10 SBCCD environmentally-friendly buildings earn statewide recognition

The Physical Education Complex at Crafton Hills College achieved a LEED Platinum rating through sustainable design strategies such as passive solar orientation, daylighting, recycled and renewable materials, a cool roof, on-site stormwater detention and treatment, water-efficient landscaping, airflow monitoring, solar power, and occupancy and photometric sensors.

The 2018 annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) has awarded the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) the Best Practices award in Large Scale Planning for sustainability. SBCCD’s winning proposal, “Districtwide Sustainability Program Success — Initiatives, Measurable Goals & Collaborative Actions!”, was assessed as the best example of true innovation and sustainability among several competing community college districts across California.

SBCCD’s proposal consisted of a number of projects that earned several Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications as supporting evidence to the long-term commitment the district makes to sustainability. LEED certification is an official recognition that a project complies with the requirements prescribed within the LEED rating system as created and maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Those LEED certification awards for Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College are as follows:

Platinum LEED Certified

• CHC — Physical Education Complex
• CHC — Student Services Center

Gold LEED Certified

• CHC — Education Occupation Building, gold

Silver LEED Certified

• SBVC — Gymnasium and Physical Education facility, silver
• SBVC — Business Renovation, silver
• CHC — Science Building, silver

LEED Certified

• SBVC — Auditorium renovation
• SBVC — Physical Science
• CHC — Learning Resource Center
• CHC — Aquatic Center

In addition to these certifications, the district has also won the Leadership in Energy award at the 2014 Green California School and Community Colleges Summit and Exposition, and the Environmental Excellence Award by Cenergistic for energy saving, both of which were included into the District’s proposal.

The Best Practices award is intended to: highlight the achievements that California campuses have made through innovative and effective energy efficiency projects and sustainable operations, showcase specific projects as models to be used by other campuses to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability goals, and to provide campus staff with a compendium of best practice projects that could be transferable to their campus.