Cravens Center at COD to Receive Environmental Award

The Cravens Student Services Center at College of the Desert  has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification.  The Cravens Center is the first college building in the Desert Community College District to achieve Gold certification.  Two other sites, COD Barker Foundation Nursing Complex and the City of Palm Desert Public Safety Academy at COD, have LEED Silver level certification.

“The Cravens Center state-of-the-art sustainable design is good for our environment, the economy and community,” said Dr. Bonnie Stefan, Chair Desert Community College District Board of Trustees. “We are most appreciative of the efforts of our project team to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable principles and practices."

Water consumption savings are achieved by low flow plumbing fixtures, xeriscape (low water landscaping), electrical lighting is provided by energy-efficient fluorescent lamps.

The building’s lighting system exceeds standards by more than twenty-five percent. Photovoltaics provide 7.5 percent of the buildings energy. Building materials used in the construction contained at least a twenty percent recycled content. The materials were sourced within a 500-mile radius of the jobsite. Nearly seventy-five percent of all jobsite construction and demolition debris was recycled or otherwise diverted from landfills. Paint, carpet, particleboard, adhesives and sealants were selected for low emissions of volatile organic compounds to ensure good indoor air quality. 

A plaque noting the certification will be given to COD officials on April 30th.