Campus Sustainability
Contact Information:
UCCS Office of Sustainability
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy CSB 207
Colorado Springs CO 80918
sustain@uccs.edu
Telephone: 719-255-3089
Linda Kogan
Director, Office of Sustainability
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy CSB 207
Colorado Springs CO 80918
lkogan@uccs.edu
Telephone: 719-255-3757
Sustainability Tours:
Members of the UCCS Sustainability Office are available to lead campus tours that highlight sustainability initiatives. Highlights include a focus on LEED certification and high performance buildings, including the Recreation Center and Science Engineering, introduction to our single-stream recycling program, and a visit to our organic garden. Please call us at 255-3089 so that we can design a tour that meets the needs of your group.
Home > Buildings
High Performance Buildings
Buildings fundamentally impact people's lives and the health of the planet. In the United States, buildings use one-third of our total energy, two-thirds of our electricity, one-eighth of our water, and transform land that provides valuable ecological resources.
Our objective is a sustainable infrastructure with buildings that exemplify best practices with regard to sustainable development: materials, energy and water conservation, and occupant health, safety, and well-being. As well, our objective is to provide a sustainability living laboratory -- a learning experience above and beyond the classroom.
Consistent with Colorado Senate Bill 07-51, UCCS will institute a policy of constructing and operating to the highest LEED certification possible (within 5 % of the budget) for buildings that receive a minimum of 25% funding from the state. For other non state-funded buildings, UCCS will institute a system to internally audit buildings to achieve a LEED Silver or equivalent certification.
About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
A sixth category, Innovation and Design Process, awards points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by LEED and/or innovative performance in green building categories not specifically address by the LEED Green Building Rating System. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category.
LEED benefits include:
- Lower operating and life cycle costs,
- Lower water and energy resource use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,
- Serve as a living laboratory and foundation for future sustainability efforts,
- Demonstrate the university's commitment to sustainability and the health and
wellness of building users.
Building Updates
Campus Recreation Center
The Campus Recreation Center is the first public building in southern Colorado to earn LEED Gold certification and the first certified building on the UCCS campus. The $12M, 54,000 square foot center was designed to meet the needs of a growing residential student body. 40 LEED points were achieved -- see the details here.
Environmental highlights of the Recreation Center:
- Solar thermal system to provide 2/3 of heat needed for swimming pool,
- Insulated Concrete Form walls provide a high insulation value of R39,
- 89% of the construction waste was recycled,
- The building is designed to be 38% more water efficient than a comparable conventionally built building,
- Views to the outside are available for 90% of spaces,
- The building is designed to be 32% more energy efficient than a conventional building.
UCCS received a $20,000 grant from the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) to fund planning efforts in sustainable design. The GEO provided an additional $25,000 to help fund the solar thermal system.
View the interactive kiosk to learn more about our green Recreation Center.
Science & Engineering Building
The new $56M Science & Engineering Building was opened in May, 2009 and accomodated full classes in fall 2009. The 165,000 square feet building with over 50 laboratories provides infrastructure for interdisciplinary teaching and research and fosters collaboration and innovation in engineering, science, biotechnology, national security and K-12 education .
UCCS earned 40 points for the building, which achieved a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. View the LEED checklist here. Environmental and energy efficiency features of the building include:
- Funded by student fees, a 13.6 kW thin-film laminate solar photovoltaic system on the roof that provides electricity for the building,
- Ice storage system to shift electricity loads to off-peak hours, reducing costs and demand for electricity at the local coal-fired power plant,
- Heat recovery system to capture energy from the building exhaust air and reuse it to precondition the make-up air supply,
- Designed energy savings of 31% more than a baseline building,
- Designed water savings of 42% more than baseline buildings,
- A construction waste recycling rate of 94%.
View the interactive kiosk to learn more about our green Science & Engineering Building.
Conference and Events Center
The $9M Conference and Events Center, expected to be completed in December 2009, is an addition to the existing University Center of approximately 27,000 gross square feet located adjacent to the existing gymnasium, with an upper level connection to Dwire Hall. The main interior space will be a single level multi-use space accommodating a gymnasium with collapsible bleachers to seat 1,400 spectators.
UCCS is pursuing LEED Silver for the building -- see the LEED checklist. Check for construction updates here.
Science Renovation
This $17M project is to renovate the existing Science Building within the exterior walls, including lab, classroom and office space. LEED for Commercial Interiors is being pursued with a goal of Silver level certification.
Heller Center
The Heller Center for Arts & Humanties was founded in 2003, at the bequest of Mrs. Dorothy Heller, as an interdisciplinary center combining educational, research, and creative activities in the fields of arts and humanities. The Heller Center will, upon renovation, provide an opportunity for the university to host events for members of the community at a spectacular and peaceful location three minutes from the main campus.
Facilities Guidelines and Specifications
The Facilities Services Department is currently drafting this document to establish guidelines for mechanical purchases throughout the campus. This document will be used to establish energy and resource conservation as a priority and will communicate our expectations to all contractors who work on the campus.
