Campus View and Valley View residence hall suites at Clarion University have been awarded Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified

Clarion University President Karen Whitney with Charles Leach Jr. (holding LEED plaque) and Michael Embrescia.

by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

            "With the Silver LEED certification of these two buildings, Clarion University is realizing the first part of our commitment to be leaders in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction," said Clarion University President Karen Whitney. "I say first part because there is more to come. Our commitment to pursuing LEED certification for all building projects is part of the university's strategic plan."

            LEED plaques have been received to place in each building. The 16-inch diameter, ¾-inch thick glass plaque is fabricated from recycled glass. The image is sandblasted onto the surface of the plaque, avoiding toxic chemicals and energy-intensive processes involved in etching.

            "I am very honored to be here today," said Michael Embrescia, LEED AP Education and Membership Manager. "It means the world to us to have this happen. It means what we are doing is working. We are just a stakeholder, this is actually a joint effort between the designer, the contractor, and the user."

            "I would like to congratulate Clarion University on achieving LEED certification for the residence hall suites," S. Richard Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of U.S. Green Building Council, wrote in a letter to Clarion University. "LEED certification identifies the residence halls as a pioneering example of sustainable design and demonstrates your leadership in transforming the building industry."

            Five recently opened Clarion University buildings, Campus View, Valley View, Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science and Technology, Eagle Commons dining facility, and the Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development at Clarion University, were all designed for energy efficient and environmentally friendly Silver LEED Rating. Buildings meeting these standards have less impact on the environment, the building and the inhabitants, and have lower overall operation costs.

             The LEED System was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to recognize the incorporation of environmentally sensitive features and practices into new or renovated structures.

            Opened in January 2009, Campus View and Valley View suites, one located on the Ralston flats area and the other along Wood Street, are a $25 million project providing 361 beds for students.

            The new residences feature a furnished, suite style configuration with two or four residents sharing a common living space, with one bathroom for every two residents. All units are furnished and have air-conditioning and high-speed Internet, television, and phone connections. Each floor has a lounge area and each building has a laundry room and vending area.

            The suites were financed and constructed through the Clarion University Foundation Inc., with the bonds to be repaid using student rental fees. The Clarion University Foundation, Inc., is a not for profit corporation formed to promote educational purposes in connection with or at the request of Clarion University. It is the organization designated to receive and manage private sector gifts provided for the support of the activities and programs of the University. Such gifts are generated through contributions from alumni, faculty and staff, business and industry, retired faculty members, and other friends of Clarion University. During the last five years, Foundation housing projects have added over 1,000 new student beds, replacing older residence hall housing.

            "The Clarion University Foundation is proud of its partnership with Clarion University," said Clarion University Foundation, Inc. President Charles P. Leach Jr.  "Campus View and Valley View are examples of this successful partnership and our commitment to enhancing the student experience."

            Valley View and Campus View join 157 LEED-Certified buildings in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The state ranks third in the nation behind California and Washington in LEED-Certified buildings.

            Valley View and Campus View received 34 points on LEED's scorecard receiving Silver LEED Certification. Some of the notable points include:

            •To reduce air borne pollutants, finish materials used in construction including adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets contain very low if any Volatile Organic Compounds.

            •To keep dirt and particulates to a minimum a specialized carpet, with special fibers to collect the dirt and particulates from shoes, is used at the entry of the building.

            •The contractor followed an Indoor Air Quality management plan that included protecting finish materials while they were being stored and after installation and replacing all filters prior to occupancy.

            •The buildings were constructed to be a smoke-free building both during construction and after occupancy.

Chad Thomas (right), director of auxiliary operations for Clarion University provided a tour of Campus View following the LEED program.

            •The buildings were designed to afford the maximum comfort by providing each suite controllability of its heating and cooling and also of lighting. Each ventilation system has been designed to meet standards concerning air temperature, air speed, relative humidity and radiant temperature. The systems have been designed to shut-off when windows are open thereby saving energy when the occupant wants fresh air.

            •The buildings provide a view to the outside.

            •More than 50 percent of the building site area has been restored to a natural site. The steep slopes that existed prior to construction have been re-graded and have been replanted with native vegetation that will hold the slope and enhance the appearance.

            •Through the use of lighting design technologies the exterior lighting has been able to reduce the amount of "sky glow." Clarion University mandated light fixtures cut-off the majority of upward light, which reduces glare and impact on the nocturnal environment.

            •Water efficient landscaping was used to eliminate the use of potable water for landscape irrigation. This reduces the burden on the community water supply and the natural aquifer.

            •The plantings around the buildings are hollies native to North America. Using locally native plants reduces the requirement for supplemental watering to maintain.

            •The building mounted light fixtures have compact fluorescent lamps that use between one fifth and one third of the power of equivalent incandescent lamps. Exterior fixtures have a distribution of only 2.5 percent light output above the horizontal plane, reducing the sky pollution.

            •Vehicular pollution is reduced by:  placing the buildings in close proximity to two bus lines to promote the use of public transportation; providing covered bicycle storage locations for five percent of the residents; reducing the parking capacity in the vicinity of the new buildings; and providing preferred parking for low-emitting vehicles.

            •Storm water retention tanks were installed to reduce the amount of water discharge from the site during rainstorms.

            •A white roof was installed that reflects the suns rays to keep the building cooler and to lower energy costs.

            •Through the use of energy modeling, highly efficient mechanical equipment and correct insulation placement these buildings increase energy performance by over 25 percent.

            •All refrigerants used in the building contain no Chlorofluorocarbons.

            •The energy for the buildings is purchased from a source that supplies energy to the U.S. power grid by using renewable energy such as wind power to reduce the demand for fossil fuels.

            •A comprehensive construction waste management plan was used to separate all solid waste leaving the project site. Close to one-fifth of the products (by cost) used in the construction of this building, from the special non-vinyl floor tile, to the wood cabinets, to the gypsum wallboard, have high amounts of post-consumer recycled content.

            •Each floor of the building has trash rooms that are sized to accommodate paper, aluminum, glass, plastic and cardboard recycling bins.

            •The contractor was able to divert over 80 percent of the construction debris from the landfill. The majority of the materials consisted of drywall, cardboard from boxes, wood scraps, metal and asphalt paving reclamation.

            •Over 21 percent of the materials (based on cost) used in the construction of these buildings contained recycled materials.

            •Over 12 percent of those recycled materials were harvested and manufactured within a 500-mile radius of these buildings.           

            Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.