U Maryland Building Earns LEED Gold
The University of Maryland has earned LEED Gold certification for its new journalism building. Sustainable features of Knight Hall include a 10,000-gallon rainwater system used to irrigate the surrounding gardens, motion sensors and passive solar design.
New Mexico State U Football Coaches Building Awarded LEED Silver
New Mexico State University's Football Coaches Office Building has been awarded LEED Silver certification. More than 88 percent of construction materials for the 6,749-square-foot building were diverted from landfills and more than 20 percent of construction materials were made from recycled content. Ninety-five percent of the building's occupied space is lit by natural daylight and the building uses 45 percent less water through water-efficient installations.
Princeton U Opens Green Chemistry Laboratory
Princeton University (NJ) has opened the doors of its Frick Chemistry Laboratory. The building's four-story atrium features 216 photovoltaic panels on the glass roof that convert solar energy into electricity and offer shade by letting in a controlled amount of light. Integrated mechanical systems enable the transfer of cooled and heated air from offices through the atrium into the laboratories, reducing the amount of outside air that must be conditioned to meet the ventilation demands of the labs. A sustainable monitoring display will show the building's investment in energy and energy savings and 200 high-efficiency fume hoods have been installed at work areas. The 265,000-square-foot building also features a 12,000-gallon rainwater cistern that collects and recycles stormwater for non-potable use.
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Earns LEED Gold
With instructional space for marine science students from the University System of Georgia, the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography's Marine and Coastal Science Research and Instructional Center (GA) has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The center's energy-efficient orientation minimizes its east-west exposure, reducing the heat absorbed from the sun. Other sustainable features include a solar hot water heating system, a 1,000-gallon cistern to capture rainwater and 6-inch foam insulation.
Spartanburg CC Installs Rooftop Garden
Horticulture students and professors at Spartanburg Community College (SC) have installed a rooftop garden atop a campus gazebo. The garden features heat resistant plants including sedum, agave and nanaparetta, with future plans for ornamental grasses. The college hopes to use the green roof as an educational tool for the rest of the community.
U Central Arkansas Installs Green Roof
The University of Central Arkansas has installed a green roof on Laney Hall, home to the chemistry department. Nearly 2,000-square-feet of drought-resistant sedum was planted to help reduce stormwater runoff and insulate the building. If the green roof proves to be cost-saving, the university will add more green roofs across campus.
Champlain College Opens Green Admissions Center
Champlain College (VT) has opened the doors of its new environmentally friendly Welcome & Admissions Center. The $12 million renovation of the 1859 historic building includes energy-efficient lighting and climate control systems including a geothermal pump. The new staff headquarters will seek LEED Platinum status.
Colorado State U Recreation Center Gets Green Makeover
Colorado State University's Recreation Center is undergoing a green renovation. Sustainable features include energy-reducing lighting and thermal controls, motion sensors, water-efficient landscaping and the re-use of more than 75 percent of existing structural walls, floors and roofs. The center will achieve a 20-30 percent reduction in water use and at least a 21 percent reduction in energy use. Seventy-five percent of the construction waste will be recycled.
Dickinson College Hall Awarded LEED Gold
Dickinson College's (PA) Althouse Hall has received LEED Gold certification. Home to Africana studies, economics, and international business and management, the building's green renovations used more than 27 percent of recycled building materials. Other green features include a dedicated area of bicycles and recycled materials, waterless urinals, automated energy-saving lighting and thermal controls, water-efficient landscaping and erosion, sedimentation and stormwater runoff control plans to prevent pollution from construction activity.
Emory U Debuts Green Residence Hall
Emory University's (GA) newest residence hall completes phase three of its planned freshman complex. Designed to LEED Silver standards, green features of the Longstreet-Means Hall for incoming freshman include recycled countertops, flooring and a new water recycling system. Eighty-four percent of the construction waste was recycled.
Palm Beach State College Unveils First Green Building
Palm Beach State College (FL) has announced the opening of its first green building. The 33,982-square-foot Technical Education Center was constructed to LEED Gold standards. Sustainable features include a wastewater recycling system, energy-efficient lighting and renewable energy sources. The native landscaping is designed to utilize stormwater runoff for irrigation. The $13 million project will be used as a training facility for a variety of careers including sustainable building.
U Arizona Recreation Center Receives LEED Platinum
The University of Arizona's Recreation Center has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. The $27.6 million, 55,000-square-foot building's location and established programs support and encourage mass transit, walking and bicycling. Sustainable features include solar panels, preferred parking for low-emission vehicles and a water runoff site where rain is funneled to planting areas or directed to a rock pile beneath the ground.
U North Texas Dallas Opens Green Building
The University of North Texas at Dallas has opened its newest green building. The 103,000-square-foot building was designed to meet LEED Gold standards. Sustainable features include a 60,000-gallon rainwater cistern to irrigate the campus, passive solar design, a roof garden and 448 solar panels expected to produce 100.4 kilowatts of power.
