| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.83 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | Jan. 9, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
OP-3: Building Operations and Maintenance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.29 / 4.00 |
Does the institution have any building space certified under the following green building rating systems for existing buildings?:
| Yes or No | |
| LEED for Existing Buildings or another 4-tier rating system used by an Established Green Building Council (GBC) | No |
| The DGNB system, Green Star Performance, or another 3-tier GBC rating system | No |
| BREEAM-In Use, CASBEE for Existing Building, or another 5-tier GBC rating system | No |
| Other non-GBC rating systems (e.g. BOMA BESt, Green Globes) | No |
A brief description of the green building rating system(s) used and/or a list or sample of certified buildings and ratings:
Total floor area of eligible building space (operations and maintenance):
Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a 4-tier rating system for existing buildings used by an Established Green Building Council::
| Certified Floor Area | |
| Minimum Level (e.g. LEED Certified) | --- |
| 3rd Highest Level (e.g. LEED Silver) | --- |
| 2nd Highest Level (e.g. LEED Gold) | --- |
| Highest Achievable Level (e.g. LEED Platinum) | --- |
Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a 3-tier rating system for existing buildings used by an Established Green Building Council::
| Certified Floor Area | |
| Minimum Level | --- |
| Mid-Level | --- |
| Highest Achievable Level | --- |
Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a 5-tier rating system for existing buildings used by an Established Green Building Council::
| Certified Floor Area | |
| Minimum Level | --- |
| 4th Highest Level | --- |
| Mid-Level | --- |
| 2nd Highest Level | --- |
| Highest Achievable Level | --- |
Floor area of building space that is certified at any level under other green building rating systems for existing buildings:
Floor area of building space that is maintained in accordance with formally adopted sustainable building operations and maintenance guidelines or policies, but NOT certified:
A copy of the sustainable building operations and maintenance guidelines or policies:
The date the guidelines or policies were formally adopted:
A brief description of the sustainable building operations and maintenance program and/or a list or sample of buildings covered:
The WKU Energy Policy, adopted in late 2009, ensures that campus administrative, academic, and even residential buildings, are operated and maintained in an energy efficient and conserving manner. Buildings have been upgraded for lighting, occupancy sensors have been installed, and weatherization performed, among other things. Water efficiency is not explicitly stated in the policy, but efficiency measures have been taken and recorded as part of a 2009 ESPC. The Energy Policy and Electronics purchasing programs ensure Energy Star and EPEAT electronics and appliances. Indoor environmental quality is ensured by the Indoor Air Quality program as well as a Green Cleaning program. All indoor paints used at WKU are low VOC. Each building is measured, and energy use is monitored through our Panoptix commissioning system. Impacts to surrounding sites are minimized through our sustainable landscaping program. While these are not all in one formally adopted policy, each of these guidelines and polices has been formally adopted through related policies and programs, and are standard operating procedure at WKU.
A brief description of how the institution ensures compliance with sustainable building operation and maintenance guidelines and policies:
These guidelines and policies overlap in a variety of policies and programs, including sustainable landscaping, purchasing policies for Energy Star and EPEAT, the WKU Energy Policy, a guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract, Green Cleaning program, and other such programs. Compliance is not in question: these are standard operating procedures for WKU.
The website URL where information about the institution’s certified buildings and/or sustainable operations and maintenance guidelines or policies is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
WKU meets the criteria for OP:3 Building Operations and Maintenance, for #2, operated and maintained in accordance with formally adopted sustainable operations and maintenance guidelines for many of its buildings. Those not included were excluded due to lack of individual building water meters. While there is not ONE policy that covers all of these items, several policies and practices cover all of the elements. They are all standard operating procedure, and therefore we believe meet the STARS definition of policies and procedures whose existence and function are integrated into the institution's organizational structure.
WKU meets the criteria for OP:3 Building Operations and Maintenance, for #2, operated and maintained in accordance with formally adopted sustainable operations and maintenance guidelines for many of its buildings. Those not included were excluded due to lack of individual building water meters. While there is not ONE policy that covers all of these items, several policies and practices cover all of the elements. They are all standard operating procedure, and therefore we believe meet the STARS definition of policies and procedures whose existence and function are integrated into the institution's organizational structure.
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.