UC Berkeley is Committed to Constructing LEED Certified Buildings
The Berkeley campus has a diverse set of buildings including offices, classrooms, libraries, residences, and laboratories. Laboratories in particular have high energy and water loads relative to office buildings, and may produce significant toxic and non-toxic waste. In spite of the challenges associated with campus growth, UC Berkeley is committed to constructing buildings that are certified LEED (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Green Building Rating System™) or equivalent, and the campus Strategic Energy Plan will continue to make existing buildings more efficient. The campus has completed its first LEED Silver (New Construction) certified building (the Haste Street Child Development Center) and has plans to certify 10 more new buildings projects and four existing buildings (under the LEED-EBOM program).
UCB Has Achieved 50%-90% Construction Waste Diversion
Capital Projects has made many achievements in mitigating the end phase impacts of buildings. The concrete, rebar, and metal generated during a demolition represent a tremendous amount of waste if not diverted, so campus requires that a minimum of 50% construction waste be diverted. Recent projects have actually achieved diversion rates of over 90%.
Building Awards on Campus
Building projects at UC Berkeley have also received several awards and recognitions of exemplary performance in several green building areas. In 2006, the new Early Childhood Education center received a Best Practice Award for its Integrated Design Process. In 2008, the design of the new Li Ka Shing Biomedical building was acknowledged with a Best Practice Awards for HVAC Design.
|