U Victoria Achieves LEED Gold
The University of Victoria's Social Sciences and Mathematics building has been awarded LEED Gold certification from the Canada Green Building Council. The building features two green roofs and patio gardens to help insulate and capture rain and moisture. Other sustainable features include energy-efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and showers and lockers for bicyclists.
U Wyoming Debuts Green Building and Gardens
The University of Wyoming has opened the Bim Kendall House, a 1950s office building that was renovated to house the university's environment and natural resources program. Sustainable features include a passive ventilation system, photovoltaic system, cork and rubber flooring, recycled and re-used construction materials and energy-efficient windows. Twenty-five percent of the construction waste was recycled. The building is intended as a model for residential and small-scale institutional green design with native plant gardens that feature rain chains mounted to the gutter to move water from the roof to the landscaping below.
Central Carolina CC Opens Sustainable Technology Center
Central Carolina Community College (NC) will open the doors of its new Sustainable Technologies Building in September. The college will share the building, which will house several college programs including sustainable technology, sustainable agriculture and biofuels production, with the Chatham County Public Library. The biofuels area will include both a production facility and research lab for students. The building uses a wastewater reuse system and features a green roof to reduce energy costs.
Faulkner State CC Opens Green Science Building
Faulkner State Community College (AL) has announced the opening of its Allied Health and Natural Science Building. The $7.3 million, 45,000-square-foot building will seek LEED Silver certification and is expected to reduce energy costs by 38 percent. The new building will house the college’s nursing program and other classrooms.
Spring Hill College Student Center Achieves LEED Certification
Spring Hill College (AL) has opened its first LEED-certified building. Environmentally friendly features of the college's student center reduce the building's energy needs by 14 percent, including recycled building materials, low-VOC paint, passive solar design, and water-efficient plumbing fixtures and landscaping. The center houses a variety of offices, lounges and dining services.
Wake Forest U Opens Green Residence Hall
Wake Forest University (NC) has opened its newest residence hall, designed and built to meet LEED Silver certification standards. The building includes solar panels on the roof to heat water and touch screens in the hallways for monitoring energy usage. Other sustainable features include passive solar design, double-paned aluminum windows, dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and rain gardens. Fifty percent of all construction materials were recycled.
Berry College Residence Halls Earn LEED Gold
Two Berry College (GA) residence halls have achieved LEED Gold certification. Housing around 350 students, Audrey B. Morgan and Deerfield halls are the first LEED certified buildings on the campus. Environmentally friendly features of the buildings include low-flow showerheads, faucets and washers; motion sensor lights and thermostats; and LED lighting fixtures.
Harvard U Grad School of Education Hall Receives LEED Platinum
Harvard University's (MA) Larsen Hall has received LEED for Commercial Interiors Platinum certification. The renovation of the Graduate School of Education's 7,006-square-foot classroom building includes occupancy sensors to vary temperature within the space, a heat recovery unit to increase energy efficiency and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Ecological friendly materials were used during construction.
Pellissippi State CC Debuts Green Campus
Pellissippi State Community College (TN) has opened a new environmentally friendly campus. Green features include bicycle racks, showers for bicycle riders, reserved parking and charging stations for electric vehicles, passive solar design, light sensors, added insulation and recycled materials. The facility was recently awarded the Nashville Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for successful environmental projects and conservation measures.
Salem State U Opens Green Residence Hall
Salem State University (MA) has announced the opening of a new 158,000-square-foot residence hall designed to achieve LEED Silver or Gold certification. The $57.5 million Marsh Hall project will house 525 students. The building has green features including the use of sustainable building materials, a green roof and the use of renewable energy. The hall was built near a former landfill and will help restore a marsh.
Two Ringling College Buildings Earn LEED Gold
Ringling College of Art and Design (FL) has announced that both of its new campus buildings have been awarded LEED Gold certification. The 82,000-square-foot academic center has five stories and 40 solar panels installed on the roof. The 75,000-square-foot residence hall is equipped with 35 solar panels. Sustainable features include low-flow plumbing fixtures, dual flush toilets, light level sensors, energy-efficient air conditioning systems and passive solar design. Seventy-seven percent of total construction waste was recycled and diverted from the landfill. Native Florida plants are featured in the water-efficient landscape that will use low-flow irrigation for the first year. The landscape will be self-sustaining after the first year.
U South Carolina Office Achieves Carbon Neutrality
The University of South Carolina's Outdoor Recreation Office has accomplished its goal of becoming carbon neutral. Since March of 2009, students, faculty and staff have been working to reduce the office’s carbon footprint. Efforts include recycling, organic gardening, energy conservation, composting and organizing trash pickups. During the 2009-2010 school year, the office calculated their emissions at 7.7 tons of carbon from car trips and the powering of lights, computers and other electronics. The office determined that these emissions could be offset by planting 39 trees to absorb the carbon through photosynthesis. Students helped plant peach, plum and cherry trees around the recreation center fields. More trees will be planted in November.
