Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.76
Liaison Mark Youndt
Submission Date March 10, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Skidmore College
OP-4: Building Design and Construction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.08 / 3.00 Levi Rogers
Director of Sustainability Programs and Assessment
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space (include projects completed within the previous five years) :
197,037 Square feet

Floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space certified Living under the Living Building Challenge:
0 Square feet

Floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space certified at each level under a rating system for design and construction used by an Established Green Building Council (GBC) :
Certified Floor Area
LEED BD+C Platinum or at the highest achievable level under another rating system 0 Square feet
LEED BD+C Gold or at the 2nd highest level under another 4- or 5-tier GBC rating system 0 Square feet
Certified at mid-level under a 3- or 5-tier GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g. BREEAM, CASBEE, DGNB, Green Star) 0 Square feet
LEED BD+C Silver or at a step above minimum level under another 4- or 5-tier GBC rating system 0 Square feet
LEED BD+C Certified or certified at minimum level under another GBC rating system 0 Square feet

Floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space certified under a non-GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g. Green Globes NC, Certified Passive House):
0 Square feet

Percentage of newly constructed or renovated building space certified under a green building rating system for design and construction:
0

A brief description of the green building rating system(s) used and/or a list of certified buildings and ratings:
---

Floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space that is NOT certified, but that was designed and constructed in accordance with published green building guidelines and policies:
197,037 Square feet

A copy of the green building guidelines or policies :
The green building guidelines or policies:

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Our Common Future, 1987, World Commission on Environment and Development)
The Issue.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, humanity’s use of natural resources has exceed the regenerative capacity of the earth since the 1980’s. In 1961, human demand was about 70 percent of the earth’s regenerative capacity. By the 1980’s, demand had exceeded supply by at least 20 percent. Currently, it is estimated that it takes over fifteen months to renew what humanity uses in twelve.

Skidmore’s Commitment:
The college community knows that the imbalance described above cannot continue. It recognizes that it exists as one of many interconnected communities and that all are affected by personal and institutional choices. Goal #3 of the College’s strategic plan, calls to “Develop, broaden, and deepen the College's connections to the local
community; enhance our ability to function as a socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen.” Accordingly, it expresses a commitment to “Make the Skidmore campus an environmental laboratory, increase our emphasis on responsible planning for environmentally sustainable operation, and continue efforts to reduce the College's "environmental footprint." Promote a campus intellectual climate that supports these goals.”

Current Programs:
Skidmore College has been concentrating on issues such as waste reduction, recycling, environmentally-preferable purchasing and energy conservation. In recent construction, the college has focused on sustainable site locations, water efficiency, energy renewal and conservation, indoor air quality, indigenous and low maintenance landscapes and sustainably harvested or recycled materials. Each of these issues can be a learning experience and students are eager to participate.

Programs to Consider:
In looking to expand sustainability, the college must strive to find a balance between sound fiscal practices and environmental responsibility. For construction, the college should endeavor to design new buildings and renewing existing buildings to meet standards set by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The college should also consider monitoring other emerging national and international organizations, initiatives and standards, and their short and long term effects on campus.

In facilities operations, the college should consider alternative energy sources such as wind, geothermal and photovoltaics. It should document and monitor its carbon balance.

Creative thought may matter more here than any other issue the college faces. As a leader in its community, as a center of learning and scholarship, and as an institution with a very long time horizon, Skidmore has a responsibility to endeavor to do everything within its means to foster sustainability.


Do the green building guidelines or policies cover the following?:
Yes or No
Impacts on the surrounding site (e.g. guidelines to reuse previously developed land, protect environmentally sensitive areas, and otherwise minimize site impacts) Yes
Energy consumption (e.g. policies requiring a minimum level of energy efficiency for buildings and their systems) Yes
Building-level energy metering Yes
Use of environmentally preferable materials (e.g. guidelines to minimize the life cycle impacts associated with building materials) Yes
Indoor environmental quality (i.e. guidelines to protect the health and comfort of building occupants) Yes
Water consumption (e.g. requiring minimum standards of efficiency for indoor and outdoor water use) Yes
Building-level water metering No

A brief description of the green building guidelines or policies and/or a list or sample of buildings covered:

General standards are outlined in the 2007 Campus Plan that prioritize a focus on the categories above. Specific project features are determined during the design phase for each individual project. The following buildings constructed in the last five years met the outlined criteria: Northwoods Extention: 10 Whitman Way, Northwoods Extention: 12 Whitman Way Northwoods Extention: 14 Whitman Way, Hillside Apartment: Building A, Hillside Apartment: Building B, Sussman Village: Building F, Sussman Village: Building G, Sussman Village: Building H, Sussman Village: Building I, Sussman Village: Building J, Sussman Village: Building K, Sussman Village: Building L.


A brief description of how the institution ensures compliance with green building design and construction guidelines and policies:

Capital Projects, Facilities and Sustainability departments work in conjunction to guarantee green compliance.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Many of the College’s newly constructed buildings were built to LEED standards, but the College has not sought LEED certification. Instead, Skidmore allocated the funding that would have been used to certify the building toward additional sustainable building features.

The Zankel Music Center utilizes geothermal heating and cooling energy, low-flow water fixtures, a heat recovery wheel, natural lighting, LED stage lighting, energy efficient lighting and windows, occupancy sensors, and the building is highly insulated for sound and energy efficiency.

Northwoods Village Apartments is built on a former "brown" site. The buildings utilize sustainably harvested wood for trim, recycled material for the roofs, doors, and building frames, and low-emitting materials in paints, carpets, and adhesives. The buildings were designed to utilize daylight and all lighting fixtures in the complex use high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Murray-Aikins Dining Hall was renovated in 2006. The dining hall is heated and cooled with geothermal energy. The building features energy efficient lights and windows, low-flow water fixtures, and a trayless dining program to minimize food waste.

Sussman Village Apartments: The buildings in the Sussman Apartment Village exceed state minimum R-values and were built with recycled-content materials. On-site stone material was repurposed for retaining walls, and waste materials were reused for roadway foundations. Village walking paths are made with pervious pavement, and a rain garden was built to capture and filter stormwater.

The College is currently raising funds for a new Center for Integrated Sciences building. The building is designed to meet LEED standards (Silver at a minimum), and these ~100,000 sq. ft. will be certified.

The following buildings were designed and constructed in accordance with green building guidelines and policies, but were not LEED certified:
1. Zankel Music Center
2. Northwoods Apartment Buildings 10, 12, and 14
3. Murray-Aikins Dining Hall
4. Sussman Apartment Buildings A, B, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L


Many of the College’s newly constructed buildings were built to LEED standards, but the College has not sought LEED certification. Instead, Skidmore allocated the funding that would have been used to certify the building toward additional sustainable building features.

The Zankel Music Center utilizes geothermal heating and cooling energy, low-flow water fixtures, a heat recovery wheel, natural lighting, LED stage lighting, energy efficient lighting and windows, occupancy sensors, and the building is highly insulated for sound and energy efficiency.

Northwoods Village Apartments is built on a former "brown" site. The buildings utilize sustainably harvested wood for trim, recycled material for the roofs, doors, and building frames, and low-emitting materials in paints, carpets, and adhesives. The buildings were designed to utilize daylight and all lighting fixtures in the complex use high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Murray-Aikins Dining Hall was renovated in 2006. The dining hall is heated and cooled with geothermal energy. The building features energy efficient lights and windows, low-flow water fixtures, and a trayless dining program to minimize food waste.

Sussman Village Apartments: The buildings in the Sussman Apartment Village exceed state minimum R-values and were built with recycled-content materials. On-site stone material was repurposed for retaining walls, and waste materials were reused for roadway foundations. Village walking paths are made with pervious pavement, and a rain garden was built to capture and filter stormwater.

The College is currently raising funds for a new Center for Integrated Sciences building. The building is designed to meet LEED standards (Silver at a minimum), and these ~100,000 sq. ft. will be certified.

The following buildings were designed and constructed in accordance with green building guidelines and policies, but were not LEED certified:
1. Zankel Music Center
2. Northwoods Apartment Buildings 10, 12, and 14
3. Murray-Aikins Dining Hall
4. Sussman Apartment Buildings A, B, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.