The West City Campus for Continuing Education is a new $18 million project that serves as the Campus of Excellence for Hospitality and Consumer Sciences, and is a model of smart construction and energy efficiency, reducing utility and maintenance costs substantially compared to a standard building. Sustainable design and construction can greatly reduce the amount of energy need to produce and transport materials, and to construct, operate and maintain a building. At West City, quality of life for the building users will be enhanced by better connections to the outside environment, and reduction of materials and systems contributing to indoor pollution. The use of sustainable materials or those with a high volume of recycled content is proving to have an aesthetic value as well, prompting users to learn more about these materials and see the benefits of including these materials in their learning and working environment.

Storm Water Management - The parking area is constructed with pervious concrete, which allows storm water to percolate through into the ground. Building roof drains are directed into landscaped detention basins, which also filter the water and absorb into the ground. This recharges the aquifer and greatly reduces run-off that may migrate into the Bay and San Diego River.

Heat Island Reduction – Light colored roofing, concrete paving, and canopy-type trees will reduce the heat absorbed and re-radiated by the West City building and site. Light Pollution Reduction – Fully shielded exterior lighting helps reduce nighttime glare, both for neighbors and on the nighttime sky. High-efficiency fixtures also reduce electrical consumption.

Water Efficient Landscaping – Trees and shrubs have been selected for their compatibility to the area, to provide shade and to minimize the need for water. A high-efficiency irrigation system utilizes a controller that adjusts itself to local weather.

Water Use Reduction – Restrooms are equipped with water-saving aerators, low-flow toilet valves and waterless urinals to reduce the need for water by 30% from a typically-constructed building.

Lighting and Ventilation – High-efficiency lighting and heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems are used to reduce the need for energy. Lighting controls automatically dim or shut off the lights when there is adequate daylight from outside. Economizers turn off the air conditioning and circulate filtered outside air when the outdoor temperature is comfortable. These features reduce the need for energy by 38% and are expected to save up to $40,000/year in operating costs over standard construction.

Building Materials – Building materials were selected to provide high performance and reduce environmental impact. High efficiency windows and skylights optimize views and daylighting while reducing heat transmission into or out of the building. Whenever possible, materials are from local manufacturers, have high recycled content, and have low off-gassing of volatiles. Materials that do not require waxing and refinishing were also selected to reduce maintenance and limit contaminants washed down the drains.

Construction Waste Management – Recycling and salvaging programs during construction diverted a minimum of 75% of the waste from our landfills.

The project is expected to meet eligibility requirements for a Silver LEED certification, requiring a very high level of design, construction and performance. The incorporation of sustainable materials throughout the facility serve to inform and enhance appreciation and understand of green building practices in regard to environmental health, water savings, energy efficiency, quality of the indoor environment, and innovative use of sustainable and recycled materials.

The facility serves as model project for sustainability and is a working, living laboratory for mitigation issues that continue to inform and inspire local architects, engineers and contractors. The West City project involved some direct environmental benefits including the substantial reduction in emissions associated with the very low site energy use. By reducing regulated electrical use by approximately 47%, the building’s associated reduction in CO2 emissions is estimated at 16 tons per year. The peak electrical demand is reduced by approximately 40%, which helps to alleviate pressure on existing production and distribution systems.

Also, 50% of the remaining annual electrical use for the building will be offset for two years by a Green Tags contract, which will ensure that renewable energy is generated in an amount equal to the remaining estimated annual regulated grid electrical use. This strategy is also replicable. In addition to these primary environmental benefits that are due to integrated design and a commitment to energy and resource efficiency, there are substantial related secondary environmental and related community benefits associated with the West City Center project.

Heat Island Effect is a phenomenon found in most of our cities. It is caused by the re-radiation of absorbed light and associated heat in dark man-made materials such as roofing and asphalt paving. To combat this effect, the building utilizes a cool roofing membrane, which reflects rather than absorbs the heat. This also keeps the building cooler and reduces cooling requirements. The driveways and parking lot use permeable concrete paving and wide canopy type trees that will also prevent daytime heat absorption. Water use has been reduced by over 40% through the use of low-flow lavatories, waterless urinals, low-flow water closets, and low-flow kitchen sinks. This reduction in demand also reduces the amount of energy that is required to move water into the region. The project takes advantage of the ability of the soil to percolate water. Storm water runoff has been minimized by the use of onsite detention basins and pervious concrete pavement. This benefits everyone by greatly reducing the storm water runoff that often contaminates our oceans and bays. This project also lessens the burden on the municipal drain system.

Indoor Environment: The quality of the indoor work environment can play a significant part in the support of the educational mission of this Continuing Education campus. This project addresses the indoor environment in several ways. The generous use of windows and controllable skylights reinforces a connection to the outside environment and reduces the need for artificial lighting. Economizers allow the heating, ventilating and cooling system to take advantage of non-conditioned outside air to ventilate the building. This ensures that occupants have adequate amounts of fresh air without unnecessarily increasing building cooling loads. The system also automatically monitors Carbon Dioxide (CO2) levels and alerts occupants if they exceed recommended standards. Low-emitting materials are used throughout the project: all adhesives, sealants, paints, and carpeting are low-VOC.

Resources: Recycling is encouraged and facilitated by conveniently locating collection and storage facilities on-site, both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, by grinding the foundations and parking lots, construction waste was carefully recycled or reused on-site and reduced the burden on local landfills by 75% over standard construction. Ozone emitting coolants such as CFC’s, HCFC’s, or Halons, all of which deplete the ozone layer, were not used in the project.

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