The Village at 115: Live, Learn, LEED
Kermit the Frog said it best when he croaked, "It's not easy being green."
For Case Western Reserve University and other institutions like it, to obtain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED Green Building Rating is no easy feat.
But that is the objective of the university's biggest construction project in some thirty years. Those involved with The Village at 115, the first phase of a four-phase project to replace existing residence halls on campus, want to not only enhance student life and living experiences, but also be responsive to environmental concerns.
The Village at 115 is registered with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Council. By registering, the university is voluntarily committing to meet certain consensus-based national standards for building high-performance sustainable buildings.
LEED emphasizes innovative strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environment quality, all based on scientific standards. LEED-certified professionals have monitored various stages of the construction.
The Village at 115 has a number of elements that qualify its LEED designation. A proposal prepared by Donald Kamalsky, assistant vice president for student affairs and director of housing, and his colleagues, outlines the goals and ways in which the project satisfies LEED criteria, and how the university will sustain these properties over time. For example, each building will have a system in place to measure and monitor energy use.
The first wave of students will move in beginning August 21, and will benefit from these and other features:
Technology
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Electronic message kiosk to check e-mail, class announcements, activities, athletic events
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Electronic information kiosk that posts daily stats on energy, water, and electrical use
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Wireless networking and multimedia capabilities throughout all buildings
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Networked laundry system that monitors wash and dry cycles and alerts student by e-mail when laundry is done
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Onsite weather station
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Card swipe locks on all apartments and bedrooms
Eco-Friendly
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Housing complex built with recycled and recycled-content materials, from concrete masonry units and curtain walls, to exterior metal framing and pipe insulation
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Sixty percent of construction waste has been recycled
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Ground water recharge system that will reduce the demand on storm water and sanitary systems by allowing surface and run-off water to gradually percolate into the ground rather than into the sewer system
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Motion detectors and daylight sensors to control lighting
High Performance
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Maytag Neptune stacked washers and dryers installed and projected to save 40 percent annually in utility costs
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Energy recovery units that transfer latent heat from exhaust air systems to preheat outside ventilation air
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Highly insulated, air tight buildings
Highlights
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172 fully furnished units
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740 single bedrooms with double beds
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House lounge with a fireplace, flat panel TV
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12 music practice rooms
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Clock tower
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Indoor bicycle storage
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Fitness center
The excitement is mounting for The Village at 115, Case's new eco-friendly living-learning community that provides students with their own diverse peer group. A living-learning community that increases social and academic interaction. A living-learning community that encourages students to live, learn, and lead to their full potential. A living-learning community built for the twenty-first century and beyond.