As the push to go green increases, N.C. State is taking great strides in reducing its carbon footprint by building LEED-certified structures.

The Student Health Center’s new 23,600 square foot addition that opened in September is the University’s first LEED Gold-certified building.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to assess the environmental performance of buildings and work toward entirely sustainable designs.

According to David Dean, the outreach and communications coordinator for the N.C. State sustainability office, LEED certification is based on a points system and levels of certification.

Dean said buildings can earn LEED bronze, silver, gold, or platinum certifications based on the various steps in the building process and the sustainability features used.

N.C. State’s standards for new buildings on campus were established after the chancellor signed a pledge requiring all new structures to have a minimum of LEED Silver certification in 2008.

Though a challenging goal, the chancellor is striving for total climate neutrality by 2050. This means our University could be completely “green” and sustainable, with little or no scar on the environment, in 38 years.

According to the campus sustainability office’s website; “The strategies incorporated into the Student Health Center Addition include rain gardens, reduced impervious surfaces and underground cistern rainwater capture, reduction of light pollution from exterior light fixtures, and public shower with bicycle