Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, as
it’s commonly known, is a
points-based third party verified green building certification
process created and managed by
the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The certification process
awards points for pursuing
sustainability measures in categories including sustainable
sites, water efficiency, energy and
atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental
quality, as well as innovation in
design.
UW-L has pursued and earned LEED certification in the following
facilities.
Centennial Hall – Gold Certification
• Academic building at approximately 195,000 gross square foot
• Substantially completed/occupied in August 2011
Eagle Hall – Gold Certification
• Residence Hall serving about 500 students with space for the
Office of Residence Life
• Approximately 228,000 gross square foot
• Substantially completed/occupied in August 2011
UW-L received an Innovation in Design point in these
facilities for recognizing the importance
of completing thermal comfort surveys. Thermal comfort can be
defined in many ways. ANSI/
ASHRAE Standard 55 defines thermal comfort as: “the condition of
mind that expresses
satisfaction with the thermal environment”. ISO 7730 defines
thermal comfort as: "That
condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal
environment".
In the end, Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) operates
under the principle that two of
the most important parameters that affect human performance and
health in a facility are thermal
comfort (temperature, humidity and air flow) and indoor air
quality (ventilation). To address
these factors, FP&M will request occupants in facilities
pursuing a LEED point for thermal
comfort to complete an anonymous thermal comfort survey. The
survey will be completed twice
per year, likely in February and September.
In accordance with the LEED EQ credit 7.2 requirements, FP&M
staff will take action to
remedy thermal comfort settings when 20% or more of facility
occupants are not satisfied with
thermal comfort. Corrective actions may include, but are not
limited to adjusting system controls
(temperature set points, schedules and operating modes), air
flow adjustments and solar controls.
Thermal Comfort Plans with
Survey Documents
Thermal Comfort Plans with final survey questions are available
for the following facilities.
•Centennial
Hall
•Eagle
Hall
Thermal Comfort Survey Results
Centennial Hall
•
February 2013
Eagle Hall
•
February 2013
For more information contact:
Dan Sweetman
Environmental Health, Occupational Safety and Sustainability
Program Manager
235 Graff Main Hall
785-6800
sweetman.dani@uwlax.edu