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Read below about the benefits of green building design, and
check out what we’re doing here on campus.
In May 2003, Campus Planning and Maintenance and two
students from the Class of 2003 put together the
College’s
Sustainable Building Guide
 , which functions as a working
outline for any architects, designers, and contractors that
work with the college. It provides guidelines for
sustainable site management, water and power usage, indoor
environmental quality, materials choice and usage, and waste
management, all based on the U.S. Green Building Council
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
standards.
What is green building design?
Green building embody a design intent on balancing
environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency, and
cultural and community sensitivity. Green building design
includes everybody in the development process, from the
design team, the construction team, to the maintenance staff
and occupants.
Why design green?
Building in the United States consume more than 30 of the
country’s total energy use and use more than 5 billion
gallons of potable water per day to flush toilets.
Commercial construction projects can generate 2.5 pounds of
waste per square foot of floor space. Green design helps to
minimize a building project’s resource use and waste
generation, both in construction and in final use.
LEED building standards
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
green building rating system is a voluntary, consensus based
national standard for developing sustainable buildings. LEED
was created by the U.S. Green Building Council to provide a
framework for meeting sustainability goals and for assessing
building performance. Based on scientific standards, LEED
emphasizes the latest and most advanced strategies in five
categories (see below for greater detail):
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Material resources
- Indoor environmental quality
In each category, credits are awarded for various levels of
achievement in environmental quality improvement and impact
mitigation. Certifications are awarded based on total
credits earned, with each project earning a Certified,
Silver, Gold, or Platinum award.
LEED recognizes achievements in green building and promotes
expertise in green design through project certification,
professional accreditation, training, and practical
resources for building experts.
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Sustainable Sites: Avoid the development of inappropriate
sites and reduce the impact of buildings on a site.
Encourage development in urban areas with existing
infrastructure such as mass transit. Reduce the heat island
effect and the impact of light pollution to minimize the
impact of the building on the local environment.
Water Efficiency: Reduce potable water use through efficient
landscape and irrigation. Maximize water efficiency within
the building to minimize water use and to reduce the amount
of wastewater generated.
Energy and Atmosphere: Optimize the energy efficiency of a
building through the use of commissioning, monitoring
systems, and established minimums for cooling, air
circulation and filtration systems, and “green” power.
Material Resources: Reduce the environmental impact of
construction through the management of construction waste,
reusing existing resources, selecting products with recycled
content, using locally manufactured or harvested materials,
using certified sustainable wood, and designing for the
collection of recyclables.
Indoor Environmental Quality: Enhance the indoor environment
for occupants by ensuring ventilation effectiveness, control
of contaminants, the use of low-emitting materials, thermal
control, and a connection to the outdoors through daylight
views.
Learn more
U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.com
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
www.leedbuilding.org |
