HBS Chapel Earns University's First LEED EBOM Gold Certification

Credit: Safdie Architects Harvard Business School - Class of 1959 Memorial Chapel

The Harvard Business School (HBS) began the endeavor of LEED for Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance (LEED EBOM) certification for the Class of 1959 Memorial Chapel (Chapel) in September of 2008.  Over the course of two years, the HBS project team in collaboration with Harvard’s Green Building Services (GBS), instituted a number of energy conservation measures and altered the building’s preventive maintenance and operational procedures in order to incorporate best operations, maintenance and reporting practices. The operational review and changes ranged from cleaning protocols to snow removal and landscaping services. In many instances, HBS already supported sustainable cleaning, maintenance and landscaping services. The changes in their operations dealt with the reporting and documentation of their operations throughout the year.

The two-year process culminated this summer when the Chapel achieved LEED Gold certification.  This certification is the second LEED EBOM certification at Harvard University, and the first LEED EBOM Gold certification.  This also represents the first LEED Gold certification of any higher education institution in the world under the EBOM rating system.

One of the core aspects of the LEED EBOM rating system addresses is the building’s energy performance.  Since September of 2008, the Chapel reduced its energy consumption by 49%.  These energy savings were accomplished with the implementation of four (4) energy conservation measures. First, the building removed the existing pneumatic control system and installed a direct digital control (DDC) building automation system. This control installation allowed the project team to review the existing control sequence and make adjustments so that it appropriately matched the building’s current occupancy schedule. Second, the water fixtures and fittings in the bathrooms were replaced with efficient alternatives. This reduced the building’s water consumption by 45% in comparison to UPC 2006 compliant fixtures.  Third, the lighting throughout the space was upgraded from halogen fixtures operated with manual switches to a combination of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs) operated with occupancy sensors. This change reduced the lighting electric consumption by 71%. Finally, there was approximately 100 linear feet of uninsulated pipe in the basement of the Chapel that was insulated. In terms of funding, 15% of the total project costs were financed with incentive money from the local utility company.

For more information on the project and sustainability features the complete project profile is located on the Harvard University Office for Sustainability’s Green Building Resource.