Building gets LEED certified

The newly constructed Research Office Complex (ROC) has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The ROC is at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus and is the first LEED-certified University of Texas System building. To become LEED certified, the university set performance goals in five environmental categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. The project received exemplary credit for diverting more than 95 percent of its waste from landfills by recycling or reusing materials at other job sites. In addition, the ROC was constructed with environmental features, such as CO2 sensors that improve air quality and reduce energy consumption, and a parking lot with four recharge stations that allow commuters to recharge their electric cars while at work.