Richland College Awarded Prestigious LEED® Platinum Green Building Certification
Richland College announced today that its 118,000-square-foot Sabine Hall science building has been awarded LEED® Platinum certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Dr. Kay Eggleston, Richland College interim president, stated, “We are extremely pleased to have earned this LEED-Platinum distinction, as Richland College is continuously committed to reducing its carbon footprint and to exercising leadership in the community by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions to its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community.”
This commitment is evident in the $40 million, 118,000-square-foot facility that houses Richland’s science programs, labs, bookstore, coffee bar and conference rooms. The systems and operation of Sabine Hall function in ways that produce minimal impact to the environment and function in ways that are also eco-friendly and sustaining to the environment.
“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable-built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president/CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Richland College is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”
LEED certification of Richland College’s science building was based on achieving 54 credits for green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself, as well as the broader community. Some of these features include:
• 57,000-gallon underground cistern to collect rainwater, roof run-off, and building condensate for landscape irrigation and toilet operation;
• bioswales of native plant material to filter and direct collected water to underground cistern;
• white reflective roof to minimize heat in the building during warmest periods of the year;
• light monitors and light shelves to harvest and direct sunlight in ways for building use that minimize energy use; and
• green roof terrace and green wall native plants to minimize heat in the building during warmest periods of the year.
For more information, contact Janet James, dean/executive assistant to the president, at Richland College, at 972-238-6974 or JJames@dcccd.edu.
U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.
With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.
Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.
By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.
For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
