A historic structure on the Hollins University campus has earned the institution its first-ever Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
The Green Building Certification Institute has awarded the newly renovated Robbie Hunt Burton Alumnae Cottage its LEED Silver classification in recognition of the sustainable building components used during the remodeling effort.
Alumnae Cottage, a guest residence originally constructed in 1905, features the first geothermal heating and cooling system on campus; low-maintenance building materials containing recycled content, including ceramic tile, particle board, and fiberglass insulation; renewable materials such as bamboo flooring and cabinet doors; high energy-efficient appliances; and low-flow toilets, faucets, and showers to enhance water conservation. In addition, one hundred percent of the construction waste from the project was recycled.
“The Alumnae Cottage renovation represents a significant step forward in our efforts toward reducing and ultimately eliminating the university’s carbon footprint,” said Kerry Edmonds, Hollins’ vice president for finance and administration. “Without the partnership and guidance of Blacksburg-based architect Peter Ozolins, the engineering firm Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates of Greensboro, project managers Raymond Hunt and Mike Brown with Richmond-based contractor EDC, and contractor R.L. Price Construction of Salem, we could not have achieved our LEED certification objective.”
LEED is an internationally-recognized green building certification system that promotes sustainable building and development practices. It acknowledges commercial and residential initiatives that put into action plans that seek superior performance in five significant areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
The Green Building Certification Institute is an independent, non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. It was established in 2008 with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council.
