POTSDAM – Clarkson University's new Technology Advancement Center (TAC) building has received LEED Gold certification.

The university points to the building’s state-of-the-art heating and cooling, passive solar and rainwater collection systems, and many other innovations for the recognition.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification system developed by the non-profit United States Green Building Council for high performance energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings.

The building's heating, air conditioning, and electrical power requirements are met not by a central power plant and high voltage transmission lines, but by three small microturbine units. The system is 62 percent efficient, versus the 30 percent efficiency of a central power system.

"When we broke ground for the Technology Advancement Center in 2007, our goal was to achieve LEED Gold certification," said University President Collins.

Only the LEED Platinum certification rating is higher. The lower ratings are Certified and Silver.

The 16,000-square-foot TAC connects the main library and computing space with Clarkson’s largest academic teaching building, adding laboratory and collaboration space for research, especially in the fields of renewable energy and clean manufacturing technology.

Shannon Robinson, project manager for construction, said, "It is our intent to continue to meet or exceed standard sustainable building practices because of their many benefits, helping to preserve the environment for future generations.

TAC was built with a $5 million grant from Empire State Development (ESD).

The building also features solar panels providing heating for TAC's potable hot water system for energy savings of 35 percent; rainwater harvesting system that is used to collect roof runoff and use it to flush plumbing appliances, reducing potable water usage by 38.5 percent; low-flush toilets and low-flow faucets reduce potable water use by additional 37.5 percent.

- Additional rainwater being cleaned and returned to the ground for aquifer recharge

- A "green" energy-efficient elevator made of recycled materials, using 1/3 less electricity without risk of soil contamination from hydraulic fluid

- Significant south-facing window systems for daylight harvesting, with natural light in 80 percent of all public spaces

- Sensors measuring the natural light entering the building to adjust the use of electrically produced lighting

- HVAC systems engineered to facilitate individual room temperature control with variable air valves

- A white roofing system to reduce greatly the building's heat island

- High-efficiency air filtration systems to decrease the electrical requirements and improve the building's air quality

-Material that came from within 500 miles, reducing transportation energy use; and recycled materials, like Potsdam sandstone

- Motion sensors and daylight sensors to curtail energy usage when no one is in a room or when daylight is sufficiently adequate

- Exterior lighting only for safety and comfort, not for aesthetics

In addition, low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicle use is encouraged by offering restricted, convenient parking spaces, with no new parking spaces, thereby maintaining green space. At least 50 percent of TAC's wood was produced using environmentally-sensitive, forest-harvesting procedures. Hazardous particulates are filtered at the building entryway by high efficiency air filters. And more than half of the construction debris was recycled.

The partnership with ESD is complemented by Clarkson's longstanding relationship with the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), which is now a division of ESD. NYSTAR designated Clarkson's Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) a NYSTAR Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) in 1988 and renewed its third decade of funding in 2008.

The TAC laboratories are the northern satellite of the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (CoE). This entity, a public/private research and development partnership, was established by NYSTAR to promote the creation of jobs and wealth by developing technologies to improve health, productivity, security, and sustainability in built and urban environments. TAC enables CoE to apply its mission to rural environments, which create significant renewable energy resource opportunities.

In addition to research laboratories, work areas supporting K-12 outreach programming encourage college bound students into technological careers through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program. This activity is both critical and integral to the long term success of the mission of Clarkson's Center for Sustainable Energy Systems.

State funding included meeting and training rooms for faculty/student research teams to collaborate with industrial researchers on energy projects currently funded by the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority, NYSTAR, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and related agencies and industries.