Delaware Tech’s Energy Education and Training Center Earns LEED Platinum Certification
Delaware Tech’s Center for Energy Education and Training (CEET), located on the Terry Campus in Dover, has earned the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Platinum certification.
The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems recognizes practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification available and is reserved for buildings that are designed to be efficient and have a lower impact on the environment. According to the USGBC, platinum-level members represent the world’s most innovative, forward-thinking corporations and organizations – placing Delaware Tech in a very prestigious category. This is the second building on a Delaware Tech campus to become LEED certified. In 2011, Energy House, the College’s energy education facility at the Owens Campus in Georgetown, also earned LEED Platinum certification. A third energy education facility is under construction on the Stanton Campus and is pursuing LEED certification as well. All three facilities were funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
According to College President, Dr. Orlando J. George, Jr.,
“This Center is the second in a series of three energy education facilities that are designed to prepare graduates from every county for environmentally-responsible careers of the future. We are helping them become part of the energy and environmental solution by giving them the opportunity to learn firsthand how to improve energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings. I am extremely proud that the College has earned yet another platinum certification and I applaud the faculty, staff, government and business partners that made this a reality.”
The state-of-the-art facility at the Terry Campus is constructed with an energy-conscious design, building methods and materials with green technologies such as solar array, vertical wind turbines, geothermal HVAC equipment, and a rainwater harvesting system, among other features. LEED for new construction focuses on design and construction, while also helping to lay the foundation for sustainable operations and maintenance practices once the project has been completed. Upfront planning for green operations and maintenance helps Delaware Tech to ensure that the building continues to perform to its full potential and will prepare students for jobs in renewable energy and energy management fields. Associate degrees are offered in Energy Management and Renewable Energy Solar.
“We are using the CEET building as a laboratory, where our students study the different commercial building systems, such as lighting, the building envelope, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems,” said Mark D’Allesandro, faculty member. “The capstone of the energy management program requires students to perform a commercial building energy audit and construct an energy model of the facility that closely mirrors its energy use.”
Energy Management instructor Ken Mecham agrees,
“The Center provides for teaching opportunities in the integration of renewable energy systems into the building’s energy requirements, as well as learning opportunities for using natural daylight to meet building illumination requirements.”
Tetra Tech of Newark, Delaware served as the building’s architect, with Commonwealth Construction Company of Wilmington serving as the general contractor.
“It was a pleasure to work with Delaware Tech on this project. The College’s commitment to sustainable design is evident in their willingness to pursue the Platinum Level”
said Tim Skibicki, project manager for Tetra Tech.