Green Certification
You already know that the HEC represents cooperation and collaboration
between RCC and SOU. But did you know it also represents exceptional
environmental stewardship?
The RCC/SOU Joint Facility Advisory Council pursued a Leadership in
Environmental Design (LEED)
Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The design team worked with faculty, staff, students, and community
members to establish green priorities for the project. As a result,
the building incorporates a large number of green building and sustainable
strategies. We've listed a number of the strategies below to show you
just how green we are:
Energy and Heat
- Total energy use is 37% better than Oregon Energy Code, resulting
in annual energy cost savings of approximately $37,330 (2007 dollars).
- Building design reduces urban "heat island" effect.
- Heat pipes transfer energy from exhaust air to pre-heat and
pre-cool air supplied to science labs.
- Heat wheels transfer energy from exhaust air to pre-heat and
pre-cool air supplied to all other spaces.
- R-19 batt insulation in steel framing cavities and rigid
insulation keeps the building tight to reduce heat loss and gain.
- Large window-to-wall-ratio uses daylight to significantly reduce
lighting energy use, especially in the classrooms.
Sensors
- CO2 sensors control building ventilation rate based on the number
of people in the building.
- Occupancy sensors control lighting, room temperature setback,
and shut off HVAC to unoccupied spaces.
- Occupancy sensors in labs will reduce the minimum outside air
from 10 air-changes-per-hour (ACH) when occupied, to 4ACH when unoccupied.
Water
On-site stormwater management to control stormwater runoff, reduce
downstream erosion, improve water quality degradation, and prevent
flooding.
- Water-efficient landscaping reduces water use by 50 percent.
- High efficiency condensing boilers and water heaters provide heating
and hot water.
- Ultra-low-flow water delivery conserves water: 1.8 gallon-per-minute
(gpm) showerheads; 0.5 gpm aerators on all lavatories; 0.5 gallon-per-flush
(gpf) urinals; dual-flush water closets with two flush options (0.8
gpf low-flush, 1.6 gpf high-flush) in all women's and unisex restrooms;
low-flush 2.2 gpm aerators on kitchen sink faucets.
- Annual domestic water use 53% less than code.
Building
- Placement adjacent to public transit, with showers provided for
bike commuters.
- Materials selected for recycled content and regional sourcing.
- Interiors designed to promote healthy indoor air quality.
- First LEED-certified project in southern Oregon with a target of
Silver certification.
The RCC/SOU Advisory Committee overseeing development of the HEC is
also exploring the installation of solar panels for long-term savings
on heating and cooling bills.