University of Pittsburgh Lab Goes Green

The University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Laboratory Building has been awarded Gold Certification for green building from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

According to a press release from the university, Pitt is the only university in Pennsylvania to have received gold certification. Only 13 other buildings in the state have been designated as Gold Standard LEED buildings.

“We are very grateful to the U.S. Green Building Council for recognizing and rewarding our McGowan Laboratory Building in such a meaningful way,” says Mark A. Nordenberg, University of Pittsburgh chancellor.

Among the lab’s green building features are a 5,000-ballong underground storage tank that collects rainwater to be used for toilet flushing and drip irrigation, a heat recovery system to reduce energy use and increase the efficiency of outside air spaces and extensive use of alternative transportation, including bike racks, preferred spaces for carpoolers and accessibility of public transportation.

More information about the McGowan building is available at www.mirm.pitt.edu and more information about the USGBC is available at www.usgbc.org.