Western Michigan U Opens New Sustainability Office
The university’s Office of Sustainability has been relocated to a building that formerly housed the University Bookstore. The renovated facility showcases existing campus sustainability initiatives and a new Sustainability Studio that will house a bicycle repair cooperative. A new electric car charging station has also been installed in the parking lot.
Arizona State U Science Building Achieves LEED Gold
The Interdisciplinary Science and Technology building features a photovoltaic array that supplies over 16 percent of its energy use, optimal building orientation based on local climate conditions, and performance monitoring to ensure the building will continue to meet its energy use reduction goals over the life of the building.
SUNY Sullivan Opens Sustainability Lab
The 1,278-square-foot laboratory includes HVAC, wind, solar, and hydraulic simulators to be used as a teaching and demonstration tool. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority funded the lab through the SUNYGreensNY grant consortium.
U Wisconsin Oshkosh Academic Center Earns LEED Gold
The academic center features roof-mounted thermal and parking lot photovoltaic solar panels, a green roof with low-maintenance plantings, and in-floor radiant heating and cooling systems. The sustainable features are estimated to save the university $182,000 annually.
U California Berkeley Completes Energy Biosciences Building
(U.S.): The science facility was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features include fume hoods designed to reduce energy use by nearly 40 percent in laboratories, a glass curtainwall, and automated window shades and lighting controls.
UC Davis Community Inspires Plan for Dubai Sustainable City
(United Arab Emirates): Inspired by a visit to the university’s energy-efficient West Village community, a UAE housing developer has begun planning a sustainable city on the outskirts of Dubai. The city developers will collaborate with the University of California Board of Regents on applied research and training related to the sustainable communities.
U Nottingham Dedicates Green Hotel
(U.K.): The hotel was designed to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It includes a green roof; photovoltaic panels; and energy-efficient lighting, heating, and ventilation systems. The university has also installed a hydrogen re-fueling facility and electric charging points alongside a new research facility.
U Tasmania Building Achieves Green Star Certification
(Australia): Nearing completion, the university’s new medical science building has achieved a 5-Star Green Star Education Design v1 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. In addition to sustainable measures in the design of the structure, energy efficient lighting and an 80,000-litre water tank will take reliance off of traditional power and water needs.
Clarkson U Student Center Receives LEED Silver
Sustainable features include water efficient landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures, bicycle storage and changing facilities, and preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles. Invented by a university professor, a new type of concrete masonry unit that contains 20 percent recycled industrial glass was also incorporated into the building.
Concordia U Buildings Earn LEED Certification
The PERFORM Center and the John Molson School of Business building were awarded LEED Gold and Silver status, respectively. The center features low energy consumption, water use reduction and the use of local materials. The Molson building features a solar wall that generates energy that is consumed in the building.
U Maryland Housekeeping Achieves Green Seal Certification
The Housekeeping Services Unit of the university’s Facilities Management organization has achieved Green Seal certification. Among the measures that were implemented were the replacement of floor burnishers that did not meet emissions and noise limits, the replacement of disposable materials with reusable alternatives, and the installation of additional matting at building entrances to keep dirt outside.
Western Technical College to Create Urban Agriculture Center
The college has partnered with the Hillview Urban Agriculture Center and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare to create the Urban Landscape and Agriculture Center. The proposed $1.6 million greenhouse will promote community awareness through seminars, courses, and certificates related to various aspects in sustainability.
Chatham U Breaks Ground on Sustainable Campus
The university has begun building a carbon- and water-neutral, net-zero energy integrated facility that will ultimately serve more than 1,000 students. The $40 million initial phase of construction consists of the development of field labs, classrooms, a café, an amphitheater, a mosaic garden, and infrastructure development. The university also announced the receipt of a $7.5 million gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation for the facility.
Clemson U Academic Facility Earns LEED Gold
The $31.6 million restoration and new construction project features geothermal heating and cooling, passive solar design, and mechanical windows that open and shut automatically when temperature and humidity reach threshold levels. An energy dashboard installed in the building provides real-time data on temperature and humidity levels, as well as energy and water use.
Emory U Public Health Building Earns LEED Silver
The facility’s sustainable features include CO2 monitors to verify that enough outside air is supplied where needed, low-flow plumbing fixtures, occupancy sensors, and an enthalpy wheel that is used to minimize energy use in laboratories. The project diverted over 80 percent of construction waste from landfills.
Kennesaw U Building Achieves LEED Gold
Sustainable features include low-flow plumbing, motion-detected lighting, a shower for cyclists and a system to recapture rainwater for irrigation. Recyclable wood and locally produced bricks were used in the construction.
Western U Gallery Renovation Achieves LEED Silver
The renovation of the art gallery features high-performance windows, LED lighting, and sensory controlled lights and ventilation. The gallery uses locally sourced walnut frames for displaying artwork.
Chandler-Gilbert CC Opens Environmental Technology Center
The Environmental Technology Center will serve as an outdoor learning center that incorporates a garden, shaded area, and a ramada with solar panels. The project was funded through Salt River Project’s EarthWise Energy program.
Frostburg State U Opens Sustainable Energy Research Facility
The Sustainable Energy Research Facility (SERF) will be home to a wide variety of renewable energy research projects, while also serving as an instructional building for classes related to renewable energy. The 6,300-square-foot building itself will be a demonstration and test center, as it will be entirely off-grid, powered and heated with all renewable sources including a combination of solar, wind, passive solar, and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The construction, equipping and staffing of SERF has been supported by two grants from the U.S. Department of Energy totaling nearly $1.6 million.
Husson U Living and Learning Center Earns LEED Gold
The 61,000-square-foot multi-use facility incorporates energy efficiency systems including a drainwater heat recovery system, solar hot water system, low-flow faucets, and daylight dimming controls in the classrooms. The facility is also equipped with a Green Education dashboard that will provided water and electricity usage data to help create awareness and modify occupant behavior.
