For more information, contact Stephanie Ely, 937-775-3232. 
March 5, 2009 Wright State's "green" building takes Gold 
Wright State University's green and gold school colors have taken on new significance since its first "green" building has received Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Matthew O. Diggs III Laboratory for Life Science Research is now officially rated Gold by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. This prestigious award places Wright State University at the forefront of green building design, since Diggs Laboratory is the first laboratory in Ohio to receive the LEED-NC Gold status. "Wright State University has been using energy-saving design in all their building projects but decided to receive formal recognition for Diggs Laboratory, back in the early planning stages, and become an environmental leader in the community," explained Bev Denlinger, senior project manager, WSU Engineering and Construction. The LEED building rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Gold is the second-highest possible certification and is based on a point system that recognizes performance in six major environmental categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design. The rating system allows a maximum of 69 points and Diggs Laboratory received 40 points. While a research laboratory typically consumes four times more energy than a normal classroom building, the Diggs Laboratory uses 40 percent less energy than the standard laboratory. Some of the green building technologies used in the 48,000-square-foot building are: • A reduction in "heat island effect" through a white roof and white concrete that absorbs less heat in the summer • Water-efficient landscaping with no irrigation • A 40 percent reduction in water use through the installation of waterless urinals and low-flow plumbing fixtures • Optimizing energy performance by installing efficient heating and air conditioning equipment and reclaiming air from laboratory exhaust for energy recovery • A check-and-balance system that thoroughly tests the mechanical and electrical systems for peak performance and adherence to design standards • At least 50 percent of the waste from construction and demolition was recycled or salvaged instead of being sent to landfills • At least 5 percent recycled materials and 20 percent local/regional materials were used in construction • The use of low-emitting materials and an indoor air-quality management plan, including an "airing-out period" before the building was occupied • Designated parking spaces for carpooling and fuel-efficient vehicles • Indoor chemical and pollutant source control • The use of green cleaning methods and recycled paper products "The Diggs Laboratory will act as a learning tool, and not just because it is a life sciences research building," said Hunt Brown, Wright State's director of sustainability. "Students, faculty and staff from throughout the university, and the community at large, will also be able to see firsthand this building's advanced design. Hopefully, they will take away ideas that will assist them in greening their own homes and businesses." The Diggs Laboratory houses highly productive research labs for the Environmental and Biomedical Sciences Programs, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology. For more information about Matthew O. Diggs III Laboratory for Life Science Research and its LEED certification, contact Vicky Davidson, associate vice president for Wright State's facilities planning and development, at (937) 775-2588 or vicky.davidson@wright.edu. # # #  Click on the photo above to see a high-resolution version suitable for printing.
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