Green Buildings

How our buildings interact with the environment reflects our values as a community. At Lewis & Clark we are continually applying the latest "green" efficiency measure to reduce our negative impacts on the environment. Our buildings also serve as places where people can engage each other to build a community that accomplishes the same goals.

Check out the Campus Farm Proposal

Look at what the Grounds Crew are doing to make the campus a more environmentally friendly place

Presentation on LC becoming Kyoto compliant in 2004

Get your bike worked on for free at the bike room

Since 1991, Lewis & Clark has increased building area by 41 percent. The number of students living on campus has increased 42 percent and the number of faculty and staff has increased 14 percent.

During this same period of time, Lewis & Clark spent over $3,000,000 on energy conservation measures that resulted in reducing annual electrical consumption by more than 4,000,000 kWh and annual natural gas consumption by over 230,000 Therms.

The net result of these changes has resulted in only a 10 percent increase in annual electricity consumption and a 2 percent increase in annual natural gas consumption during this time period. Even though our size has greatly expanded, per person we put less strain on the environment than in 1991. 

Learn More About Howard Hall

Green Building Policy

Our basic strategy will be to implement sustainable development construction practices to the maximum extent possible without increasing baseline construction costs. If the first costs of implementing a particular sustainable development strategy exceed the costs of "traditional" technology, then the sustainable development strategy will be evaluated on the basis of life cycle cost/benefit analysis and evaluated against other project priorities. To implement this strategy, the college has adopted the US Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental design (LEED) methodology.

The LEED system was established by the US Green Building Council to recognize buildings that incorporate into their design and construction methods a specific minimum level of sustainable technology. The LEED system is a four tiered rating system with each level of achievement requiring implementation of a greater number of sustainable development techniques. All Lewis & Clark College projects must meet the LEED ‘Certified’ level of sustainable development. Projects may or may not be registered. The LEED standard was selected as our measure because it is and industry-wide standard, with clear and objective evaluative tools and guidelines for measuring progress towards sustainable development objectives. Strategies to exceed the Certified level of sustainability will be evaluated using life cycle cost analysis and in the context of other project priorities.

Recent Projects - click to view LEED score sheet

2001 - Wood Hall - Built to LEED Silver

2002 - Roberts Hall - Certified LEED Silver

2002 - East Hall - Built to LEED Silver

2003 - Albany Remodel - Built to LEED Certification 

2005 - JR Howard Hall - Certified LEED Gold

2008 - Law School Cafeteria - LEED Certified

2009 - photovoltaic array on top of the athletics building

LEED Scores of new buildings

2009-10 Projects

• FAT Cooling Unit Replacement
• Evans Auditorium CO2 Sensors and VFD Controls
• Olin Pneumatic Electronic Hood and Fire Dampers
• Tennis Dome Lighting Replacement
• Pamplin Gym Lighting Controls
• Energy Meters for Undergrad Buildings
• Energy Meters in Undergrad Housing
• Flanagan Chapel Carbon Dioxide Sensors and Controls
• Central Plant Boiler Controls
• Energy Meters on Common Service Buildings

See a complete list of energy saving projects and savings.

Greening Our Buildings

• Our copy paper is 30% recycled content.  Our paper towels and toilet paper are 100% post consumer fiber.
• 70% of all housekeeping chemical are green seal certified.  The remaining, quaternary disinfectant, necessary for helping to prevent the spread of disease.
• LC currently recycles aluminum, cardboard, glass, paper, brass, copper, iron, stainless steel, batteries, fluorescent tubes, and laboratory chemicals. Our diversion rate is 51%