Slippery Rock University's Smith Student Center won a LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, green building certification for features such as its rainwater redirection system and green roof. The campus as a whole won an APPA Sustainability Award for its efforts in recycling, cutting greenhouse gases and energy efficiency.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Things are coming up green at Slippery Rock University, and planners hope to keep sustainability efforts blooming in 2016.

The university received the 2015 Sustainability Award last year from the APPA for its efforts to go green across the campus.

“The Sustainability Award criteria measure the current level and effort of a facilities management department to integrate sustainable policies and “green” practices throughout all facets of the organization,” said Paul Wuebold, APPA’s vice president, professional affairs, and the chair of the awards and recognition committee.

The Alexandria, Va.-based organization, formerly known as the Association of Physical Plant Administrators, promotes leadership in educational facilities for professionals.

More than 12,000 educational facilities belong to APPA.

Slippery Rock was recognized for its efforts in reducing waste, lessening greenhouse gases and demonstrating leadership in green building design, recycling and educational programs for students and residents in the surrounding community, according to Paul Scanlon, special assistant to the SRU president for sustainability planning and operation.

The award recognizes SRU’s 26 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005, 40 percent improvement in campus energy efficiency and achievement of LEED certification for six residence halls, the Harmony House at the Macoskey Center for Sustainability Research and Education and the Smith Student Center.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system.

Scanlon said the university began its sustainability efforts in 2005 and pledged itself to sustainability and climate commitment in 2009.

“Sustainability is basically the ability to meet today’s needs while leaving resources available for future generations to meet their needs,” said Scanlon.

“This national APPA award once again demonstrates Slippery Rock University’s institutionwide commitment to sustainability,” said Scanlon. “We are making progress on all fronts, including our long-term goals.

Facilities management staff has taken a leadership role in the university’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2037, he said.

Scanlon said the university began reducing campus energy use through whole-building energy-efficient renovations and the replacement of aging buildings more than 10 years ago. It continues to implement additional conservation measures as the opportunity arises and new technologies emerge.

For instance, Scanlon said a quarter of the electricity used by the university was purchased from wind farms in the Midwest.

SRU also began using green roofs and a solar-powered rainwater collection system. SRU has established the practice of not using potable water in its irrigation systems, so “water usage for irrigation is effectively zero,” Scanlon said.

SRU’s “Reaching for 2025 and Beyond” strategic plan emphasizes energy conservation, efficient resource utilization and renewable energy.