
Buildings
NC State’s built environment is one of the most visible ways to showcase a commitment to sustainability. The university’s Facilities Division integrates sustainability into building construction, operation and modification. Sustainability is also embedded in the university’s Physical Master Plan and University Construction Guidelines.
High Performance Buildings
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
To ensure campus buildings are designed and constructed sustainably, NC State has committed that all new construction and major renovations over 20,000 square feet are at minimum LEED Silver Certified. NC State University currently has 1,962,101 gross square feet LEED Certified.
LEED Certified Projects
- Eastern 4H Environmental Education and Conference Center, LEED Gold Certified, Opened January 2010, Certified June 2013
- Sullivan Shops III, LEED Silver Certified, Opened June 2011, Certified December 2011
- Student Health Center Addition, LEED Gold Certified, Opened August 2011, Certified February 2012
- The Point (Chancellor’s Residence), LEED Homes Certified/NAHB Silver, Opened December 2012, Certified July 2012
- James B. Hunt Jr. Library, LEED Silver Certified, Opened January 2013, Certified June 2013
- Cates Utility Plant Renovation, LEED Silver Certified, Opened September 2012, Certified October 2014
- Wolf Ridge at Centennial (six apartment buildings), LEED Silver Certified, Opened August 2014, Certified May 2015
- Yarbrough Steam Plant Renovation, LEED Silver Certified, Opened Spring 2014, Certified June 2014
- Talley Student Union, LEED Silver Certified, Opened March 2014, Certified December 2015
- Carol Johnson Poole Clubhouse, LEED Silver Certified, Opened January 2014, Certified February 2016
- Close-King Indoor Practice Facility, LEED Silver Certified, Opened June 2015, Certified August 2016
- Reynolds Coliseum, LEED Silver Certified, Opened September 2016, Certified March 2017
- Gregg Museum of Art & Design, LEED Gold Certified, Opened August 2017, Certified March 2018
- Center for Technology and Innovation, LEED Silver Certified, Opened 2017, Certified July 2018
- StateView Hotel, LEED Silver Certified, Opened August 2017, Certified June 2019
- Fitts-Woolard Hall, LEED Silver Certified, Opened August 2020, Certified July 2022
- Carmichael Gym Addition and Renovation, LEED Silver Certified, Opened December 2020, Certified September 2022
- Plant Sciences Building, LEED Gold Certified, Opened April 2022, Certified March 2023
Energy Star Certified
The following buildings have been awarded ENERGY STAR certification for strict energy performance standards and approximately 35 percent less energy and carbon dioxide emissions than a typical building.
- Carroll Residence Hall
- Tucker Residence Hall
- Sullivan Residence Hall
- Venture Buildings
What Makes a Building Sustainable?
Sustainability certification is achieved by integrating innovative features into buildings. These features boost efficiency and help conserve resources while also improving the quality of the building occupants' experience. Examples include:
- Using daylighting instead of electrical light fixtures
- Minimizing water use with efficient plumbing fixtures, native plants that require less irrigation and rainwater collection that reduces use of potable water for irrigation
- Energy efficient HVAC systems, building design, lighting, windows and occupancy sensors that automatically adjust energy use when a room is empty
- Access to mass transit and alternative ways of travel beyond single-occupancy vehicles
- Good indoor air quality due to environmentally-friendly cleaning products, paints, adhesives, furniture and finishes
- Use of locally sourced and/or recycled construction materials
- Green roofs, which incorporate a vegetative layer that helps reduce energy use, improve stormwater quality and decrease air pollution. NC State green roofs are located at Engineering Building III, JC Raulston Arboretum, James B. Hunt Jr. Library, Talley Student Union and Wolf Ridge Student Apartments.
For campus construction and renovation projects that do not fall under LEED requirements, NC State has established a three-tier system for integrating sustainability requirements. The tiers include:
- Tier I: Budget of $2 million+ AND construction over 20,000 gross square feet and renovations if the replacement value > than insurance value.
- Tier II: Budget of $250,000 to $2 million.
- Tier III: Budget of up to $250,000.
Project requirements according to tiers are listed below (download as PDF):
Integrated Design | I | II | III |
---|---|---|---|
Integrated design kickoff meeting notes, with sustainability goals (including items that can be reused or recycled) attached. | X | X | |
LEED scorecard (Tier I) with a LEED action plan for each credit, attached. | X | ||
A commissioning agent was brought into schematic design and provided review and testing through the completion of the project. | X | X | |
For all projects, refer to Stormwater Design Manual. | X | X | X |
Ensure Tree Protection plan is developed and adhered to for projects with an exterior component. | X | X | X |
Indoor Air Quality | I | II | III |
Zero VOC paints in all public spaces, classrooms and offices, excluding metal. | X | X | X |
Eliminate the use of adhesives for carpet. | X | X | X |
Use only low VOC adhesives and sealants. | X | X | X |
No use of aerosol adhesives. | X | X | X |
Follow 6 SMACNA guidelines (HVAC Protection, Source Control, Pathway Interruption, Housekeeping, Scheduling, Occupant Relocation) for indoor air quality during construction AND utilize supplemental filtration in occupied buildings. | X | X | X |
Investigate the need for duct hygiene in projects with HVAC renovations. | X | X | X |
Materials | I | II | III |
Equipment and materials are chosen for compatibility across campus. | X | X | X |
Equipment and materials are repaired, when feasible, before replacement becomes cost effective. | X | X | |
Prefer NC manufactured materials (concrete, lumber, steel, textiles, masonry). | X | X | X |
Recycling and Reuse | I | II | III |
Reuse materials when possible. Leftover scraps are placed in Shop Storage, Student Reuse Trailer or Campus Satellite Staging Areas. | X | ||
Donate or allocate reusable materials. Input reuse information on Reuse Tracking Form. Order of diversion options: A.) Surplus, B.) Habitat for Humanity, C.) Waste Reduction and Recycling (Tiers I – III) | X | X | X |
Recycle what cannot be reused, with a goal of 75 percent diversion. Waste diversion is tracked by WRR. Input waste information on LEED Online (Tier 1) or Construction Waste Management tracking sheet (Tiers II and III). | X | X | X |
Assure that building occupants have access to recycling. | X | X | X |
Efficiency | I | II | III |
Completed Lifecycle cost templates per State Construction Office requirement with narrative explanation for any phase of value engineering. Inclusion of building operations staff in value engineering reviews. | X | ||
Energy model was used as an iterative tool. An as-built energy model, with a summary of assumptions, is attached. | X | X | |
Meters and sub-meters are tied into the Enterprise Level Control System. | X | X | X |
Project’s measurement and verification plan was developed and attached (for LEED and SB 668 projects). | X | ||
Target energy and water savings of 30 percent and 50 percent respectively. Energy savings are tracked on Request for Project Number form (Tier I and II). Energy savings are identified in AIM with Energy Management (Tier III). | X | X | X |
Campus Satellite Staging Areas reduce total driving time and energy use. | X | ||
Close Out | I | II | III |
Electronic as-built energy model, with summary of inputs and outputs, submitted. | X | ||
LEED documentation submitted on LEED Online. | X | ||
Complete sustainability lessons learned summary meeting. | X | X |
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Summer Energy Savings On Campus
NC State's Summer Energy Savings Initiative leverages lull in classroom usage for energy conservation, reducing costs and minimizing straing for regional electricity grids.
NC State Resources
The university offers the following resources related to sustainable buildings.
- Green Building Resources from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State
- College of Design Research Labs
- NC State Facilities Division
- NC State Capital Projects Management
- NC State Energy Systems
- NC State Office of the University Architect
- NC State Facilities Services