Western Kentucky U Unveils Green Building
Western Kentucky University has debuted its first green building. The $35 million College of Education and Behavioral Sciences building was designed to LEED standards and is expected to be open to students in January. Energy-saving measures and systems include insulated concrete, low-flow plumbing, motion-sensing lights and advanced heating and air conditioning systems.
California State U Chico Recreation Center Earns LEED Gold
California State University, Chico’s Wildcat Recreation Center has received LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features include the use of natural light, installation of low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, a solar pool heater and the control of pollutants during constriction. The pool heater alone will save the university $80,000-$90,000 a year. The university retrofitted 25 elliptical exercise machines to allow users to generate electricity while they work out.
California State U Sacramento Dorm Receives LEED Gold
A California State University, Sacramento residence hall has earned LEED Gold certification. The apartment-style dormitory features green building materials and technology including ozone-friendly refrigerants; energy-efficient lighting, heating and air-conditioning systems; water-efficient fixtures; low-polluting boilers; and solar water heaters.
Rice U Duncan College Residence Hall Earns LEED Gold
Rice University’s Duncan College (TX) residence hall has received LEED Gold certification. The 324-bed residential college sustainable features include occupancy sensors for lights, passive solar design, insulation, green roof, dual flush toilets and covered parking for 60 bicycles. Ninety percent of all construction waste was diverted from the landfill.
Utah State U Tower Receives Energy Upgrade
Utah State University has given the lighted “A” atop the university's Old Main tower an energy upgrade. The light will receive new light-emitting diode strips to replace the current neon lights. The new LED lighting has a longer lamp life of about 10 years and is expected to save a considerable amount of electricity.
Southern Illinois U Edwardsville Receives Green Roof System
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has received a portable self-contained green roof system donated by Green Roof Blocks. Green roofs are vegetated roof covers that help reduce energy consumption and costs, decrease storm water runoff and preserve the life of roof materials. Sixteen Green Roof Blocks have been installed as part of an eventual 1000- block system that will be used for student research.
U Louisville Renovated Engineering Center Earns LEED Gold
The University of Louisville’s (KY) Duthie Center for Engineering has received LEED Gold certification. The renovation of the 34,000-square-foot facility includes energy-saving thermostats, energy-efficient fixtures, new landscaping and parking spots for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. The renovation reused 95 percent of the structure, including the exterior walls, roof decking and the structural floor. Seventy-seven percent of materials that weren’t used during the demolition were recycled. New building materials contain 27 percent recycled content and 31 percent of the materials were produced in the region.
U New Haven Residence Hall Receives LEED Gold Certification
The University of New Haven’s (CT) Soundview Hall has received LEED Gold certification. The residence hall is equipped with a variable refrigerant-volume heating and cooling system that provides individual temperature control to each suite. Other sustainable features include low-flow plumbing, passive solar design, drought resistant plants and grasses, and stormwater management.
Wake Forest U Completes Green Residence Hall
Wake Forest University (NC) recently completed its first campus building that was planned, designed and constructed with LEED certification in mind. Sustainable features of the $18 million, 67,000-square-foot residence hall include monitors that show the amount of water and electricity consumed on each of the four floors, passive solar design and energy-efficient windows. South Hall will open to students this fall.
John Tyler CC Science Building Earns LEED Silver
John Tyler Community College’s (VA) new science building has been awarded LEED Silver certification. The 60,000-square-foot building features a green roof, low VOC-emitting building materials and bike racks. Showers and changing rooms are available for those wishing to use alternative transportation.
American U Sharjah Offers Green Building/LEED Prep Course
American University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) is offering a new course in green building/LEED AP preparation. Students receive an introduction to concepts of sustainable, high-performance green buildings, as well as the methods for design, construction and evaluation. An emphasis is placed on the review of LEED Rating System fundamentals and relevant LEED certification processes. The course will also provide information about the tools and technical expertise needed to take the LEED credentials and LEED Accredited Professional for Building Design and Construction exams.
Bournville College to Debut Green Campus
Bournville College (UK) will unveil a new environmentally friendly campus in September 2011. Able to house up to 15,000 students, the campus is designed to achieve the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method Excellent rating. Sustainable campus features will include rainwater harvesting, exposed concrete soffits to absorb heat during the day and release heat at night, a transportation plan that utilizes the local railway and bus stations, and a waste recycling plan. Future plans will connect buildings to a district heating system.
