Green Building and Grounds
Our Goal: Reduce the impacts of Tri-C’s buildings by following the USGBC’s LEED standards and other best sustainable design and construction practices, creating healthy spaces and programs, and improving stormwater management.
Progress to date:
- Cuyahoga Community College has received eight certifications under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. In addition, Tri-C established Sustainable Renovations Guidelines to reduce the impacts of smaller renovation projects.
LEED Case Studies:
All of these recently constructed buildings are energy efficient, take advantage of daylight, are frugal with water resources, provide a healthy indoor environment, and enhance the academic experience.
Other examples of efforts to reduce the impacts of our buildings and grounds include:
![The use of ionized water cleaning systems has reduced the number of different products used for cleaning and sanitizing and improved indoor environmental quality.](images/orbio-cornell-murray-hoizontal.jpg)
![Trees that fall on the Western Campus are chipped and reused in landscaping, reducing the need for disposal and the purchase of new mulch.](images/wood-chip-reuse.jpg)
![A pollinator garden at Western Campus provides habitat for butterflies, insects, and birds.](images/west-pollinator-garden.jpg)
- 30% reduction in potable water use in existing buildings since 2000. Water saving projects completed to date include:
- Boiler blowdown controls
- Swimming pool cover installations
- Water efficient restroom fixture retrofits
- The design of the Westshore Campus includes enough open space to allow 90% of the average annual precipitation to be contained and treated on-site rather than running off into stormwater infrastructure.