| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.83 |
| Liaison | Andrew Porter |
| Submission Date | March 10, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Cincinnati
OP-4: Building Design and Construction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.88 / 3.00 |
Daniel
Hart Sustainability Coordinator Planning + Design + Construction |
Total floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space (include projects completed within the previous five years) :
Floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space certified Living under the Living Building Challenge:
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 | 538,672 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):
Percentage of newly constructed or renovated building space certified under a green building rating system for design and construction:
A brief description of the green building rating system(s) used and/or a list of certified buildings and ratings:
Morgens, 152,845 SF, Silver \ Nippert, 117, 586 SF, Silver \ Scioto, 154,931 SF, Silver \ Teacher Dyer Complex, 113,310 SF, Silver
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:
A copy of the green building guidelines or policies :
The green building guidelines or policies:
The University of Cincinnati has a requirement for all new construction, and whenever possible renovations, to be certified LEED Silver or higher. This requirement demonstrates the University’s commitment to responsible design and construction. A critical aspect of this intent, particularly by example, is to reduce risks to employee and student health and safety, and to simplify the maintenance and ensure the longevity of buildings and equipment. The ability to foresee and employ technical innovations to achieve this goal becomes even more critical during times of low available operating cash or credit, which can be an inevitable part of higher education financial cycles, and which must be planned for where feasible.
During the past 16 years of Master Plan construction, The University has experienced a transformation of its campus (nearly 50%) that is historically incomparable. At a commitment of over $2 billion, the journey from departure to destination has produced a cohesive and coherent assembly of new and renovated buildings, recreation facilities, improved residential environments, athletic and performance venues, and sculpted landscapes and plazas. https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/buildings.html
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 | Yes |
A brief description of the green building guidelines or policies and/or a list or sample of buildings covered:
A brief description of how the institution ensures compliance with green building design and construction guidelines and policies:
The University of Cincinnati has a requirement for all new construction, and whenever possible renovations, to be certified LEED Silver or higher. Two of the primary LEED/sustainability focuses are the management of storm water and building energy usage. All new construction projects at the University are encouraged to develop ways of reducing storm water run-off as well as funneling efficiencies gained by a cogeneration central utility plant in order to efficiently condition buildings throughout campus. To further aid in resource management, the University is creating a storm-water master plan. The plan will create a network of storm water infrastructure that can be tapped into as site improvements are made piece by piece across campus.
Work already on-line includes a state of the art co-generation central plant and thermal storage system. The co-generation central utility plant captures rejected heat from power generation and distributes via low pressure steam to buildings throughout the campus. The plant captures heat that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, and reduces the University’s carbon footprint. The thermal storage tank cools water during the summer months in a massive tank under the football practice field. The water is cooled at night when energy demand is low, and makes more efficient use of power supplied by the grid, which is often wasted at night and over-taxed during the day. The project takes advantage of passive cooling by the mass of the earth for use during the next day.
Together, the LEED requirement for Silver Certification for all new construction, development of the design for the storm water master plan, and extending efficiencies created at the central utility plant, have decreased energy usage and have provided a framework of sustainable design for the University to build on.
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:
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.