Keele U to Convert Farmhouse Into Sustainability Hub
Keele University (UK) has announced plans to renovate a crumbling 19th Century farmhouse into the university's Sustainability Hub Building. Renovations will aim to create a sustainable initiatives research and educational complex that is completely energy-efficient. Diverse local energy sources are expected to power the hub including wind turbines and geothermal energy.
U Adelaide Building Receives Green Star Design Rating
The University of Adelaide's (Australia) new Innova21 building has received the Green Building Council of Australia's 6 Star Green Star Design – Education v1 environmental rating. The nine-level Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences facility features active slab technology (hydronic cooling loops within the concrete floor) combined with an underground air distribution system that utilizes 100 percent fresh air ventilation. Rainwater is collected through an underground rainwater harvesting system and stored for use in the building’s cooling towers for toilet flushing and irrigation. The building also features a Building Management System to reduce energy consumption.
Harvard U Lab Awarded LEED Gold
Harvard University's (MA) Jacobsen Lab has achieved LEED Gold certification. The Faculty Arts and Sciences' organic chemistry lab features overhead lighting occupancy sensors and variable air volume fume hoods that decrease energy use by lowering exhaust rates when the sash is closed. Eighty-four percent of the construction waste from the renovation was diverted from landfills and 38 percent of construction materials came from recycled content.
Hendrix College Student Center Receives LEED Gold
Hendrix College’s (AR) Student Life and Technology Center has earned LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features of the 77,000-square-foot building include energy-efficient plumbing fixtures and windows, and drought-tolerant vegetation. Twenty percent of materials used during the $26 million construction contained post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content. The college diverted 75 percent of the total construction waste from landfills.
Western State College of Colorado Building Earns LEED Gold
Western State College of Colorado's Kelley Hall was recently awarded LEED Gold certification. The $5.5 million renovation of the building, which houses the environmental studies and behavioral and social sciences departments, included the student-spearheaded installation of solar panels on the roof. Other green features include native plant landscaping, recycled paper product insulation in the roof, motion lighting, recyclable carpet tiles, cork flooring and the use of reclaimed wood in desks and furniture.
Columbia U Faculty House Earns LEED Gold
Columbia University's (NY) recently renovated Faculty House has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Environmentally-friendly features include energy-efficient utilities, appliances, fixtures and insulation; recycled low-emission furnishings, materials and finishes; restored original details; and repurposed materials. Construction waste was recycled during the renovation.
Trinity College Gives Campus Buildings a Green Makeover
Trinity College (CT) is performing energy-saving upgrades on more than a dozen campus buildings. The renovations will cost the college $50 for each building under a state program financed by a small charge on utility customers' bills. The college will weatherize the buildings by sealing cracks and adding insulation.
U California Santa Barbara Buildings Earn LEED Certifications
Two University of California, Santa Barbara buildings have received LEED certification. An addition to the Engineering II building received LEED Gold certification in the new construction category and the Life Sciences Building received LEED Silver certification in the existing buildings category. The Life Sciences Building achievements include water savings of 29 percent, waste minimization strategies and passive solar design. The Engineering II building has achieved water savings of 40 percent and recycled 90 percent of construction waste, diverting 150 tons of materials from landfills.
U Florida Biomedical Sciences Building Achieves LEED Gold
The University of Florida's Biomedical Sciences building is the fifth building to achieve LEED Gold certification on its campus. More than three tons of construction materials were diverted from landfills and 79 percent of the wood used is Forest Stewardship Council certified. The building features low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-emission flooring adhesive and the use of 100 percent reclaimed water for outside irrigation.
U Illinois at Chicago Building Receives LEED Gold
A classroom building at the University of Illinois at Chicago has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The $13.7 million-renovation of Lincoln Hall includes a shared heating and cooling geothermal system and rooftop photovoltaic solar panels.
U Nebraska Lincoln Completes Keim Hall Green Renovation
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln has completed a $14 million green renovation of Keim Hall. The university will seek LEED certification for the building, which features carpet made from a corn-based fiber, panels made from wheat straw, water-conserving facilities, rainwater harvesting and low-VOC emitting materials. More than 80 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills, 20 percent of construction materials were recycled and 14 percent of the materials were extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
U New Mexico Education Building Awarded LEED Platinum
The University of New Mexico's College of Education building has achieved LEED Platinum status. More than 75 percent of construction waste for the 26,000-square-foot addition was diverted from landfills and 20 percent of the construction materials were regionally manufactured. The building features individual thermal and lighting control and a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system.
U Portland Building Achieves LEED Platinum
The University of Portland’s (OR) Donald P. Shiley Hall has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. Green features of the engineering building include water-efficient landscaping and plumbing fixtures, occupancy sensors and operable windows. Ninety-two percent of the existing building structure was used and 92 percent of the construction waste was recycled. The building also features the use of irrigation groundwater to cool the floor, saving an estimated 8.5 percent of the total cooling energy for the building.
