LEED Certification

Meredith College’s student apartments, The Oaks, earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. In keeping with Meredith’s commitment to sustainability, the apartments were built in an environmentally friendly manner. The LEED certified building practices used to construct the apartments translate to quality of life features such as superior air ventilation and water purification systems, and non-toxic paints and carpets.

The Oaks project achieved LEED Silver certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. LEED certification of Silver was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

•dual flush toilets,
•“dark sky” friendly exterior light fixtures,
•water efficient landscaping, including drip irrigation,
•use of low-emitting materials including adhesives, paints and carpets,
•construction materials made from recycled products, and from materials extracted and manufactured regionally, and
•diverting 89% of construction waste from the landfill.

More about 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. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. The organization has become the preeminent green building, standards, education and research organization in the nation. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.

Green Cleaning

Meredith is transitioning to using Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals and green cleaning procedures in the housekeeping department. Green cleaners are less toxic and better for human and environmental health.

Download this three page guide for green cleaning in your apartment and dorm room.

Also see Laura Fieselman, Meredith's sustainability coordinator, on NBC-17's "My Carolina Today" sharing methods environmentally safe cleaning. View the segment at: www.mycarolinatoday.com.

Water Conservation

Meredith is installing dual flush toilets and touch-less urinals and faucets in all new and renovated restrooms. We have also installed “Bon Aqua,” a boiler plant water treatment system that utilizes strong permanent magnets instead of chemicals to eliminate scale and minerals in the plant water.  In addition to not having to handle, store, and dispose of harsh chemicals, we avoid underground chemical leaks and reduce water consumption by the boiler plant by thousands of gallons per day because of fewer blow down (a maintenance flush) cycles.