Warren Wilson College has officially become the first college campus to have a building with LEED Platinum certification as defined under the U.S. Green Building Council. That’s quite a feat considering that the U.S. Green Building Council sets the highest standards for green buildings.
The EcoDorm was built by a committee of Warren Wilson students, faculty and administrators, with the help of the Samsel Architects of Asheville, a North Carolina firm that strives to incorporate green building techniques into their designs.
All About the LEED Certified EcoDorm
What’s great about this particular LEED certified building is that students were involved in the eco architecture and green energy practices, including the planning and design. So what gives the Warren Wilson EcoDorm latinum LEED certification?
- All of the wood for the EcoDorm came from the college
- Features a 10,000-gallon trainer tank that uses rainwater for flushing the toilets and irrigating the surrounding plants
- Uses solar energy for hot water and solar panels
- Radiant floor heating
- High-efficiency boilers
- Web-based energy monitoring system
The EcoDorm is the third LEED certified building at Warren Wilson College. The two other LEED buildings are the Orr Cottage (LEED Gold certified) and the Village Dorms (LEED Gold certified).
Read more about green buildings on college campuses:
- NC Community Colleges Go Green
- Sustainable and Eco Friendly College Programs
- Northwestern Freshmen Move to Green Dorm
- British Columbia’s Sewage Free Building
Source: Warren Wilson College
