University of South Carolina
OP-2: Building Design and Construction

The University requires all buildings to meet a minimum of LEED Silver, additionally state law requires all new construction and major renovation to obtain LEED Silver or two Green Globes. All new projects are submitted to the Office of Sustainability prior to state approval to proceed. The Office identifies and signs off on projects with direction to utilize LEED or consider the project exempt. Exempt projects are large scale renovation projects that only address a single issue such as life safety and do not include a comprehensive scope. Small scale projects that may be exempt are projects that do not have a broad enough scope to pursue LEED certification, though LEED is still applied to the design process. The Office of State Engineer must also sign off on all projects and ensure LEED is applied. A copy of the state law is below: Energy Independence and Sustainable Construction Act Effective June 2007 - All state funded major projects, which includes the following: o New Construction of 10,000 SF or greater o Renovation (project involves >50% of the replacement value of the facility or a change in occupancy) o Commercial interior tenant fit-out project >7500 SF of leasable area o All must have conditioned space - All projects requiring certification must meet LEED Silver or Green Globes 2 Globes at a minimum - All required projects must be analyzed using a life cycle cost analysis comparing the cost and benefits of designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating the facility at the required certification level or better that causes the project to be designed and constructed in a manner that achieves the lowest 30 year life cycle cost - Energy Requirements: o Using LEED the project must obtain at least 40% of the available points for energy performance under EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance. o Using Green Globes the project must obtain at least 20% of the available points for energy performance under C.1.1 Energy Consumption. o The State Engineer’s Office may waive the requirements of this item for a proposed major facility should it determine the costs of meeting this item are not economically feasible - All major projects that are certified under this Act must be inspected by a third party commissioning agent in the fifth, tenth and fifteenth year following certification. Results will be submitted to OSE. OSE may take appropriate measure to bring the building into compliance of the certifications if needed.