Land Use/Built Environment
In January 2007, the University's Board of Visitors committed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System certification for all new and renovation building projects. In 2005, the University released "Guidelines for Sustainable Buildings and Environmental Design" (PDF), which established a sustainable approach to campus planning and resource management.
- The University currently has 19 projects registered with the U.S. Green Building Council seeking LEED Certification. There are 15 registered projects on U.Va.'s Central Grounds, at the U.Va. Health System and at the U.Va. research parks and 4 registered projects at the U.Va.'s College at Wise.
- Efforts are underway to standardize and document nearly a dozen points for certification under the USGBC LEED Campus credit program.
- The 2008 Grounds Plan (PDF) establishes a twenty year planning framework to direct growth into previously developed areas in order to protect natural resources, expand open space and provide strong bicycle, pedestrian and transit connections.
- Policies, practices and standards that support credits related to energy, atmosphere, indoor air quality, resource conservation and transit are being developed and implemented by the University.
- Efforts are also underway to develop programs that will earn LEED credits for the Existing Buildings - Operations and Maintenance (LEED EB O&M) rating system.
- A University of Virginia Bicycle Master Plan (PDF) has been created and supports development strategies that include bicycle routes throughout Grounds and linkages to current and potential city and county bicycle routes. Bicycle Plan Context
That plan is the product of a joint effort between the Office of the Architect for the University, The Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, and the Green Grounds Group, a student organization dedicated to implementing sustainable practices at UVA.
Visit the Office of the Architect website for more information.
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