Yale will be seeking gold status for its new four-story research building
on Amistad Street; this is the second highest rating under The Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation
of high-performance green buildings. The system promotes a whole-building approach
to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental
health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials
selection and indoor environmental quality. Projects are awarded Certified, Silver,
Gold or Platinum certification depending on the number of credits they achieve.
“The challenge for the Amistad project was to create a laboratory building
which is energy efficient, conserves water and provides a healthy research environment,” says
Reyhan Larimer, project manager for facilities construction and renovation at
the Yale School of Medicine.
The University is anticipating that the “green” design will result
in a 30% savings in water usage and a 15% reduction in HVAC (heating, ventilation
and air conditioning) consumption, when compared to a standard building.
The building’s green features include:
• High efficiency lighting. The light fixtures are a combination of downlights
and uplights, which means a portion of the light bounces back from a highly reflective
ceiling. Because of the reflective effect, the laboratories require only half
the usual number of lights. There are occupancy sensors and efficient light bulbs
throughout the building.
• A rainwater collection cistern, or “gray water tank,” which
collects rainwater from the roof and condensate from the mechanical systems.
The gray water is then cleaned with a chemical-free method and pumped to toilet
tanks.
• High-recycled content construction materials throughout the building.
Low-emitting materials are used throughout, which means there are fewer gases
escaping. The core of the doors is made of a fibrous natural material, and the
laboratory casework is made with Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.
• Non-vinyl laboratory stools. Traditionally vinyl is used in lab stools
because they don’t hold bacteria. “We found a ‘green’ material
that looks like vinyl but does not give off gas. It looks and feels like leather,” Larimer
says.
In addition, there are ultra-low-flow water fixtures at the faucets, and dual-flush
toilets with two water settings. Bike racks and showers were also installed to
encourage biking to and from work.
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
New facility is place where ‘future of medicine’ can unfold
Facility balances researchers’ needs with environmentally friendly features
Alumnus’ gift supports ‘critical’ work at F&ES
Yale affiliates to exhibit photographs, games and paintings at art festival
Yale’s United Way fundraising goal set at $1.2 million
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS
Yale to take part in national study examining children’s health
Three members of faculty elected to Institute of Medicine
Dr. David Fiellin receives NIH grant . . .
Chronic Lyme disease does not exist, researchers report
Spouses follow suit in health behaviors, study reveals
Museum honorees to ponder ‘The Future of Life on Earth’
‘The Greening of Yale and Beyond’ is topic of symposium
Symposium to examine the intersection of faith and politics
‘21st Century Democracy’ is the theme of Law School reunions
IN MEMORIAM
Deno Geanakoplos: One of world’s foremost Byzantine scholars
Felix Zweig: Former dean’s impact still felt in Yale engineering today
Exhibit examines post-war effort to halt the spread of communism . . .
Campus Notes
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