The Project

This report expresses my findings of a simple building audit I conducted on the University Center on the campus of UC Santa Barbara. This project was completed as an assignment for my Green Building course. I examined the building and assessed its features, fixtures, and practices in reference to the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) version 4 (v4) LEED Scorecard for Operations and Maintenance in school buildings. Some of the categories within the scorecard that I assessed include location, sustainability, water and energy efficiency, materials use, and indoor air quality. Additionally, I conducted water and energy analyses using the USGBC LEED v4 Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculator and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to evaluate the building’s energy and water usage. I also offer insight into areas of improvement to enhance sustainability and energy and water efficiency.

The front of the University Center at the main entrance.

The Experience

This building audit was unlike any other project I had done before. I enjoyed looking around the building, analyzing design features, building practices, and areas of improvement with the expertise I had gained from the Green Building course. With a notepad and pen in hand, I felt like a professional. I even looked like one too. Building staff noticed me and at one point I was even asked what company I was with after telling an onlooker that I was conducting a building audit. This was a fun project to complete and I enjoyed working through the entire process.

The Product

You can also read the article here: Case Study: University Center.