Green Campus Initiative

Lesley's Green Campus Initiative ensures that sustainability is a guiding principle in campus planning, development and maintenance, striving to make the Lesley campus even more “green.”

In 2008, Lesley University broke ground on its first new construction since 1973. The landmark occasion -- itself a milestone in the university's history -- also represented a major commitment to sustainability and launched Lesley's Green Campus Initiative. Designed to meet LEED Gold standards for energy efficiency and design, the new residence halls at 1 & 3 Wendell Street set a benchmark for new campus construction. Each new resident of 1 & 3 Wendell Street received A guide to sustainable living [pdf] (printed on recycled paper of course).

For more information on other green initiatives at Lesley, please visit Lesley's Sustainability Initiative.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

• Storm water control systems
• Optimized energy performance
• Optimized daylight & window configurations
• Heat-reducing roofs
• Water efficient landscaping
• Water use reduction systems
• Recycled & renewable building materials
• Low emission paints, carpets and finishes
• Interior thermal comfort systems
• 75% of construction waste recycled by builders
• Sustainably harvested wood

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• 1 & 3 Wendell use far less energy for heating and cooling. 1 Wendell benefits from a continuous layer of 3-inch spray foam insulation behind the facade’s clapboard and brick. 3 Wendell’s insulation is integrated into its exterior wall construction with a layer of rigid foam under the clapboards, more than twice the code requirements.
• Both buildings have continuous air barriers that reduce air infiltration through exterior walls. Spaces between windows and walls were sealed with foam for further tightening. Selected walls were field tested with tracer smoke to check for air tightness. Better air tightness translates to increased energy efficiency.
• Both buildings have light colored roofs which reflect sunlight away from the building, reducing the “heat island effect” cause by most buildings and paved surfaces.
• Both buildings have mechanical systems that separate ventilation from heating and cooling systems.
• The ventilation systems utilize heat recovery wheels to re-capture warmed or cooled air from the building.
• Chillers and boilers were selected for their efficiency, and Lesley received “green rebates” from utility companies.
• A “smart control system” ensures that heating, cooling and ventilation systems are powered off when not needed.
• High-efficiency electric lighting uses 0.65 watts per square foot (typical dorms use 1 watt per square foot for lighting).
• Lighting in common areas and bathrooms is controlled by a combination of occupancy sensors and daylight sensors to keep lights off when they are not needed.
• Shallow floor plates allow daylight to reach more space, eliminating the need for electric lights most of the day.
• Operable windows are located in every occupied space to provide cross ventilation, and connection to the outdoors. A constant supply of 100% outdoor air is mechanically provided to all spaces when the building is occupied.
• 1 & 3 Wendell are close to the MBTA Red Line, MBTA buses and the Lesley Shuttle. Bike racks are provided on site and on sidewalks.

WATER CONSERVATION

• Water-conservation fixtures yield a 40% reduction in water use compared to a standard dormitory.
• The toilets in both buildings are dual flush, with options to flush at 1.1 or 1.6 gallons.
• Shower heads are factory-regulated for a flow of 2.0 gallons per minutes, instead of the normal 2.5 gallons per minute. Faucets also have aerators and flow regulators.