UNC Asheville’s Owen Hall has received LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification considers sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Home to the Art and Art History Department, as well as the New Media Department, Owen Hall is the third building on UNC Asheville’s campus to be LEED certified, after Rhoades Hall and The Woods residence halls.
Owen Hall recently underwent a 56,113 square foot renovation, updating energy and water systems to more efficient solutions, such as low-flow water fixtures and occupancy lighting sensors. Sustainable features also include new bioretention ponds and an infiltration trench; enhanced indoor air quality strategies; landscaping with native plants; waste reduction programming; and integrated pest management plans.
The project reflects UNC Asheville’s continued goals to expand sustainability across campus. Along with multiple LEED certifications, the University continues to work toward being carbon neutral by 2050. Additionally, UNC Asheville recently celebrated the installation of its second solar panel array at the University’s Reuter Center. The 64-panel solar array will produce 37,000 kWh annually, or about 17% percent of the annual electricity needs of the Reuter Center, home to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).
Other sustainability focused initiatives at UNC Asheville include the Student Environmental Center, GreenFest, the Farm to Table Dinner on the Quad, campus gardens, the Fair Trade Committee, and the fossil fuel divestment campaign. For more information on sustainability at UNC Asheville, visit sustainability.unca.edu.