As facilities management waits for federal green building certificates for a number of building projects at CSU, Cody Goings, a junior political science major with first-hand experience with the university’s eco-friendly initiatives, said the new building techniques exceed expectations.

Goings is currently a resident assistant in CSU’s newest residence hall, Aspen Hall. He said one of the greatest features of the new building is the residents’ ability to control the temperature in their own room.

"It gives you the independence of making it warmer or hotter depending on how you are feeling," Goings said.

Aspen Hall was recently awarded the second highest ranking in the U.S. Green Building Council’s green building program. The hall scored 39 points, the base number for the building to achieve Gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

According to the USGBC’s Web site, for a building to be certified it must be built and maintained using strategies that improve performance such as, energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction and improved indoor environmental quality.

Points are rewarded based on their potential environmental impacts and receive bonus points when taking into account local environmental concerns.

"The process of submitting a building for LEED certification is a two phase application," said design assistant Maddy Yovanoff said.

In the first phase, known as the design phase review, overseers submit information to the USGBC on the credits that will earn points for the building.

"You can get points for things like locating your building near public transportation, which is part of the design of the project," Yovanoff said.

In the final phase, documentation for the construction phase review is submitted for final processing and accreditation.