Contact Information:
UCCS Office of Sustainability
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy CSB 207
Colorado Springs CO 80918
sustain@uccs.edu
Telephone: 719-255-3089
Linda Kogan
Director, Office of Sustainability
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy CSB 207
Colorado Springs CO 80918
lkogan@uccs.edu
Telephone: 719-255-3757
Sustainability Tours:
Members of the UCCS Sustainability Office are available to lead campus tours that highlight sustainability initiatives. Highlights include a focus on LEED certification and high performance buildings, including the Recreation Center and Science Engineering, introduction to our single-stream recycling program, and a visit to our organic garden. Please call us at 255-3089 so that we can design a tour that meets the needs of your group.
High Performance Buildings
Buildings fundamentally impact people's lives and the health of the planet. In the United States, buildings use one-third of our total energy, two-thirds of our electricity, one-eighth of our water, and transform land that provides valuable ecological resources.
Our objective is a sustainable infrastructure with buildings that exemplify best practices with regard to sustainable development: materials, energy and water conservation, and occupant health, safety, and well-being. As well, our objective is to provide a sustainability living laboratory -- a learning experience above and beyond the classroom.
Consistent with Colorado Senate Bill 07-51, UCCS will institute a policy of constructing and operating to the highest LEED certification possible (within 5 % of the budget) for buildings that receive a minimum of 25% funding from the state. For other non state-funded buildings, UCCS will institute a system to internally audit buildings to achieve a LEED Silver or equivalent certification.
About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
A sixth category, Innovation and Design Process, awards points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by LEED and/or innovative performance in green building categories not specifically address by the LEED Green Building Rating System. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category.
LEED benefits include:
- Lower operating and life cycle costs,
- Lower water and energy resource use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,
- Serve as a living laboratory and foundation for future sustainability efforts,
- Demonstrate the university's commitment to sustainability and the health and wellness of building users.
Building Updates
Campus Recreation Center
The Campus Recreation Center is the first public building in southern Colorado to earn LEED Gold certification and the first certified building on the UCCS campus. The $12M, 54,000 square foot center was designed to meet the needs of a growing residential student body. 40 LEED points were achieved -- see the details here.
Environmental highlights of the Recreation Center:
- Solar thermal system to provide 2/3 of heat needed for swimming pool,
- Insulated Concrete Form walls provide a high insulation value of R39,
- 89% of the construction waste was recycled,
- The building is designed to be 38% more water efficient than a comparable conventionally built building,
- Views to the outside are available for 90% of spaces,
- The building is designed to be 32% more energy efficient than a conventional building.
UCCS received a $20,000 grant from the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) to fund planning efforts in sustainable design. The GEO provided an additional $25,000 to help fund the solar thermal system.
View the interactive kiosk to learn more about our green Recreation Center.
Science & Engineering Building
The new $56M Science & Engineering Building was opened in May, 2009 and accomodated full classes in fall 2009. The 165,000 square feet building with over 50 laboratories provides infrastructure for interdisciplinary teaching and research and fosters collaboration and innovation in engineering, science, biotechnology, national security and K-12 education .
UCCS earned 40 points for the building, which achieved a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. View the LEED checklist here. Environmental and energy efficiency features of the building include:
- Funded by student fees, a 13.6 kW thin-film laminate solar photovoltaic system on the roof that provides electricity for the building,
- Ice storage system to shift electricity loads to off-peak hours, reducing costs and demand for electricity at the local coal-fired power plant,
- Heat recovery system to capture energy from the building exhaust air and reuse it to precondition the make-up air supply,
- Designed energy savings of 31% more than a baseline building,
- Designed water savings of 42% more than baseline buildings,
- A construction waste recycling rate of 94%.
View the interactive kiosk to learn more about our green Science & Engineering Building.
Conference and Events Center
The $9M Conference and Events Center, expected to be completed in December 2009, is an addition to the existing University Center of approximately 27,000 gross square feet located adjacent to the existing gymnasium, with an upper level connection to Dwire Hall. The main interior space will be a single level multi-use space accommodating a gymnasium with collapsible bleachers to seat 1,400 spectators.
UCCS is pursuing LEED Silver for the building -- see the LEED checklist. Check for construction updates here.
Science Renovation
This $17M project is to renovate the existing Science Building within the exterior walls, including lab, classroom and office space. LEED for Commercial Interiors is being pursued with a goal of Silver level certification.
Heller Center
The Heller Center for Arts & Humanties was founded in 2003, at the bequest of Mrs. Dorothy Heller, as an interdisciplinary center combining educational, research, and creative activities in the fields of arts and humanities. The Heller Center will, upon renovation, provide an opportunity for the university to host events for members of the community at a spectacular and peaceful location three minutes from the main campus.
Facilities Guidelines and Specifications
The Facilities Services Department is currently drafting this document to establish guidelines for mechanical purchases throughout the campus. This document will be used to establish energy and resource conservation as a priority and will communicate our expectations to all contractors who work on the campus.