The U.S. Green Building Council recognizes Elon University's newest buildings for sustainable design and construction.
Dwight C. Schar Hall and Steers Pavilion have received LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, bringing Elon to a total of 27 LEED certifications on campus.
Elon’s Green Building Policy, which states that new construction projects and major renovations more than 8,000 square feet will achieve LEED certification, has put Elon at the center of sustainable design and construction. LEED – an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is the preeminent green building rating system internationally. LEED for Building Design and Construction assesses projects based on a point system that considers sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design and regional priority credits.
Schar Hall and Steers Pavilion boast numerous sustainable features, including a site that was designed to provide green space and pedestrian walkways to encourage the use of outdoor space. All of the plumbing fixtures are low-flow, and landscaping around the buildings is designed to minimize the need for irrigation. The buildings are about 32 percent more energy efficient than those that meet the standard building energy code, and the buildings’ water, natural gas and energy use can be observed through Building Dashboard, a real-time monitoring system.
Additional details about the buildings’ sustainable features can be found on the Office of Sustainability’s website.