Piper and Drummond Residence Halls Earn LEED Gold Certification

Piper and Drummond residence halls earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification through the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in July 2014. These certifications mark the 10th and 11th LEED certifications and the fifth and sixth residence halls certified at the College.

One key element for both buildings was improved energy performance. By adding insulation to the walls and attic, integrating high efficiency glazing, upgrading lighting, and including energy recovery ventilation, each building realized an approximate 20-percent reduction in energy required for heating compared to an ASHRAE 90.1-2004 baseline. Because the projects are residence halls, the project team paid particular attention to specifying low-emitting materials including paints, sealants, adhesives, carpet, and composite wood to ensure a healthy indoor environment for Colby students.

The College will continue to focus on LEED certification for new construction and commercial interior projects, and three additional projects are registered and working towards certification. Currently 12 percent of Colby buildings’ square footage is LEED-certified space and one in five Colby students and staff or faculty members live or work in a LEED-certified space.