Sustainable Sites

Public Transportation

The RCCC North Campus is served by the Salisbury Transit Bus System to encourage students and faculty to utilize public transportation which reduces pollution and environmental impacts from automobile use.

Bike Racks

Bicycle racks are provided to encourage students and faculty to utilize elaternative methods of transportation which reduces pollution and environmental impacts from automobile use.  In addition, showers and changing facilities are provided within the building.

Fuel Efficient Vehicles

14 parking spaces, or 5%, of the of total parking capacity, are specifically reserved for fuel efficient vehicle parking near the main entry to the building to promote reduced pollution and environmental impacts from automobile use.

Storm Water Control

The storm water management pond located behind the building is designed to detain and release water at a rate 46% lower than in pre-developed conditions to limit erosion of the existing natural aquifer system. The pond is also sized to detain water based upon a 100 year storm event.

Light Pollution Reduction

All of the exterior light fixtures are provided with cut-off shields, which minimize light trespass off-site and into the sky. Limiting light pollution also reduces the impact on wildlife and nocturnal environments.

Water Efficiency

Water Efficient Landscaping

By utilizing landscaping materials and species which are indigenous to the region and highly drought tolerant, irrigation water use is reduced by over 80%, which represents a savings of almost 900,000 gallons of water per year.

Energy and Atmosphere

Refrigerant Management

The building HVAC systems contain no CFC based refrigerants, which have been proven to deplete ozone within the earth’s atmosphere.

Energy Performance

The building is designed with a high performance exterior envelope, including additional insulation within the walls and roof.  In addition, the high performance HVAC system is significantly more energy efficient than minimum code requirements.  This results in approximately 19% energy use reduction or 681,000 BTU per year.

White Colored Roof Membrane

The building is equipped with a white TPO roofing surface which reflects natural light and greatly reduces thermal heat gain within the building. It also improves the efficiency of the HVAC system, as less energy is needed to cool the building.

Materials & Resources

Construction Waste Recycling

Approximately 75% of the waste generated during the construction process, or over 125 tons of material, was diverted from landfills.  In addition, over 900 tons of land clearing debris including trees, stumps, and brush were mulched and used on-site or sold for lumber.

Recycled Material Content

The building materials utilized within the facility contain a significant amount of both pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled materials.  For example, the structural steel and drywall both contain 100% recycled content.

Regional Materials

Over 36% of the construction materials utilized on the facility were harvested and manufactured regionally, within 500 miles. For example, all of the brick used on the building was produced within Rowan County.

Certified Wood

Most of the wood products installed within the building, including doors, casework and wood flooring, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to promote enivronmentally sensitive foresting, logging and replanting practices.

Indoor Environmental Quality

Fresh Air Delivery

Sensors are provided throughout the building to signal for the HVAC system to provide additional outside fresh air when elevated carbon dioxide levels are detected.  Elevated CO2 levels are typcially found in classrooms and other multi-occupant spaces and cause discomfort and drowsiness.

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan

During the construction process, a strict management plan was followed to prevent the introduction of moisture and contaminates into the building materials and HVAC system.  For example, the open ends of ductwork were sealed each day.

Low VOC Materials and Finishes

All paints, adhesives, sealants and primers used within the interior of the building contain low amounts of VOC’s, providing students and faculty a higher standard of indoor air quality. VOC’s are carbon compounds which pollute and degrade the air we breathe.

Sustainable Carpet

All carpeting and adhesives installed within the building are certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus program.  In addition, the carpet contains a significant amunt of recycled content and the manufacturing process is cradle-to-cradle certified.

Natural Daylighting

Significant amounts of natural daylighting are provided via large windows within the stairwells and other public spaces throughout the building.  This reduces the amount of artificial light fixtures needed and thus, reduces the amount of energy required to cool the building in the summer, while provided radiant heating in the winter.

Natural daylighting is provided in the upper level bathrooms via solar tubes which provide an abundance of daylighting to interior spaces without exterior windows.  This system includes skylights with light diffusers mounted in the ceiling that appear to be light fixtures.

Controllability of Thermal Comfort

A high level of temperature control is provided within the building which promotes comfort, well being and productivity of building occupants, in addition to reducing energy consumption.

Lighting Control

Automatic occupancy sensors are provided to shut lights off when occupants are not utilizing the spaces. As lighting is the number one producer of heat within a building, this reduces the amount of energy required for cooling.

Innovation in Design

LEED Accredited Design Team

Several members of the Architectural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Design Team – in addition to the Building Commissioning Agent – have achieved LEED professional accreditation from the United States Green Building Council

U.S. Green Building Council