicycle storage and showers for commuting riders.
U Iowa Lab Awarded LEED Gold
The University of Iowa's State Hygienic Laboratory has earned LEED Gold certification. The building's grounds feature xeriscaping, which uses plants suited to the climate so that no special watering is needed. Ninety percent of the building has access to natural light and more than one-third of the building products are made from recycled content.
U Maryland Residence Hall Earns LEED Gold
The University of Maryland, College Park’s Oakland Hall has become the first LEED-certified dorm on campus with a LEED Gold designation. The residence hall features low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and solar reflective surfaces on the roof to lower the building's air conditioning use.
U South Florida Science Building Achieves LEED Gold
The new Interdisciplinary Science Teaching & Research building at the University of South Florida has attained LEED Gold certification. The energy-efficient building features high-performance glazing construction, reduced interior lighting, occupancy sensors and sustainable materials including post-industrial scrap and pre-consumer recycled content.
U Vermont Lab Building Earns LEED Gold
The University of Vermont’s James M. Jeffords Hall has achieved LEED Gold certification. The 97,000- square-foot, $56 million lab and office building features an underground central steam and chilled water system, occupancy system for lighting and ventilation, and regionally produced construction products. More than 90 percent of construction and demolition waste was diverted from the landfill.
Harvard U Building Goes Double LEED Platinum
Harvard University (MA) has announced a second LEED Platinum certification for its Campus Services building. The university initially achieved its first LEED Platinum certification with the building in 2007 in the New Construction category. Now, the building has earned a second Platinum nod in the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) category and has outperformed the energy reduction predictions developed during the original renovation.
Seattle U Buildings Go Carbon Neutral with Upgrades, Offsets
Through new infrastructure enhancements and offsets, campus buildings at Seattle University (WA) have achieved carbon neutrality. The university saves emissions with a new natural gas fuel source, highly efficient gas boiler loop and a manure-to-power project investment. Ninety-eight percent of the university’s electricity is produced from Seattle City Light’s mix of hydro, wind and biomass, and the remaining 2 percent is offset with renewable energy credits.
U Georgia Art Museum Earns LEED Gold
The University of Georgia’s Museum of Art has achieved LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features include two underground cisterns for landscape use, rain gardens, low-flow plumbing fixtures and passive solar design. Ninety-one percent of the construction waste was also salvaged or recycled for use on site or in campus projects.
Johnson County CC Health Education Center Receives LEED Gold
Johnson County Community College’s (KS) Olathe Health Education Center has received LEED Gold certification. Featuring a geothermal heat pump and passive solar design, the building consumes 48 percent less energy than a comparable new building. The center was also completed $1 million under budget.
McGill U Science Complex Earns LEED Gold
McGill University's (QC) Life Sciences Complex has been awarded LEED gold certification by the Canada Green Building Council. The two-facility complex features a heat recovery system, innovative management of fume hoods, lighting efficiency, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems with variable speed drives. Rainwater captured from the building's reflective roof is stored in a cistern for toilet and urinal use, cutting potable water consumption by 50 percent. Ninety-six percent of construction-related waste was diverted from landfills.
U Washington Tacoma Renovation Awarded LEED Platinum
The University of Washington, Tacoma has achieved LEED Platinum certification for the renovation of its Joy Building, providing more classroom space for the university. Eighty-four percent of the building structure was reused and 95 percent of construction waste was recycled. Built near public transportation, the building features an electric vehicle recharging station and 56 secure bike storage locations.
Kwantlen Polytechnic U Library Awarded LEED Gold
Kwantlen Polytechnic University's (BC) Coast Capital Library has received LEED Gold certification. Featuring natural ventilation, the building consumes 65 percent less energy compared to the model National Building Code and more than 40 percent of construction materials were sourced locally.
U California San Diego Renovation Earns LEED-EBOM Gold
The University of California, San Diego’s Supercomputer Center has achieved LEED Gold certification in the Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance category. The renovated includes the increased use of natural day lighting, a comprehensive recycling program, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and environmentally responsible cleaning and landscape maintenance programs.
Morgan CC Classroom Building Earns LEED Gold
Morgan Community College’s (CO) Spruce Hall has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The building features a 19-kilowatt photovoltaic system and water-efficient landscaping. Additional sustainable features include low-flow plumbing fixtures, passive solar design and low emitting materials.
U North Carolina Greensboro Education Building Earns LEED Gold
The University of North Carolina, Greensboro’s School of Education building has achieved LEED Gold certification. Thirty percent of the $47 million project features regional materials and 88 percent of the construction waste was recycled. Sustainable features include drought resistant plants, low-flow plumbing, a bio-retention pond and sand filter systems.
Duke U Debuts New Green Residence Hall
Duke University (NC) has debuted its latest residence hall, designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. The 75,000-square-foot building will use 35 percent less water and 12 percent less energy than an average building of the same size. Sustainable features include a storage room for bicycles, recycling bins and low-flow plumbing. Seventy-five percent of construction materials were recycled.
Hagerstown CC Unveils Green STEM Building
Hagerstown Community College (MD) has opened its new energy-efficient Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) building. Sustainable features include sunshades, improved air quality and a system that catches rainwater for use in toilets. The college plans to eventually install solar panels and green roofs.
New England IT Opens New Green Campus
New England Institute of Technology (RI) has completed a green renovation of its East Greenwich campus. Sustainable features of the building, which sits on 25 acres of land, include recycled and reused construction debris, low-VOC materials, a groundwater harvesting system and motion-detected lights. Additionally, 60 LED lights were installed on light poles across campus.
Texas Tech U Debuts Green Business Building
Texas Tech University has opened its newest green building, designed to meet LEED requirements. Sustainable features of the Rawls College of Business building include recycling stations and four detention ponds to capture stormwater. Seventy-five percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
U Calgary Lab to Seek LEED Platinum
The University of Calgary (AB) has debuted its Energy Environment Experiential Learning laboratory building, which will seek LEED Platinum certification. Sustainable features include the redistribution of sunlight using reflective surfaces, high-efficiency light fixtures controlled by a computerized system using occupancy sensors and smart time scheduling, fixed and moving sunshades, and cooling towers.
Delaware Technical & CC Energy House Earns LEED Platinum
Delaware Technical & Community College’s Energy House has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. The house was constructed on campus to serve as an educational lab for students to learn about innovative energy-efficient and renewable technology and materials. Included in the design of the building are solar systems, wind generation equipment, a living green roof, radiant floor heating, geothermal options and examples of efficiency in construction and appliance usage.
Elon U Housing Units Receive LEED Platinum
Six houses in Elon University's (NC) Loy Center have received LEED for Homes Platinum certification. The residences, occupied by fraternity and sorority students, were designed with water- and energy-efficient features and recycled materials. House managers in each residence have completed a training session on the operations and unique features of the center, and there is a Sustainable Living Guide for residents.
Portland State U Science Building Awarded LEED Gold
Portland State University’s (OR) renovated Science Research and Teaching Center has received LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features of the eighth LEED-certified building on campus include new low-flow laboratory hoods, high performance windows, energy-efficient lighting, occupancy sensors and new mechanical and heating systems. The $46.5 million makeover will reduce energy use by 20 to 30 percent with a potential cost savings of $300,000 per year.
Towson U Earns First LEED Gold Certification
Towson University's (MD) West Village Commons has received LEED Gold certification, the first building on campus to receive the designation. Sustainable features of the dining and student life building include a roof garden, organics composting system, single stream recycling containers and convenient bike parking. At peak performance, the building is designed to reduce energy consumption by 50 percent, water use by 40 percent and solid waste by 70 percent.
U Colorado Boulder Residence Hall Earns LEED Platinum
The University of Colorado Boulder's newest residence hall has received LEED Platinum certification. The $46.5 million Williams Village North building, with 131,246 gross square feet, is projected to be nearly 40 percent more energy- and water-efficient than modern buildings of the same size. Sustainable features include on-site solar panels, information kiosks, a water bottle filling station, low-flow plumbing, passive solar design and an advanced heat-recovery system.
U Wyoming Debuts Online Green Building Resources
The University of Wyoming's Environment and Natural Resources website has posted "lessons learned" from the construction of the university's Bim Kendall House, designed to achieve LEED certification. The website serves as a resource for members of the campus and broader community who want more information on sustainable building products including the building's current LEED scorecard, building materials and furniture. Visitors can also use the site to track renewable energy production from the building's photovoltaic panels. An online green building tour will be available in the spring.
Western Kentucky U Earns First LEED Certification
Western Kentucky University's 120,000-square-foot Gary A. Ransdell Hall has received the first LEED certification for the campus. Sustainable features of the LEED Gold-certified building include energy-efficient lighting, highly insulated walls, an efficient heating and cooling system and a reflective roof. Recycled, local materials were used during construction.
Carnegie Mellon U Centers Achieve LEED Gold
Carnegie Mellon University (PA) has earned LEED Gold certification for both its Gates Center for Computer Science and Hillman Center for Future-Generation Technologies. Sustainable features of both buildings include green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and locally sourced and recycled construction materials.
Harvard U Kennedy School Auditorium Awarded LEED Gold
The renovation of the auditorium at Harvard University's (MA) Kennedy School has earned LEED Gold certification. One hundred percent of the furniture was reused in the renovation and 88 percent of the construction waste recycled and reused. Additional sustainable features include a highly efficient HVAC system and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
San Diego Miramar College Police Station to Seek LEED Platinum
San Diego Miramar College (CA) has opened its new Police Station and parking structure. The station will pursue LEED Platinum certification with sustainability elements that include a green roof and green screen, reclaimed water for flushing toilets and all irrigation needs, and a tower that serves as a solar chimney and creates a flow of natural ventilation.
