-DBusinessNews.com
RALEIGH - Dr. Stephen Scott, president of Wake Technical Community College, is pleased to announce that the first two instructional buildings on Wake Tech’s Northern Wake Campus have received their LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the USGBC’s rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.
”It’s an honor to receive official LEED Certification,” says Dr.
Scott. “This is the kind of growth that’s right for Wake Tech - sustainable, environmentally responsible, and cost effective. We’re being better stewards of community resources and saving money that will
enhance programs and services for students in the long run.”
Wake Tech’s Northern Wake Campus is the first college campus in the nation constructed completely to LEED standards. The Administration Building and the Math & Science Building, which opened for classes in the fall of 2007, were designed by Pearce, Brinkley, Cease + Lee Architecture to meet LEED certification requirements for energy use, lighting, water and material use.
The buildings incorporate a variety of sustainable strategies,
including:
● Orientation to the south to maximize natural light
● Occupancy sensors to turn lights off when rooms are empty
● High-efficiency boilers, chillers and pumps
● Ultra-low flush valves and automatic sensors on toilets and
faucets in restrooms
These features are designed to reduce energy and water use by 30% and 20% respectively. Cost savings for electricity are estimated to total more than $1.8 million over 30 years, while savings from reduced water use should add up to more than $81,000. In addition, builders reduced construction waste on the two buildings by 50% through recycling.
“Dr. Scott’s vision and leadership for a sustainable future and design excellence has paved the way for other Community Colleges, not only in the state but also the nation,” says Doug Brinkley, Director of Sustainability at PBC+L Architecture. “Our firm was proud to have been selected to partner with the College in this very important endeavor.” Brinkley is also Chair of the NC Triangle Chapter of USGBC.
There are four levels of LEED certification - Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. President Scott has issued a mandate for Wake Tech: All new buildings must be constructed to earn LEED Silver certification at a minimum. Building D on the Northern Wake Campus, which opens next week, is designed to reach the level of Silver - or possibly even Gold - of LEED certification.
“Wake Tech’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Wake Tech serves as a prime example of just how much we can accomplish.”
About Wake Technical Community College:
Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) is a two-year, public institution providing education and training for the citizens of Raleigh and surrounding Wake County. Wake Tech provides a comprehensive array of learning opportunities and serves an annual enrollment of more than 70,000 students. Curriculum (for-credit) programs in more than 150 academic, vocational, and technical specialties offer two-year associate degrees in science, applied science, the arts, and general education; university transfer programs for entry into four-year institutions; and diploma and certificate programs that prepare workers to succeed at jobs in high demand in the community. Wake Tech also offers a broad scope of continuing education courses, including training for entrepreneurs and small business owners, public safety officer training (fire, rescue, and law enforcement), high school equivalency classes, and non-credit courses for personal and professional development. As the second largest community college in the state, Wake Tech provides customized workforce training for new and expanding industries and a cooperative education program that interfaces with the corporate community. For more information, please visit http://www.waketech.edu.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups.
For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities. LEED for Healthcare is currently under development and is expected to be released in early 2008. Incentives for LEED are available at the state and local level and LEED has also been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.
Tags: LEED Certified, Schools in North Carolina, Wake Technical Community College