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Sustainability in building design, construction, maintenance, and efficiency

The University of Connecticut is committed to further sustainability goals in building design and construction. In 2016, the University adopted the Sustainable Design and Construction Policy that mandates the University plan, design, construct, renovate, and maintain sustainable, energy and water-efficiency buildings. By that standard, all new construction projects at UConn estimated at greater than $5 million must pursue at least a LEED Gold Rating. Read more below about LEED buildings at UConn and other sustainable building operations.

LEED Buildings at UConn

Science 1 Building on Storrs Campus, rated Gold (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is the preeminent program for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-performance sustainable buildings. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points for various green building strategies across several categories: Integrative Process, Location and Transportation, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation, and Regional Priority. Based on the number of points achieved, a project earns one of four rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. All new construction projects at UConn estimated at $5 million or more must pursue a rating of LEED Gold based on the LEED Building Design and Construction (BD+C) rating system. For a full list of the credits, read the BD+C guide here. Explore the different categories and the UConn buildings that have achieved each one below!

Green Cleaning

Green Cleaning is defined as cleaning to protect health without harming the environment. Green cleaning is a widely accepted movement that uses procedures and products to make cleaning for the health of building occupants, janitors, and the environment a primary concern. Some widely used cleaning products have serious adverse effects on the health of building occupants and janitors. Both long term and short term health effects are linked commonly to poor air quality as a result of clean product fumes. As a result, the State of Connecticut and the University are committed to improving air quality and reducing hazard related to cleaning products, by using "green" cleaning products. These products are characterized by such qualities as biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reduced packaging, and low life cycle energy use.

One source of indoor air pollution can be found in the cleaning products used in the area. These products may produce noxious fumes or leave potent residues behind. Short term health problems caused by exposure to hazardous cleaning products include eye irritation, coughing, chest pain, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. Still worse are the long term effects, which may include liver and kidney failure, birth defects, emphysema, brain damage, and even cancer. Unintentional ingestion of toxic household chemicals in the U.S. costs almost $2.3 billion in health care per year.

In addition to being harmful to human health, many cleaning products have also proven harmful to the environment. Some of the more potent cleaners contain volatile organic compounds, phenolic compounds, or petroleum solvents and very few are biodegradable. Chemical cleaners produce 30,948 tons of hazardous waste each year and some ingredients of cleaning products are associated with eutrophication of streams and are toxic to aquatic organisms.

Source: US EPA

Daily and periodic janitorial cleaning is commonplace at every UConn campus due to the large mass of traffic from the university community. As a result, the University of Connecticut is a large consumer of cleaning products. Therefore, we are working to encourage the use of green cleaners not only to promote clean and safe working conditions but also to reduce the impact on the environment.

The University of Connecticut is also required to comply with former Governor Rell's Executive Order #14. On April 17, 2006, Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell issued an executive order which declares that all state facilities and workplaces shall "procure and use, whenever practicable, cleaning and/or sanitizing products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary State facilities."

Furthermore, on June 11, 2007, the Connecticut Legislature approved Public Act 07-100. This act mandates that cleaning products used in State buildings must meet environmental standards set by an approved environmental certification program. These products must seek to minimize their potential harmful impact on human health or the environment.