Green as the New Norm
Feb 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mike Kennedy (mkennedy@asumag.com)
More schools and universities are embracing environmentally sensitive practices as they build and renovate facilities.
Lasell College's Rockwell Dormitory in Newton, Mass., designed by Steffian Bradley Architects Photographer: Robert Benson/Robert Benson Photography
Before architect Chris Waltz moved overseas in 2004, sustainable building design "was just a little cult topic," he recalls. But when he returned to the United States three years later, it was clear that things had changed.
"All of a sudden, I couldn't turn around without hearing about it," says Waltz, a senior associate at Steffian Bradley Architects. "Everyone knew what LEED was — I used to have to spend a lot of time explaining to clients what that was."
The numbers back up Waltz's assertion. Lured by the recognition that comes with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, many schools and universities have become aware of that certification process. But for years, the involvement was limited to a few trendsetters; according to the Green Building Council's database, only about 120 K-12 school facilities have received LEED certification since 2001. But as of January 2009, the list of K-12 education construction projects that have applied for LEED certification has swelled to more than 1,000.
"It's clear that the interest in green design is building," says Larry Eisenberg, executive director of facilities, planning and development for the Los Angeles County Community College District. "A tidal wave is forming and it will crest soon."
With a new administration in place in Washington that openly acknowledges the need to reduce global warming and the benefits of more healthful and energy-efficient practices in building and operating facilities, the green movement will continue to evolve from a rare and unconventional approach into a routine and accepted way of doing business.
Trailblazing in L.A.
Many college campuses have taken great strides to make their campuses more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but one of the trendsetters in the green movement might seem unlikely. With more than $5.7 billion available in bond proceeds, the Los Angeles Community College District bills its construction program as one of the largest public sector green building efforts in the United States.
"When people find out what we've been doing, they're completely blown away," says Eisenberg. "They say, 'Oh my gosh, you're a community college. This is MIT-type stuff.'"
The community college district's commitment to green design and construction has its roots around 2001 when it was preparing to put a $1.25 billion bond proposal on the ballot. Environmental and community activists lobbied the district to incorporate sustainable design practices into the projects it was planning.
"They said, 'you could really set an example here,'" says Eisenberg. "The idea resonated and led in 2002 to our sustainable building policy."
The policy mandates that all new buildings funded with at least 50 percent bond dollars should meet LEED standards.
How did the community college district become a flagship for green design and construction?
"It's a unique confluence of factors," Eisenberg says. "We have staff commitment, money, a supportive board and the will to do it."
Voters approved the $1.25 billion bond proposal in 2001, a $980 million package in 2003, and, despite the ailing economy, a $3.5 billion request in 2008.
The poor economy has some benefits for the district, which has about 188,000 students. "It's countercyclical," says Eisenberg. "We get our best enrollment in down economic times. And for construction, prices are down, and we are getting great bids."
The green approaches on the community college system's nine campuses range from long-accepted environmental efforts, such as energy-efficient climate control systems, daylighting strategies and wind power, to more innovative and unfamiliar products, such as a coating known as UV-PCO (Ultra-Violet Photocatalytic Oxidation). The coating contains a chemical that, when it comes into contact with sunlight or fluorescent light, reacts and forms cleansing agents that make the facility virtually self-cleaning, Eisenberg says. The district applied the coating to the Child Care Facility at Los Angeles Southwest College.
"It's been a year now, and it looks as good as it did on day one," says Eisenberg. "We've never cleaned the walls or washed the windows. We're going to put it on all 455 buildings."
Even more familiar techniques, such as solar power, are being carried out on such a massive scale that it's hard to ignore the district's green efforts.
At East Los Angeles College, the district has installed a 1.2 megawatt solar farm. It consists of nearly 6,000 solar panels that are installed above carports that provide parking for 530 cars. Eisenberg says the panels save the college $400,000 in energy costs. The panels provide other benefits, too.
"One student was asked what she thought about the panels, and she said, 'Wow, I like the shaded parking,'" Eisenberg says.
As green initiatives are becoming more commonplace, Eisenberg says the system's goal is to stay at the forefront of the green movement.
"Our goal is to get to the zero-energy standard and demonstrate to others that it's possible," says Eisenberg. "We want to take it to the next stage."
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus
