Cleveland State University Promotes Sustainability with Three LEED-Certified Buildings

Cleveland State University's Julka Hall has been awarded LEED Gold certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

Julka Hall, which opened in 2010 on the CSU campus in downtown Cleveland, is home to the College of Education and Human Services and the School of Nursing. Designed by the Columbus, Ohio, office of the international architecture and design firm NBBJ, Julka Hall is named in honor of CSU alumnus Anand "Bill" Julka, founder of the Cleveland-based information-technology company Smart Solutions.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. There are four levels of LEED certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Julka Hall's LEED Gold certification ¨C the highest LEED honor yet for Cleveland State ¨C makes it the third LEED-certified building at the University, which has been transformed dramatically in recent years by a $500-million architectural makeover. Two other new additions to the CSU campus have earned LEED honors: the Recreation Center (LEED Certified) and the Euclid Commons residence hall (LEED Silver). LEED certification for a fourth building, the University's new Student Center, is pending.

"Cleveland State University is honored to have LEED Gold status bestowed upon Julka Hall," said CSU President Ronald Berkman. "The ever-growing list of environmentally-friendly new buildings on campus that have earned prestigious LEED certifications underscores the University's ongoing commitment to sustainability. CSU will continue to take great care to remake its campus in ways that support environmental stewardship."

LEED Gold certification of Julka Hall was based on a number of green design and construction initiatives, including the following:

• Regional materials comprised 22 percent of the construction, with certified wood used throughout.
• Building products contain 30 percent recycled content.
• 95 percent of construction waste was recycled.
• Displacement ventilation, high-performance glass, radiant floors and sun shading have yielded a 26 percent reduction in energy usage.
• Water usage was reduced by 30 percent.
• Two years of wind-power credits provided green power.
• A white roof membrane reduces the heat island effect.
• Refurbished air handlers were salvaged from CSU's old Student Center.
• Landscaping promotes storm water retention and includes a rain garden with native plants.

By using less energy and water, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

"As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Julka Hall is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC's vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation. The work of innovative building projects such as those on the Cleveland State University campus is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement."

About Cleveland State University
Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for engaged learning. With an enrollment of more than 17,000 students, eight colleges and approximately 200 academic programs, CSU was again chosen for 2012 as one of America's Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009 to 2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders, environmentalists, corporations, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 100,000 projects are

currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising more than 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.