BOCA RATON, Fla. ­— Lynn University’s loft-style campus apartments recently achieved LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Lynn University’s Mary and Harold Perper Residence Hall recently received LEED Silver certification for its accomplishments in energy consumption, water efficiency, and other green initiatives. Lynn University’s student body included 2,232 undergrads, 791 graduate and 70 doctoral students as of fall 2018. The 60,000-square-foot development is part of Lynn University’s campus masterplan.

Designed by Gensler, the residence hall opened in August 2017 and includes loft-style apartments for 170 upperclassmen students, as well as a courtyard, two patios, a fire pit and grills. A community space has a TV lounge, collaboration room and full kitchen where students can relax, study and socialize together.

USGBC awards certifications based on points applicants earn across several categories. Perper Residence Hall earned LEED Silver for:

• Water efficiency: The campus taps into an IRIS Loop, a non-potable water source, which allows it to use reclaimed (recycled) water for the irrigation system. Additionally, water-efficient faucets, toilets and showerheads utilize 40.34 percent less water than similar buildings.
• Sustainable site: Forty-four percent of the site is dedicated to vegetated open space, an exemplary accomplishment, according to LEED rating systems. It is also made up of drought-tolerant native plants, including sabal palms, a thatch palm and a live oak tree in the courtyard.
• Energy and atmosphere: The building uses 33.77 percent less energy than a code-compliant baseline.
• Indoor environmental quality: Low-emitting paints, adhesives and flooring products provide enhanced indoor air quality. All installed carpet is certified by the CRI Green Label Plus program. Additionally, over 90 percent of indoor spaces have a nature view.
• Materials and resources: Over 20 percent of project materials are composed of recycled content, and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled. In addition, more than 50 percent of the structure’s wood was harvested from a responsibly managed forest.

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BOULDER, Colo. — The Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE), which opened in the heart of the University of Colorado Boulder’s main campus last summer, has been awarded LEED Gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 114,000-square-foot CASE building serves as a new gateway to the campus that supports the academic and student experience from the time prospective students first visit campus through their time at CU Boulder, to graduation and beyond. The latest recognition brings the total number of CU Boulder buildings with LEED certification to 27, either for new construction or major renovations.

“Earning LEED certification for such a prominent building on our campus is exciting as it helps place our commitment to sustainable and efficient building practices front and center in the CU Boulder landscape,” said David Kang, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability.

Noresco provided sustainability consulting services to CU Boulder to ensure that sustainability goals of the CASE project were achieved. Oz Architecture and Bora Architects led design of the building, while GH Phipps Construction Cos., served as general contractor.

Sustainability was woven into systems throughout the CASE building. One of the most prominent features is the electrochromic glass installed at the top-level terraces. The glazing on these south-facing windows self-dims as sun exposure increases, minimizing heat gain and glare while highlighting the breathtaking views of the Flatirons mountains beyond. Also significant was construction of the building atop an existing parking garage, avoiding consumption of green space and actually introducing new sources of vegetation to the site on the north-facing slope.

Other sustainability highlights that bolstered the CASE building’s LEED score include:

• LED lighting throughout that contributes to 32 percent energy savings versus a baseline office and classroom building

• Low-flow plumbing features to conserve water, contributing to a 40 percent reduction in indoor water use versus a baseline office and classroom building

• 67 percent of construction waste diverted from landfills

• HVAC and envelope designed to provide a comfortable thermal environment to promote occupant productivity and well-being

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“We are excited to recognize a group of honorees who represent the breadth and depth of sustainability education and leadership,” said Anisa Heming, director, Center for Green Schools at USGBC, in a statement. “The hard work being done by this year’s recipients is nothing short of inspiring and a reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together around our schools.”

This year, the Best of Green Schools Awards recognized 11 individuals, institutions and projects that represent the best environmental efforts in schools across the country and highlight the national leaders and innovators in school sustainability.

“Every movement needs leaders and this year’s Best of Green Schools honorees reflect the transformative leadership that is needed to move the green schools movement from niche to mainstream,” said Jennifer Seydel, executive director, Green Schools National Network, in a statement. “I applaud their passion and selfless dedication to co-creating a sustainable future for us all.”

This year’s recipients, per category, include:

Ambassador: Christos Chrysiliou (Los Angeles); As LA Unified School District’s director of architecture and engineering, Chrysiliou has provided remarkable leadership, integrating measurable sustainability goals and promoting green practices across the district, city and country.

