What is LEED and what does it mean for PCEC?
About
The Guilford County Schools Professional Career Education Center project is hoping to attain LEED Certification. LEED-certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).
Outline
The architect, LS3P has outlined these LEED initiatives for this project:
Integrative Process
LEED was a project goal from the start, the project team began discussions that could apply to LEED at the project kickoff.
High Priority Site
The location of this project site will help build economic and social vitality in the community and promote the ecological, cultural and community health of the surrounding area.
Sustainable Site
Construction activity pollution prevention will be in place to control soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust.
To reduce negative impacts of development on wildlife and people in surrounding neighborhoods the project team carefully designed exterior project site lighting to produce the lowest level of light pollution possible.
Water Efficiency
The project team designed landscaping that will not require the use of permeant irrigation. Fixtures and fitting strategies are also being utilized in the building so that indoor water usage is also reduced.
Renewable Enery
The building has been designed to accept a rooftop photovoltaic system to generate energy onsite for use within the building.
Recycling
Once operational, the facility will reduce waste generated by building occupants and hauled to the landfill, through thoughtful waste management planning.
Construction Waste Management
The project intends to reduce construction waste disposed of in landfills and incineration facilities by recovering, reusing, and recycling materials.
Indoor Occupant Environment
The project team has designed the building in a way that contributes to the comfort, productivity, and well being of occupants by establishing minimums and enhanced standards for indoor air quality.