With a LEED Platinum certification, the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center has taken ambitious steps towards integrating sustainability into all aspects of the facility and operation.
By incorporating sustainable technologies and building techniques, the Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center demonstrates sustainable solutions in action and serves as a living laboratory that supports innovations and breakthroughs in research.
In line with the University of California’s comprehensive sustainability policy, the Luskin Conference Center has adopted sustainability commitments and goals in the following areas:
• Green Building Design
• Clean Energy and Climate Protection
• Sustainable Water Systems
• Recycling and Waste Management
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
• Sustainable Foodservice
• Sustainable Transportation
LEED Platinum Certified Green Building Design
The Luskin Conference Center utilized the latest design and construction practices and technologies to conserve energy and water and to maximize the use of recycled and renewable materials. As a result, the facility has achieved the coveted Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and the certification process provides independent verification of a building’s sustainable features. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet, and profit through the creation of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, and cost-effective buildings. The Luskin Conference Center is one of over 50 LEED certified buildings on campus, and features a number of green building elements:
• 50% of the wood used is FSC certified from sustainably managed forests.
• 13% of the building materials are comprised of recycled materials and 10% were procured from within 500 miles.
• All materials used in the interior of the building are low volatile organic compounds (VOC).
• 96.5% of construction waste was diverted from landfill through the use of advanced recycling techniques.
• Operable windows take advantage of natural light and facilitate natural air flow.
Los Angeles Business Council’s Sustainability Award
The Luskin Conference Center was honored with the Sustainability Award by the Los Angeles Business Council at its 47th Annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards held on June 22, 2017. The awards recognized 45 winning projects from a pool of more than 200 submissions. Not only did the project have to be located in Los Angeles County and completed within the last two years, but also the project needed to be targeted LEED Gold or higher. Winners were selected by a blind jury of architects, developers, and contractors from various industries in Los Angeles who voted anonymously on the projects for each category. The jury was impressed by the Luskin Conference Center’s project description and the significant contribution that it makes to the Los Angeles community.
Energy & Water
The Luskin Conference Center has surpassed California’s stringent Title 24 energy code standards by over 20% through strategies such as LED lighting, occupancy sensors, natural ventilation, high-efficiency mechanical systems, cool white roofing, and high-performance windows. A portion of its electricity is generated on-site at the UCLA co-generation plant that is partially fueled by carbon neutral bio-gas. UCLA is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 through conservation, efficiency, renewable energy, and emission offsets.
In an effort to reduce water use, all guest rooms feature high-efficiency sinks, showers, and toilets. The Luskin Conference Center’s water-efficient landscape irrigation and plumbing fixtures yield 41% savings over baseline code requirements, saving an estimated 1.5 million gallons of water per year. Additionally, linen-free meeting spaces and the linen reuse program support water conservation.
Please help conserve energy and water by using these resources responsibly.
Zero Waste
The Luskin Conference Center strives to be a zero waste facility by eliminating the need to send waste to a landfill through the proper sorting and management of all waste materials. Please support this effort by sorting waste materials into the proper waste bin: Recycling, Compost, or Landfill.
Recycling: All plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and metal items.
Compost: All left-over food, food soiled paper products, and compostable room service containers.
Landfill: True trash comprises a very small portion of our waste stream: personal hygiene items, chip bags, foil-lined wrappers.
In addition, the Luskin Conference Center donates all leftover shower amenities to Clean the World, an organization that recycles these items and distributes them to those in need.
Sustainable Food
The Luskin Conference Center’s in-house restaurant, Plateia, strives to source fresh, seasonal ingredients, with a minimum of 20% coming from sustainable, socially responsible, and humane sources. The Luskin Conference Center utilizes a defined list of criteria to identify sustainable ingredients:
- Locally grown with 500 miles of campus
- USDA Certified Organic
- Fair Trade Certified
- Free-range and humane
Sustainable Transportation
The Luskin Conference Center participates in the UCLA Sustainable Transportation program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport to, from, and around the UCLA campus. The program features 100% electric campus shuttles, electric carts, and a bike sharing program. Conference center guests also have access to two car-sharing Zipcars. For more information regarding sustainable transportation options click here.
Sustainable Amenities & Supplies
The Luskin Conference Center is committed to identifying and procuring sustainable products and supplies, ranging from sustainable shower amenities to Green Seal certified cleaning chemicals. The Luskin Conference Center is proud to offer biodegradable, plant-based shower amenities that are paraben and sulfate-free and are never tested on animals. The tubes contain 40% recycled plastic, and the cartons are made with 70% recycled materials.
Guest Participation
The Luskin Conference Center team invites guests to get involved in our sustainability efforts. Information on our sustainability program is provided to guests in the guest room compendium. Place cards are given to guests to indicate if their linens and towels need to be replaced or can be reused.