Business Leader: Legrand North and Central America (West Hartford, Conn.); Through its Better Communities-Better Schools program, Legrand has raised thousands of dollars for several Green Apple Day of Service projects in schools across the U.S., and employees have supported a variety of efforts, from a solar-paneled garden shed to a green playground.

Collaborator: EcoRise (Austin, Texas); EcoRise is a pioneer in K–12 sustainability education, serving more than 400 schools with innovative and proven curricula and teacher training that has impacted 50,000 students. With EcoRise’s support, students have reduced campus energy bills and watering needs, installed gardens and more.

Higher Education Institution: Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus (Pittsburgh); Chatham University’s new Eden Hall is self-sustaining in every way. By protecting valuable watersheds, incorporating surrounding land and agricultural resources, and rehabilitating existing farmland, Eden Hall is a one-of-a-kind venue for education, conferences, community outreach and ecotourism.

K-12 School (K-8): Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School (Maplewood, Mo.); MRHMS believes that sustainable schools provide all community members the greatest opportunities for success. It has integrated sustainability and green practices into its curriculum, including lessons in gardening, aquaponics, urban chickens, beehives, composting and rain gardens.

K-12 School (High School): Eisenhower High School (Goddard, Kan.); Eisenhower High School aims to prepare its students to make sustainable decisions every day, fostering environmental literacy and stewardship by incorporating the environment into lesson plans, including its award-winning outdoor wildlife learning site, 14 garden beds and nature trail.

Moment for the Movement: Green Schools Catalyst Quarterly (Madison, Wis.); GSCQ is a peer-reviewed digital journal that highlights evidence-based practices for green, healthy, sustainable schools. GSCQ’s in-depth coverage includes qualitative and quantitative research and explores emergent issues like net-zero energy, waste and water.

School System: Oak Park Unified School District (Oak Park, Calif.); As the first National Green Ribbon School District in California, Oak Park has modeled creative environmental education strategies including building a classroom entirely from recycled sea containers, and eliminating pesticides and rodenticides from the districts’ pest management system.

Student Leader: Maegan Rosario (Ewa Beach, Hawaii); Rosario is an exceptional advocate of environmental stewardship, consistently committing her free time to maintain her school’s aquaponics system, garden and vermicomposting bin, and coordinating community beach cleanups and recycling drives.

Transformation: Marumsco Hills Elementary School (Woodbridge, Va.); Since forming a student-led Green Team, the culture at Marumsco Hills Elementary School has transformed into one that values sustainability, with students actively collaborating with staff and administrators to implement green programs.

Policymaker: Kathleen Gebhardt (Boulder, Colo.); An instrumental player in passing the 2008 legislation establishing the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) capital construction grant program, Gebhardt remains a strong advocate through her leadership on the BEST board. Her work has helped fund 319 requests to address deteriorating school facilities in Colorado, positively affecting nearly 180,000 students.

In its inaugural year, the Green Apple Day of Service Awards also recognized three leaders and two projects that have collectively engaged and inspired a network of nearly one million volunteers around the world.

These recipients include:

Angelica Rockquemore (Standout Leader): With overwhelming community support, Rockquemore coordinated projects at two elementary schools in Hawaii to support STEM, sustainability and culture-based learning objectives, including building a water wall, custom weather monitoring data station, a closed-loop irrigation system and more.

Ibrahim Kronfol (Standout Leader): For six years, Kronfol has worked to spread awareness and encourage students to be good stewards of the environment through projects in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and India. Through his efforts, 77 volunteers working in 10 schools have positively impacted 1,000 students in 2017 alone.

Ocean Bay Elementary School (Standout Project): Through their SMART Recycling program, Ocean Bay Elementary in Myrtle Beach, S.C., reduced waste going to landfill, and also planted a community garden.

Peggy Soll (Standout Leader): Soll was the driving force behind the creation of an outdoor classroom at Washburn Elementary School in Bloomington, Minn., which features several learning elements like vegetable and pollinator gardens, bluebird houses, dry stream, gathering space, and tree huts for reflection, reading and writing.

Solana Ranch Elementary School (Standout Project): As part of its sixth consecutive Green Apple project, Solana Ranch Elementary School in San Diego, Calif., introduced a “FarmBot” — a precision cultivation tool to reduce water use, energy, transportation and crop grow time — to its STEAM program, among other activities.

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