"Facility Planning Director Roger Lujan recently announced that the University of New Mexico plans to seek “green” building certification for the new School of Architecture and Planning.
The United States Green Building Council (USGBS) established criteria on a point system to determine the level of sustainable design incorporated into structures and projects.
Certification as a “LEED” building, or “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design,” is established in several categories, including water efficiency, use of renewable energy sources, use of recyclables in construction and indoor air quality.
Only one building in New Mexico is LEED certified. The Baca/Dlo’ Ay Azhi Consolidated Replacement School in Prewitt, New Mexico, received certification with the minimum 26 points.
Lujan said that UNM has incorporated many criteria for a long time. “We’ve never checked our buildings against the standard before,” he said. Lujan said low-flow toilets, harvesting rainwater and energy efficient lighting are just a few ways UNM has gone “green.”
LEED has four certification levels: certification, silver, gold and platinum. “We counted credits we think we could get and came up with 37. Thirty-eight is the top of the silver level,” Lujan said.
Lujan and his employees in Facility Planning are submitting the application. “The architect, Antoine Predock, sat down with us and helped us create the strategies. He had already designed the building to provide shade on the south side, use low-transmission glass and other elements that are required,” he said.
Lujan said there are no cash incentives for getting the building LEED certified. “Other campuses are tabulating how they’re doing in this arena. We see the overall benefit to the campus and the state to save energy. We’ll be assessed to see how we’re doing,” he said.
Lujan said that students are weighing in. “A group, Students for Clean Energy, came in and asked questions about UNM’s policies because they’re applying for a grant to look at clean energy use at UNM,” he said.
Lujan said that groundbreaking for the building is scheduled for mid-December. “Processing the LEED application process takes about 45 days following occupancy of the project provided all documentation has been sent in prior to that date. At this time, occupancy is scheduled for August 2006,” he said.
Lujan noted that the School of Architecture and Planning has experts in sustainable design on faculty including Stephen Dent and Kuppaswamy Iyengar. “Alf Simon, the director of the school’s landscape architecture program, will be working with Bob Johns, UNM to seek ‘green’ certification for new architecture building who has been commissioned as the building’s landscape architect,” Lujan said.
Lujan said that certification is a process. “It will be a challenge to see if USGBS supports our goals and if we meet theirs.”
“LEED” criteria:
· Sustainable sites – including site selection, access to alternative transportation, storm water management, landscape and exterior design to reduce heat islands and light pollution reduction. Total possible points: 14
· Water efficiency – providing water efficient landscaping, capturing rainwater for landscaping and the use of water reduction plumbing, such as low-flow toilets. Total possible points: 5
· Energy and atmosphere – optimizing energy performance, reduction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, use of renewable energy sources. Total possible points: 17
· Materials and resources – provide locations for collecting, separating and storing recyclables, building constructed of reusable materials, construction waste management, resource reuse and local/regional materials that are manufactured and/or harvested, extracted or recovered locally and that documentation declaring wood-based materials conform to Forest Stewardship Council Guidelines. Total possible points: 13
· Environmental quality – indoor air quality performance, carbon dioxide monitoring, increase ventilation effectiveness, low-emitting materials (adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet, wood), indoor chemical and pollutant source control, operable windows, thermal comfort, daylight and views. Total possible points: 15
· Design excellence – innovative design, LEED accredited. Total possible points: 5
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920