MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE IT HAS BEEN AWARDED SILVER LEVEL LEED CERTIFICATION FOR ITS DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF MUNGER HALL!
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system that promotes a whole-building approach to environmental sustainability. The guiding principle of LEED is to identify and implement measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.
LEED’s New Construction Rating System is based on a point scale where credits are awarded to reflect their potential environmental impacts from the following categories:
1. Sustainable Site encourages development on previously developed land in order to minimize a building’s impact on ecosystems and waterways. This category also encourages regionally appropriate landscaping and rewards smart transportation choices, as well as strategies to reduce erosion, light pollution, and construction-related pollution.
2. Water Efficiency encourages smarter use of water such as reduction strategies through more efficient interior appliances, fixtures, and fittings and water-wise landscaping.
3. Energy and Atmosphere encourages a variety of energy-wise strategies, including monitoring energy use; efficient design and construction; efficient appliances, systems, and lighting; and the use of renewable and clean sources of energy, whether generated on- or off-site.
4. Materials and Resources encourages the selection of sustainably grown, harvested, produced, and transported products and materials. This category also promotes the reduction of waste as well as its reuse and recycling.
5. Indoor Environmental Quality promotes strategies that can improve indoor air as well as provide access to natural daylight and improving acoustics.
6. Innovation and Design Process encourages new and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance well beyond what is required by other LEED credits. This category also rewards projects for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team to ensure a holistic, integrated approach to the design and construction phase.
Thanks to the Leadership in Learning Campaign, Marlborough was able to take the environmentally responsible approach to the design and construction of Munger Hall that made our Silver Level LEED Certification possible.
As defined by the LEED categories, here are just a few examples of how this was achieved:
Alternate Transportation: The School’s transportation and parking program is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emission by providing multiple bus lines for students, bicycle racks, and parking incentives for student and faculty carpools as well as low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles.
Environment Pollution Prevention: Stormwater filtration systems were installed to minimize the amount of pollution that enters local waterways. For example, the Rossmore front driveway is “permeable paving,” which allows stormwater to infiltrate directly into the earth to be naturally filtered and re-enter the water table. In addition, mechanical filters were installed in support of storm drains to trap grease, particles, and other materials that might pollute local waterways.
Water and Energy Efficiency: Low flow toilets and sinks were installed to reduce water consumption by an estimated 35% per year. This everyday contact with conservation also educates students and employees about water consumption and energy usage. In addition, the use of reflective roofing and paving materials helps reduce energy consumption by limiting heat reflection and reducing heat absorption.
Renewable Energy Credits: The School is addressing its carbon footprint, or global warming impact, by purchasing 70% of its projected electricity consumption over the next two years through the use of Renewal Energy Credits or “offsets.” This means the School is contributing a like amount of energy (70%) from renewable sources such as wind or solar power.
Construction Management: Nearly two-thirds of the total wood-based materials were harvested from Forest Stewardship Council certified forests. In addition, nearly one-quarter of all building materials were provided from recycled materials and were sourced from within 500 miles of the project site, while over 95% of on-site generated construction waste was diverted from landfill.
Thermal Comfort: Munger Hall’s self-managing temperature control systems monitor and adjust heating and air conditioning to maximize energy efficiency and improve indoor quality. The new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems also eliminate the use of chemical pollutants.
Lighting: Munger Hall is designed to use natural sunlight as its primary light source, accounting for nearly 75% of all light in new classrooms, Academic Resource Center (ARC), and office spaces. The ARC skylight nearly extends the length of the second floor of Munger Hall and is also one of the main architectural focal points of the new building. In addition, occupancy sensors are installed in several key areas to complement the use of natural light and reduce energy consumption.
Indoor Air Quality: The School has designed a green cleaning program to eliminate toxic air pollutants and meet the industry’s highest standards for indoor air quality. Janitorial staff have been properly trained to use cleaning supplies in a way that protects them, the students, employees, and environment. These practices build upon the foundation of low Volatile Organic Compounds and low-toxicity materials that were used and installed during construction.
|