Buildings
In 2003, the University of California adopted a landmark policy on Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards that set the stage for the sustainability initiatives now underway across the state.
UC Sustainability Policy
The recently adopted UC Green Building and Clean Energy Policy (Policy) recognizes that resource sustainability is critically important. The Policy promotes the principles of energy efficiency and sustainability in the planning, financing, design, construction, renewal, maintenance, operation, space management, facilities utilization, and commissioning of facilities and infrastructure to the fullest extent possible, consistent with budgetary constraints and regulatory and programmatic requirements, and provides detailed guidelines for implementing practices in support of Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards. In that context, the University is establishing a UC-equivalent certification process (equivalent to the USGBC/LEED certification process) to be applied to all major new construction/renovation projects approved as of July 2004.
- Read the full Policy.
Policy Implementation
As a more local matter, since adoption of the new Policy UCLA has supported staff training in the USGBC Green Building program and using that program has evaluated existing practices to substantiate a sustainability baseline for the campus. This effort has resulted in commitments to revise certain existing campus architectural design guidelines, and mechanical, plumbing and electrical standards, evaluate life-cycle costs, and modify construction documents to apply sustainability principles to new building and major renovation projects undertaken at UCLA. As projects are developed, many more specific sustainability criteria will be evaluated and incorporated as feasible to increase sustainable building practices, and the sustainability baseline demonstrates that the campus can easily achieve LEED-equivalent certification for new construction and major renovation projects.
UCLA's Green Buildings
The UCLA LaKretz Hall in the Court of Sciences, that houses the Institute of the Environment and classroom space, is the first green building to be constructed on campus and aims to achieve a LEED Silver rating. Upcoming projects in planning that will incorporate green building criteria in accord with the Policy include: a new life sciences laboratory building, a student commons building at the Weyburn Terrace housing development, and a replacement food facility/student center in the Court of Sciences.
For more information visit UCLA Capital Programs.
Published: Monday, April 14, 2008
