Environmental Sustainability
The University of Richmond’s commitment to sustainability pairs well with the growth of our campus. Our focus on sustainable construction includes designing and building all new projects to green standards, including those set by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Among other criteria, building sites are selected based on the ability to:- Provide access to public transportation
- Restore habitat
- Filter storm water runoff
- Maximizing open space
- Facilitating community connectivity
- Providing views from 90% of regularly occupied spaces
- Including priority parking for car-pool and fuel-efficient vehicles
- Planting native or adaptive landscaping that does not require irrigation
- Reducing light pollution
- Having a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) on the design and construction team
- Using local and recycled building materials, Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood, carpet and paint with low-emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC), and composite wood that contains no added formaldehyde resigns
- Protecting HVAC system from dust and moisture during construction
- Controlling the source of chemicals and pollutants from entering occupied spaces
- Preventing pollution from construction activity
- Diverting 50%–75% of construction waste from landfills
- 20%–30% reduction in water usage
- Access to lighting control
- Storage and collection of recyclables
- Fundamental and enhanced refrigerant management
- Exceeding minimum energy performance by at least 14% and providing fundamental and enhanced commissioning of building energy systems
- Exceeding minimum indoor air quality (IAQ) standards, prohibiting smoking inside the building and away from entrances and ventilation intakes, and monitoring delivery of outdoor air
- Green housekeeping procedures
