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Georgia State Atlanta campus in the fall

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LEED Certified Buildings: A Closer Look

Building a Greener Future – LEEDing the Way with Sustainable Structures!

Georgia State University’s LEED-certified buildings exemplify climate resilience and engineering excellence. From the Indian Creek Lodge’s open space preservation to the Humanities Law Building’s energy optimization and Science Park Phase II’s strategic site choices, GSU’s commitment to sustainability shapes a resilient academic landscape.

  • GSU Humanities Law Building

    • LEED Type: LEED 2009 New Construction
    • LEED Level: Gold
    • Certification Date: June 21, 2017
    • Rating System: LEED BD+C: New Constructionv3 – LEED 2009
    • Points Earned: 62
    • Click to view the Scoreboard: Humanities Law

      • Water Efficiency: Achieved full compliance in water-efficient landscaping (WEc1)  and use reduction (WEc3). Example: High-efficiency water fixtures.
      • Energy Excellence: Optimized energy performance (EAc1) with 7 out of 19 possible points. Example: Enhanced commissioning and refrigerant management.
      • Waste Management Success: Efficient construction waste management (MRc2) and regional material incorporation (MRc5), contributing to responsible waste management and a focus on locally sourced materials.

  • GSU Indian Creek Lodge

    • LEED Type: LEED 2009 New Construction
    • LEED Level: Certified
    • Certification Date: April 18, 2014
    • Rating System: LEED BD+C: New Constructionv3 – LEED 2009
    • Points Earned: 40
    • Click to view the Scoreboard: GSU Indian Creek

      • Preservation of 77% Open Space: A commitment to maintaining green areas and integrating nature into the architectural design.
      • Renewable Energy Certificates: 100% offset of electricity consumption through the purchase of renewable energy certificates.
      • Water Use Reduction by 35%: Demonstrating substantial strides in water conservation practices.

  • GSU Science Park Phase II

    • LEED Type: LEED 2009 Core and Shell
    • LEED Level: Silver
    • Certification Date: July 25, 2016
    • Rating System: LEED BD+C: Core and Shellv3 – LEED 2009
    • Points Earned: 56
    • Click to view the Scoreboard: Science Park

      • Strategic Site Selection: Full compliance with SSc1 and SSc2, emphasizing excellent site choice for development density and strong community connectivity. Example: Environmentally conscious site selection.
      • Alternative Transportation: Notable achievements in SSc4.1 (Alternative Transportation – Public Transportation Access), emphasizing a commitment to public transportation accessibility. Example: Strategic location with easy access to public transportation options.
      • Stormwater Management: Effective stormwater management in SSc6.1 and SSc6.2, crucial for reducing water-related environmental impacts. Example: Implementation of innovative stormwater management techniques.

Continuing the Journey: More Initiatives at GSU

  • Green Globes Certified

    • Student Recreation Center (2001): Recognized Outstanding Sports Facility, Green Globes certified in 2012.

  • Building Energy Consumption

    • GSU employs a Building Automation System (BAS) to maintain a comfortable working environment, setting occupancy schedules, and running chiller plants at a lower cost per ton of cooling.

  • Energy Conservation Initiatives During Breaks

    • During winter break, GSU shuts down all buildings for three weeks to save energy, turning off HVAC and lights, except for security lighting and HVAC in university housing.
    • The “Shut the Sash” campaign is launched in laboratory spaces during breaks to enhance energy conservation.

  • Greening Georgia State: Faculty-Student Efforts

    • In 2016, GSU launched a Green Space Task Force, led by Dr. Jeremy Diem, exploring new green spaces and increasing the tree canopy on campus.
    • GSU utilizes ORBIO os3 systems for approximately 40% of campus space, aiming to convert all cleaning solutions to “green cleaning” solutions as funding becomes available.

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