Sustainable Building Program
About the Program
In 2002, the Board of Trustees for the Los Angeles Community College District saw an opportunity to become a leader in sustainability. The Board brought in leading environmental organizations to help develop a sustainability policy that balanced costs with the District's commitment to modernizing its colleges while protecting the environment. Today, the LACCD is at the helm of a $6 billion Sustainable Building Program – one of the largest such public-sector construction programs in the nation.
New buildings that use significant bond funding are built under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) standards, a national program administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. Approximately 87 new buildings are expected to meet or exceed the green building criteria for certification, making the LACCD the nation's first community college district to achieve this mark.
The LACCD's Sustainable Building Program has increased demand for skilled workers who are experienced in green construction projects. There are more than 800 LEED™ accredited professionals in Los Angeles County. This increase can partly be attributed to the LACCD; it is among the first agencies to incorporate into its contract language a requirement that LEED™ professionals be a part of the design team.
Employing local contractors has enabled the nine colleges – many of which are in underserved areas of Los Angeles – to hire local businesses to serve campuses in their neighborhoods. The District has been proactive in its outreach to small businesses through small-business fairs and community programs.
By taking the lead in environmental education through its plan to use sustainable design in all new campus construction and renovation, the District has set a benchmark for other educational institutions nationwide.
Sustainable Building Program fact sheet
Dashboard Reports
Here are the most recent dashboard monthly activity reports about the Sustainable Building Program:
