Coastal Carolina University Building and Grounds Committee
High Performance Building and Renovation Initiative
WHEREAS Coastal Carolina University recognizes that it consumes energy and material resources and produces waste in large amounts, and thus has a significant environmental impact, and
WHEREAS buildings have a large environmental impact, using two-thirds of total U.S. electricity consumption and, producing one-third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and over 3 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the U.S. annually, and
WHEREAS Coastal Carolina University has made a commitment to achieving sustainability on campus, including operations, and
WHEREAS the U.S. Green Building Council’s nationally-recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program certifies buildings according to sustainability criteria, and
WHEREAS LEED-certified buildings are competitive with convention buildings in first costs; have significantly reduced operating and maintenance costs; last longer; work better; save energy, water, and materials resources; have improved air quality; enhance productivity and learning of users,
BE IT RESOLVED
- That all new construction 5000 ft2 (LEED minimum) at Coastal Carolina University and its satellite campuses should be LEED-certified with a target of silver or higher, including the new arena, football building, science building, classroom buildings, baseball stadium, Myrtle Beach campus, and others scheduled for construction; and
- That all renovations, including Kearns Hall, be LEED-certified with a target of silver or higher or, if that is not possible, use the LEED criteria as a guideline for the renovation such that renovated structures are as sustainable as feasible under the circumstances.
Background
Coastal Carolina University’s Commitment to Sustainability
A revolution is occurring across university campuses throughout the country. The old model of an institution which consumes enormous amounts of energy and material resources and produces massive quantities of waste is being supplanted by the newer vision of an energy-efficient, environmentally-sustainable university. This revolution has been supported by international, national, and state non-profit agencies and programs, including University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, the South Carolina Sustainable Universities Initiative, the National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability provides a healthier environment in which to learn, work, and live; saves resources through water, energy, and material conservation associated with ecological design and best management practices; conserves biodiversity; enhances productivity and learning; and lessens human impact on the environment.
CCU currently practices limited aspects of sustainability in its operations and curriculum. For example, CCU has been one of the top purchasers of green electricity in the state. Additionally, CCU has proposed an extended master plan that seeks “to provide for environmentally sensitive and physically sound growth, for the academic, physical and social benefit of the Students, the University, and the Community.” This plan also contains the following “Planning Guidelines for Growth”:
- 4. Any campus expansion must be sensitive to the existing natural systems, and must serve as an example to the region of “smart”, environmentally sound growth.
- 5. Campus trees and green spaces must be preserved and, if possible, enhanced.
It also contains the following “Planning Considerations”:
- 2. The University should ultimately be transformed into a walking ⁄ biking campus, while addressing accessibility throughout.
- 7. Where feasible, sustainability (“green” buildings), space flexibility, and system quality should be equally high priorities with regard to both renovated and new buildings.
President Ingle has repeatedly stated his personal commitment to the campus environment. In 2001, at a meeting of the SC Sustainable Universities Initiative, in front of an audience that included the presidents of USC, Clemson, and other state universities and colleges, and several SC legislators, President Ingle announced that the planned science building would be a “green” building. In the Spring–Summer 2005 issue of Coastal Carolina University Magazine, President Ingle stated:
We teach environmental responsibility at this institution. We teach the sustainability of our natural resources, and we ought to practice it. We ought to make sure that we are setting an example for others. The physical campus itself should be part of the learning environment for our students, showing them this is the way things should be done.
(Source: A Conversation with President Ingle, Coastal Carolina University Magazine, Spring-Summer 2005)
Several recent events have demonstrated an expanded commitment to achieving a more comprehensive and complete sustainability. These include:
- Becoming a signatory to the South Carolina Sustainable Universities Initiative Presidents’ Pledge in 2001 (appendix 1)
- Establishing the Waccamaw Watershed Academy in 2003
- Adopting the Better Site Design Initiative in 2004 (appendix 2)
- Establishing the CCU Sustainability Initiative in 2005
The CCU Sustainability Initiative represents the strongest statement that CCU intends to transform itself into an environmentally sustainable university. The Initiative’s mission will be accomplished through implementing curricular and extracurricular activities and promoting environmentally-sound practices in all areas of institutional operations, including planning, purchasing, maintenance, landscaping, transportation, dining, waste management, construction, and renovation.
The Center will also serve as a resource to the community and share its knowledge through outreach efforts that include partnerships, consulting, workshops, and mentoring.
Consistent with this ambitious mission, and especially relevant to the subject of this resolution, the CCU Sustainability Initiative is teaming with the Coastal Training Program of the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to stage a workshop entitles High Performance Building on January 25th, 2006 at the Waccamaw Higher Education Center.
High Performance, Green Building
As CCU plans its transformation into a sustainable institution, a major area of focus must be the built environment of the campus. To begin with, buildings have an enormous environmental footprint. In addition, we spend the majority of our time in buildings. Construction, maintenance, and operation of CCU buildings represent a significant portion of the budget. And there is solid scholarship that indicates that how we build structures influences the health, productivity, and learning of occupants. Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”
High performance, green building represents the 21st century solution to the problems associated with conventional construction. The advantages of sustainable buildings include:
Environmental Benefits
A high performance, green building produces less construction and demolition debris (which locally occupies as much as 60% of landfill space), conserves significant amounts of energy and water, uses recycled or low-impact construction materials, employs low-impact building practices, and lasts longer than conventionally-built structures. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that conventional buildings account for 49% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 25% of nitrous oxide emissions, 10% of particulate emissions, and 35% of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions, all of which are reduced in sustainably-built structures.
Economic Benefits
The major economic advantages of a high performance, green building are significantly reduced costs and a structure that actually works for its intended purpose (virtually all conventionally constructed buildings begin operation with numerous major deficiencies that are never corrected).
Until the last few years, a major drawback to green building was increased first costs. Now, studies show that first costs are competitive with those of conventional buildings. Moreover, because of reduced maintenance, operating, and utility costs, green buildings represent the only fiscally responsible construction.
Corporations were among the first to recognize the folly of building conventional structures when the cost of high performance building became competitive. For example, the North American headquarters of Ford Motor Company’s Premier Automotive Group, a 253,000 ft2 structure, were built in 2001 to sustainable standards. Other sectors with LEED buildings include government (federal, state, municipal—see appendix 3), universities, primary and secondary schools, businesses, apartments, museums, churches, utilities, etc. (partial list).
Productivity Benefits
As much as 90% of the total life cycle costs of a building are employee-related. A number of studies have shown that improving indoor air quality and using daylighting enhance employee efficiency and cut down on absenteeism. Other studies have demonstrated that daylighting enhances learning.
An analysis by the consulting firm Capital E estimated that the 20-year net benefit of green building (i.e., including any additional first costs) was $50–65 per ft2. Because green buildings typically outlast conventional structures, this figure represents a conservative estimate.
The LEED Program
The following information on LEED is quoted from the U.S. Green Building Council web site:
“The LEED Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.
LEED was created to:
- define “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement
- promote integrated, whole-building design practices
- recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
- stimulate green competition
- raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
- transform the building market
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
The LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC) rating system is organized into five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. An additional category, Innovation & Design Process, addresses sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not covered under the five environmental categories.
LEED is a performance-oriented system where points are earned for satisfying performance criteria. Different levels of green building certification (certified, silver, gold, platinum) are awarded based on the total points earned. The system is designed to be comprehensive in scope, yet simple in operation.”
