The University of California will be honored tomorrow (Aug. 28) by the U.S. Green Building Council for the pioneering work in sustainable building operations under way at its systemwide headquarters in downtown Oakland.

The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Silver plaque will be presented to UC President Robert C. Dynes in a ceremony that will highlight UC’s innovative green building operations and maintenance efforts at its 1111 Franklin St. building, including the new departmental sustainability coordinators program and the creation of a local organic produce delivery program for employees.

As a national green building rating system, LEED standards are developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation’s leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, federal and local agencies, and nonprofit organizations working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible.

Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, which provided assistance in the LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) project, will also be present at the ceremony.

“UCOP employees can take pride in receiving the LEED Silver plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council,” President Dynes said. “Our commitment to sustainability shines through everyday as we lead by example not just on our campuses but also in our administrative offices. Over the past several years, UC initiatives have gained national recognition and demonstrated the unique role that higher education can play in addressing global warming and other sustainability issues.”

The UC Office of the President is leading by example in certifying its headquarters building through the LEED-EB rating system before working with the University’s 10 campuses to issue a policy that will require each campus to certify its buildings. The 12-story, 343,000 square foot downtown Oakland building, occupied in 1998, now features numerous sustainable practices:

A comprehensive reuse and recycling program where all computers, monitors, faxes, chairs and phones are either re-used internally, or resold, donated or recycled through UC Berkeley’s Excess, Surplus and Salvage program. Janitorial paper and plastic products used in the building now contain the maximum possible post-consumer recycled content. Climate Neutral certified carpet tiles, donated by Interface FLOR, installed in all of the building’s elevators. 68 percent of the building’s total purchase of office paper, equipment and supplies now qualify as “green” under the criteria set by LEED-EB for existing buildings.

With the LEED certification for the Franklin St. headquarters, there are now a total of nine buildings in the UC system with the sustainability certification. Also, the Oakland headquarters marks the second UC building with LEED-EB certification.

“The University of California’s Office of the President is to be commended for achieving LEED certification. This facility is one that both the city of Oakland and the state of California can be proud of,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “UC’s headquarters building will be a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy building operations, and an inspiration for others.”

At the ceremony, Dynes will also publicly present the recently updated sustainable practices policy. The comprehensive guidelines expand UC’s existing commitment to green building, clean energy and sustainable transportation.

The UC Regents adopted a green building and clean energy policy in July 2003 to minimize the university’s environmental impacts. In June 2004, Dynes issued guidelines for the Policy on Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards. This comprehensive policy established UC as a national leader in promoting environmental stewardship among institutions of higher education.

In January 2006, the policy was expanded to include sustainable transportation practices and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The policy was further extended, and re-named the “Policy on Sustainable Practices,” in March 2007 to cover the areas of climate protection practices, green building renovations, sustainable operations and maintenance, waste reduction and environmentally preferable purchasing.

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UCOP Franklin St. building photo:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2007/ucfranklinbuilding.jpg

For more on LEED ratings and certification:
www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

For more information on UC sustainability efforts:
www.ucop.edu/facil/sustain

For more information about the University of California:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu