Clinton Climate Initiative Honors the L.A. Community College District's Green Building Program

President Clinton personally recognizes the LACCD during his keynote address at a conference in Chicago

Nov. 7, 2007 (LOS ANGELES) The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) was honored by the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) for its innovative green building program. LACCD is one of eleven CCI partners to launch a pilot program that will help dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by upgrading their campus buildings without using their capital budgets or increasing monthly operating expenses. The program will then serve as a model for other college campuses striving to reach climate neutrality.

Former President Bill Clinton announced the partnership at the Greenbuild 2007 Conference in Chicago where he acknowledged Larry Eisenberg, LACCD's Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Development for LACCD, during his keynote address at the conference.

"Being honored by President Clinton's organization is a great validation of our commitment to sustainability and leaving the world better than we found it," said Dr. Marshall "Mark" Drummond, LACCD's chancellor. “We are working everyday to build green renewable projects at our nine colleges that increase energy efficiency, use innovative and environmentally-friendly construction practices and materials, and decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.”

"What’s truly exciting about the District being recognized by CCI is what this means to our students," said Eisenberg. "This partnership offers us additional resources to provide our students with the knowledge and experience to develop, employ and maintain green technologies and services and lead them to good jobs that will also ensure a healthier planet for generations to come."

The LACCD is one of over 400 colleges and universities which, through the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), signed a partnership with the CCI to dramatically accelerate and support efforts to reach climate neutrality. LACCD's Board of Trustees has directed that all new buildings at least half-funded with Proposition A/AA Bond monies will be green buildings, built to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) certification standards developed by the US Green Buildings Council. More than 40 new buildings throughout the District will be LEED-certified.

A major feature of the LACCD's green building program is its 9-megawatt Solar Energy Plan which calls for the installation of enough photovoltaic (solar) panels to produce at least one megawatt of electricity on site at each of its nine colleges, enough to meet daytime electricity needs. The District is also creating a sustainable development curriculum that integrates sustainability and education with displays such as solar station learning kiosks at each of the nine colleges.

The Los Angeles Community College District is the largest community college system in the country, educating more than 188,000 students each year. The LACCD has embarked on a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program at its nine college campuses. As funded by the Proposition A/AA Bond construction program, the LACCD is also currently undertaking the largest public sector sustainable building effort in the United States. For more information, visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org.

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