For Immediate Release
July 15, 2010

Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

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NEWS RELEASE

Norwich’s South Hall earns top environmental rating

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University officials announced today that it has been awarded LEED® Gold certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) for its South Hall dormitory.

LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance energy efficient buildings.

Chief Administrative Officer David Magida noted that Norwich has implemented many sound environmental practices over the years. The university has an aggressive energy conservation program, composts all yard and food waste and recycles a high percentage of all other waste.

Indeed, this week Norwich received a certificate of composting excellence from the Central Vermont Solid Waste District recognizing that in two-and-a-half years Norwich has composted 403.7 tons of food waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 242,220 gallons of gasoline.

“South Hall takes these efforts to a new level,” Magida said. “South Hall is the new benchmark for all new construction and renovation projects. It is important for all organizations to have this type of commitment but even more so for an educational institution.”

South Hall achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, this LEED certified building will save money for the university, its students and their families; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for students, employees and the larger community.

“South Hall’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the
industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and South Hall serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

LEED certification of South Hall, the largest building on campus to date, was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

• One hundred percent of the building’s energy use will be offset by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits.
• The building contains recycled content, locally manufactured and low VOC materials and products.
• All bedroom windows have sensors which shut off the heating system when windows have been left open.
• Efficient water use strategies throughout the building will reduce water usage by over 30 percent for a building of this size and type.

U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is
projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials
and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.
For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu