Greening the Campus

The new STEPS facility aims to achieve a LEED Certified rating, certifying it as environmentally friendly and sustainable. LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, established by the U. S. Green Building Council, is the nationally accepted standard for green buildings. LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The new facility will be designed to minimize global environmental impacts and to raise awareness of sustainable development on campus and power and utility consumption within buildings. For more information on green building and LEED certification, visit the U.S. Green Building Council at http://www.usgbc.org/.

STEPS Green Building Features

Site Selection

• The building will preserve a large portion of the site's original green lawn space, making it ideal for social and recreational use. Outdoor-oriented student and faculty campus life will enliven the sun-filled open lawn and the planted, shaded seating areas that surround the new building complex.
• Planted areas will function as shade gardens with benches and sculpture to complement the activity of the lawn while also positively contributing to the region's microclimate.
• The site will include ample bike storage and shower facilities provided.

Lighting

• The facility is sited to take advantage of natural day-lighting opportunities to provide sunny outdoor spaces and interior spaces that bring daylight deep into the building while lowering energy costs by minimizing the need for electric lighting during daylight hours.
• Each face of the building is tuned with respect to solar orientation. Sunshades and fritted glass are provided on east, west and south facades to mitigate solar heat gain at fenestrations.
• Skylights introduce natural light at key points of building.
• Occupancy sensors will automatically turn lights on and off in offices.

Water and Eco-System Quality

• Water conservation is a primary component of the building's resource management strategy. Domestic water usage will be reduced by 20 percent vs. the LEED standard.
• Low-flow and dual-flush plumbing fixtures for toilets and urinals will reduce the sewer flow rate of 1,509,262 gallons per year which is a savings of 24 percent over the LEED-base case of 1,982,388 gallons per year.

Landscape

• An Energy Star roof membrane will reduce heat-island effect on surrounding landscape. Learn more about the U.S. government's Energy Star program at http://www.energystar.gov/.
• An 8,000-square-foot vegetated roof on the A Wing building will retain water and also mitigate the heat-island effect.
• Water conservation is further enhanced by the use of native species plantings. Selected plantings are drought resistant and do not require an irrigation system to flourish.

Indoor Air Quality

• Operable windows will be installed at all faculty offices and all regularly occupied spaces having views to the exterior.
• Zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) finishes will be used, including paints and carpet. Learn more about volatile organic compounds at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html.
• Construction IAQ (indoor air quality) management plan will minimize contaminants during construction.
• A permanent CO2 monitoring system will monitor air quality.
• Exterior walk off mats will be permanently installed in entryway systems to capture particulates before entering the building.
• Dedicated ventilation systems will be provided at copying rooms, kitchens and housekeeping areas.

Sustainable Materials

• The following materials were selected for their durability, low resource burden, or high recycled content:
  • Wood decking and cabinetry (natural, renewable product, Forest Stewardship Council certified)
  • All Concrete Masonry Block contains recycled content (fly ash)
  • All site cast concrete contains recycled content (fly ash or slag)
  • Steel frame contains a minimum of 75% recycled content.
  • Ceramic tile contains recycled content.
  • Toilet partitions contain recycled content.

Limiting Waste

• Construction waste will be diverted from landfills.
• Space will be provided for recycling bins in the trash collection areas.

Building Systems

• Semi-custom air handler units with components were selected for premium efficiency, including heat recovery wheels.
• Radiant heating systems are being utilized for improved efficiency at A Wing and the Atrium spaces, keeping the source of heating and cooling at the floor level.
• Individual occupant lighting and thermal controls will create savings over the lifespan of the building.
• Estimated energy savings: 853,601 kWh/yr, $243,091.00 vs. the LEED standard.
• Estimated Carbon Emissions Avoided*:
  • 18,580 pounds of nitrogen oxides
  • 87,437 pounds of sulfur dioxide
  • 11,978,909 pounds of carbon dioxide
    
    *based upon Environmental Protection Agency Clean Energy Web Site Calculator. Learn more about the Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator at http://www.epa.gov/solar/energy-resources/calculator.html.
• The project will be fully commissioned to help ensure that the building system operations are optimized.
• Set points will be adjusted, through the Building Controls Management System "night time" settings that will allow the University to throttle back the exhaust rates at the laboratory spaces, thereby saving on energy, equipment lifespan, and operating costs.