Instructional Facility VeterinaryVeterinary MedicineMedicine Instructional Facility GOING FOR GOLD Valley Hall has achieved LEED Platinum certification. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system provides a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings, recognizing performance in six areas: Sustainable Sites Energy & Atmosphere Indoor Environmental Quality Water Efficiency Materials & Resources Innovation & Design Process
Sustainable Sites Use of previously developed site (no prime farmland or wetland). Construction erosion and sedimentation control. Detains and filter storm water on site to recharge ground water and reduce runoff. High ratio of open space to building. Native and adapted plants in landscape. No added occupant parking. 250 bike parking spaces. Pedestrian access within a half mile to numerous services. Located within ¼ mile to Unitrans bus stop & UCDHS shuttle to Sacramento. Minimization of urban "heat islands," which occur when development replaces vegetation, by providing trees, shading devices, pervious pavers, and reflective roof materials. Limited light trespass to increase night sky visibility and reduce impact on nocturnal environments.
Water Efficiency Real-time, weather based irrigation control, efficient watering devices and drought tolerant plant species for a water efficient landscape resulting in reduction of 56% water use from the calculated baseline. Highly water-efficient plumbing fixtures leading to 31% reduction in potable water use. Water piping for toilets is separate from other domestic water piping to allow for future connection to reclaimed water service when it becomes available.
Energy & Atmosphere No ozone depleting CFC-based refrigerants. Exceeds California Title 24 building code standards by 32%. High performance envelope (exterior walls & roof) with insulated windows and exterior shading devices which allow in daylight with less heat Energy-efficient lighting systems with daylight harvesting controls in select rooms (lights dim or off when enough outside light), and occupancy sensors (lights off when room not in use). Low-energy displacement ventilation system. Natural ventilation and radiant slab in Central Commons provides buffer space between exterior and interior temperatures. Evaporative pre-cooling on HVAC units. Thorough equipment testing and performance evaluation prior to occupancy to ensure proper use and efficiency.
Materials & Resources 96% of construction waste sorted on site and diverted from landfill. A comprehensive recycling program for paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastic with. recycling collections at every floor. Used recycled content materials throughout steel, insulation, windows, concrete, and more. Used materials manufactured within 500 miles of the project to reduce the transportation impacts of long distance shipping. Used maple and poplar lumber from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Used rapidly renewable building product ceiling tiles made from wheat straw in the large auditoria.
Indoor Environmental Quality Care taken during construction to protect ventilation system from dust and moisture. At end of construction, building flushed with outside air for 2 weeks to ensure a clean building environment. Paints, sealants and adhesives with little or no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). Ventilation system has carbon dioxide monitoring and airflow measurement equipment with controls to provide outside air when needed. Displacement ventilation system provides ventilation air through registers low in rooms to increase the amount of filtered outside air being delivered to the occupants. Walk off mats at building entrances to limit pollutants coming inside. Ample views to the outdoors in all areas without critical visual tasks (i.e. projection and radiograph examinations).
Innovation & Design Process A green cleaning program. An active educational program including tours, signage and web-based educational material. To arrange a tour. please contact apdoyle@ucdavis.edu in the UCD Office of Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
For more information about: UC Davis commitment to sustainability, visit the http://sustainability.ucdavis.edu LEED and the US Green Building Council, visit www.usgbc.org.