The Science of Green
Aug 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Raymond Cekauskas and Mark Hartmann
An integrated approach can incorporate sustainability into complex science and laboratory facilities.
What's next?
The elements of sustainability are evolving constantly, and the seriousness of climate change is pushing education institutions to deliver higher-performance buildings. Government, owners, designers and builders are taking action to arrive at carbon-neutral designs for new buildings and major renovations by the year 2030.
California is leading the way with introducing initiatives, passing the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) in 2006. It requires a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This requires a reduction of 15 percent from 2008 levels. Recognizing that even this measure does not adequately address the severity of the climate-change problem, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed California Executive Order S-3-05, which requires an 80 percent reduction of greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2050.
- Read the "Redefining research" sidebar for information on how the University of Cincinnati, which built one of the largest research facilities in the nation, designed it to attain LEED gold certification.
- Read the "Integrating students, city and county" sidebar for information on how California State University Los Angeles received LEED silver certification for one of the nation's largest crime laboratories.
Cekauskas, AIA, LEED AP, EDAC, is a design principal at Harley Ellis Devereaux, Southfield, Mich. He can be reached at (248)233-0079 or rcekauskas@hedev.com. Hartmann, AIA, LEED AP, is an associate with the firm. He can be reached at (312)324-7471 or mchartmann@hedev.com.
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