Green building strategies for LEED certified recreational facilities

Student recreational facilities at higher education institutions are increasingly utilizing green building strategies to decrease their impact on the campus environment and to increase economic and social impacts on the community. Through nearly two decades of LEED building development, comparative studies of LEED strategies among buildings are not rare, but still in demand due to the lessons learned from other LEED certified buildings. This paper presents case studies on the green building strategies utilized for six student recreational facilities certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system and examines favorable strategies that lead to the success of obtaining higher rating levels. The comparative analysis results showed that the energy and atmosphere and indoor environmental quality categories that utilized energy performance optimization and innovative architectural designs for better daylights and views were major components for higher rating levels apart from conventional design criteria such as location, climate, and density. The recreational facilities having higher ratings were more favorable in obtaining credits using central plants, stormwater design, innovative wastewater technologies, and light control. The findings not only provide specific green buildings strategies for student recreational facilities, but they also enhance the green initiatives for future education facilities on university campuses.