University of Florida "LEED"s by Example
University of Florida is a member institution of the USGBC member, which develops and administers the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Benefits of USGBC membership - including discounts on conferences, publications, and workshops - are available to all employees of UF. Please direct any questions to the primary contact person for UF's USGBC membership, Bahar Armaghani, at (352)-294-0080.
What is LEED?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: Site Planning, Water Management, Energy Management, Material Use, Indoor Air Quality and Innovation & Design Process.
LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building lifecycle, and that is the path that University of Florida has taken to design and build the greenest buildings on campus.
LEED presents a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for its five categories. Each category has credits and points. LEED has certification level based on points achieved.
LEED offers environmental benefits, economic, community, health and safety benefits, reduces the impact on natural resources consumption, enhances occupant comfort and health, and minimizes strain on local infrastructure.
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Facilities Planning & Construction at UF Leading the LEED Program
Minimum LEED Silver Certification Required
University of Florida is one of the few organizations nation wide to take on the challenge of constructing a new breed of buildings, green buildings, and UF has been leading the way by example to demonstrate its commitment to save and protect the environment and provide its occupants health and comfort.
Facilities Planning & Construction (FPC) is committed to deliver green buildings to our university in support of maximizing efficiency, productivity, and comfort of the faculty, staff and students.
We are heavily involved with USGBC and promoting LEED nationally and in the state of Florida. We were one of the founding member of USGBC Central Florida chapter, and served on several committees. Our staff members are the founding members of the USGBC Heart of Florida chapter too.
Sustainable Design Guidelines
Campus Map Showing LEED Building Locations
LEED Program Evolvement at UF
In 2001, the university adopted LEED criteria for design and construction for all major new construction and renovation projects to deliver high performance and sustainable buildings. At that time LEED was at its infancy, but we truly believed then and now even more that green buildings minimize the negative impact of buildings on the environment, contribute to saving energy and enhance the occupants’ health and comfort.
UF is the home of the first LEED GOLD certified building in the state of Florida. To date we have:
2 Gold Certified
8 Certified
6 Submitted for Certification
9 Registered
FPC is the first in the state of Florida to require a LEED accredited professional on staff to ensure LEED criteria incorporated in design and construction on all our major projects. Our LEED accredited professional works with the project design teams to obtain the highest level of LEED certification for all projects.
Milestones
- In 2003, first LEED accredited professional on staff, first on University of Florida campus, and one of the first five in the state of Florida.
- In 2004, in-house LEED administration. Bahar Armaghani, LEED Accredited Professional took on the responsibility of LEED administration and some LEED credit calculations for all UF projects.
- In 2005, determined that LEED certification can be obtained with no additional hard cost, and there was a need to take the next step.
- On January 2006, UF renewed its commitment to sustainable construction and delivering greener buildings by raising the bar and making minimum LEED certification level for all its new construction and major renovation to be SILVER.
- In 2007, initiated LEED Campus Standards application for the whole main University campus.
- In 2007, started LEED-EB Portfolio Pilot program.
If you have any questions please contact Bahar Armaghani at 352-294-0080.
© University of Florida - 2007
