By David DeFusco

Kroon Hall, the new home of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system for new construction, Kroon Hall was awarded 59 points, or seven more than required for the top rating of Platinum.

Kroon Hall was designed to use 81 percent less water and 58 percent less energy than a comparable building and to generate 25 percent of its electricity onsite from renewable sources.

Sustainable Sites
Kroon Hall earned 12 out of 14 possible points in LEED's Sustainable Sites category through environmental sensitivity to the building landscape design and the promotion of public transportation.

Water Efficiency
Kroon Hall earned all five LEED points for water efficiency. Stormwater is collected from the roof and courtyards and filtered through native aquatic plants. Wastewater collected from sinks and showers is added to the stormwater and used for all nonpotable needs such as toilets and irrigation. Water demand is further reduced by the installation of low-flow plumbing and irrigation fixtures.

Energy and Atmosphere
Kroon Hall earned every point in the Energy and Atmosphere category for building commissioning, reducing the use of harmful refrigerants, onsite renewable energy production, building energy performance and measurement and verification. The building earned 10 points for energy performance and 3 for onsite renewable energy.
The east-west orientation of the building takes advantage of solar access and natural ventilation. Fresh air ventilation and free cooling cycles on air handling units reduce the need for air conditioning most of the year. Concrete walls and exposed concrete ceilings retain heat in winter and help cool in the summer. All appliances and equipment are Energy Star TM rated.
Solar energy is generated onsite. Solar hot water is used to heat at least 50 percent of potable water. The photovoltaic array on the roof, which is funded in part by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, provides approximately 25 percent of the building's electricity.

Materials and Resources
Kroon Hall achieved 6 points in the Materials and Resources category. The project purchased 16 percent of the materials with recycled content and 34 percent from regional sources. Almost 80 percent of the timber purchased for the building is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Indoor Environmental Quality
Kroon Hall was awarded the maximum 15 points for Indoor Environmental Quality. Points are achieved for projects that maximize daylight and have views to the outdoors, use high-efficiency filtration for the ventilation air, give occupants control of their visual and thermal environment and utilize finished products with low concentrations of volatile organic compounds.

Innovation and Design Process
Kroon Hall achieved 4 out of 5 points for innovation and design. The project achieved points for its green education program, green housekeeping plan and exemplary performance for potable water savings.