New Aviation Wing at Chukchi College Pioneers Alternative Energy
The college’s new $1.8 million expansion project includes the installation of 16 solar panels and community training for battery and other alternative energy equipment storage. The project also explores alternative energy systems tied to existing grids with battery storage and off-grid systems with battery storage for eventual use.
U North Dakota Dedicates Green Alumni Center
(U.S.): Designed to meet LEED Platinum requirements, the new center features solar photovoltaic panels, a geothermal system, native landscaping, and a designated room for the collection and storage of recyclables.
U Nottingham Debuts Sustainable Energy Research Facility
(U.K.): The new Energy Technologies Building features laboratory space for low-carbon research, a demonstration roof for solar panels and a prototyping facility in which researchers will be able to create full-scale building exteriors to test their energy efficiency. A newly installed hydrogen vehicle refueling station will be used for a small fleet of hydrogen-powered cars that will run in connection with research based projects at the building.
Coast CC District Campus Earns LEED Gold
The building features indoor gardens, a reclaimed water irrigation system, native landscaping and 20 percent of the construction material was manufactured locally.
Denison U Laboratory Renovation Receives LEED Gold
The $14.5 million expansion and renovation of the university’s Ebaugh Laboratories repurposed 800 tons of material from the demolition for the project and worked to bring in 20 percent of the new material from local companies ranging no more than 500 miles from campus. The facility also features drought tolerant native landscaping.
Loyola U New Orleans Renovation Awarded LEED Gold
The newly renovated Thomas Hall features low-flow plumbing fixtures, native and adaptive plantings, and 20 percent of materials within the building contain recycled content. Many opportunities for alternative transportation exist as part of the renovation including public transportation access and access for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
Portland State U Professors Design Greener Portable Classroom
Two professors have designed a portable classroom to be as affordable and more environmentally friendly than the portables used in schools. The new concept doubles the number of windows and includes features that improve ventilation, help better regulate temperature, and reduce heat lost. The university-designed classroom would cost around $75,000 while traditional portables cost $60,000.
U Colorado Boulder Building Achieves LEED Platinum
The 336,800-square-foot biotechnology facility features an array of large-scale solar panels, energy-efficient freezer compressors and lab exhaust fume hoods, evaporative cooling and low-flow plumbing.
Chamberlain College of Nursing Campus Achieves LEED Gold
The Cleveland campus is the first LEED Gold certification for the college. The building demonstrates the college’s effort to reduce the impact of its buildings on the environment and encourage sustainable business practices in local communities.
Drexel U Science Building Earns LEED Gold
The first facility on campus to achieve LEED certification features a living biowall, serving as a biological air filter for the building. The plants also naturally regulate the building’s temperature by cooling the air during warmer weather and acting as a humidifier during colder months.
Ivy Tech CC Renovation Receives LEED Silver
The newly renovated student life center is designed to use 50 percent less water and over 30 percent less energy than a typical building due to the use of waterless urinals, occupancy sensors and high-efficiency mechanical systems. The renovation also reused over 98 percent of the existing roof, slab and exterior walls.
Nova Scotia CC Unveils Green Home Living Lab
The house was constructed on campus to serve as an educational lab for students to learn about energy technologies used in a residential application. More than 30 monitoring and control points have been installed throughout the home to track energy consumption and help students and researchers determine the home’s efficiency.
Ohio Wesleyan U Debuts Green Renovation
The $14 million renovation of the university’s historic residence hall incorporates energy-efficient heating, cooling, and lighting systems as well as environmentally friendly building materials. The university plans to seek LEED certification.
Gateway CC Debuts Downtown Green Campus
The college has transformed a former brownfield into a green facility as part of its downtown campus. Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, sustainable features include a photovoltaic trellis, rooftop and outdoor gardens, bicycle storage and changing rooms, easy access to public transportation, and recycled building materials.
Calhoun CC Debuts Green Energy Technology Center
(U.S.): The new Alabama Center for Excellence in Green Technology will be home to the college’s renewable energy associate degree program. Funded by a $3.47 million U.S. Department of Labor grant, the goal of the facility is to meet regional needs for certified practitioners in the areas of energy assessment and energy-efficient installation. The LEED-certified building features rainwater recycling that provides all gray water usage, a 20-kilowatt solar array, off the grid parking lights and a geothermal array.
Monash U Student Housing Achieves Green Rating
(Australia): A student residential development has achieved a Green Star rating for sustainable construction. The residences offer students low-cost housing funded through the National Rental and Affordability Scheme. Sustainable features include a gray water treatment facility, a 155-kilowatt photovoltaic system and garden beds and orchards that enable the students to harvest their own food.
U California System Achieves 100 LEED Certifications
With the recent LEED Gold certification of the University of California, Los Angeles’ Clinical and Translational Research Center, the University of California system has hit a milestone of 100 LEED-certified facilities. The UC system policy requires that all new buildings and major retrofits meet LEED standards, See also: AASHE Resources on Campus Green Buildings
Linfield College Receives LEED Gold for Green Restoration
The historic classroom building features 85 solar panels, recycled construction materials and an educational LCD screen that monitors energy consumption, water use, heating use, solar energy production and weather data. Additional features include a "cool roof" that deflects heat and a digital control system that heats or cools the building based on classroom schedules and current temperatures.
Mid-South CC Dedicates Renewable Energy Center
Designed to meet LEED certifications, the building features a geothermal system that will generate as much energy as is consumed on-site. In partnership with Arkansas State University, Montana State University-Northern and the University of Memphis, the center will support entrepreneurs, workforce training and applied research in the use of renewable agricultural outputs.
