Amy Garno
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are internationally recognized guidelines used by builders to implement practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions for the life cycle of a building.
Siena Heights University (SHU) is participating in the voluntary green building project in the construction of the McLaughlin University Center. LEED certification will mean that the Student Center will be designed to lower operating cost and increase asset value, reduce waste sent to landfills, and conserve energy and water. This not only demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility, but also provides healthy indoor spaces for the SHU community.
As part of complying with LEED, Siena Heights is using recycling bins located in the back of the new Student Center that are managed by Krieghoff – Lenawee Construction Management during the construction of the new building. For a project as big as the McLaughlin Center, there is a huge amount of material being recycled. In the past nine months of construction there have been 1,289.43 tons of diverted materials that went to recycling compared to 50.51 tons that entered the landfill.
The recycled materials are sorted into six categories: Concrete, metal, wood, asphalt and brick, cardboard and drywall products and are being collected by Republic Waste Services and hauled to local recycling centers.
LEED certification provides independent, third party verification that SHU designed and is building the McLaughlin University Center using strategies that achieve high performance in key areas of environmental health. Categories that are considered include: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
The rating systems generally have 100 base points plus six innovation in design points and four regional priority points, for a total of 110 points. Each credit is allocated points based on the environmental impacts and human benefits of the building- related impacts that it addresses. To be certified, SHU must earn 40-49 points, to receive silver status: 50-59 points, gold status: 60-79 points and platinum status: 80+ points.
The goal of the rating system is to institutionalize a process of reporting, inspection and review over the lifespan of a building. When the McLaughlin Center is completed, it will be reviewed by the Green Building Counsel to determine if the criteria are met for certification and which category it will fit into.
“SHU has always been an excellent partner with Krieghoff – Lenawee. We are excited about the University’s commitment to the LEED process. If certified, the University Center will be the largest LEED certified project in Lenawee County to date,” noted Debbie McClellan, LEED AP, Krieghoff – Lenawee Construction Management.
LEED is a constantly evolving rating system that increases in scope and stringency as the market increases and new technologies become widely available. The success of LEED is primarily due to the leadership and commitment of volunteers, members and partner Green Building Councils around the world. LEED is recognized in more than 140 countries worldwide as a driver for global market transformation.
For more information about LEED certification visit the U.S. Green Building Counsel’s website http://www.usgbc.org/leed/certification