OCALA - Central Florida Community College is going green, now more than ever!

CFCC has been awarded Silver LEED certification for renovation of Founders Hall at the Ocala Campus.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation of the U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

The CFCC District Board of Trustees recognized members of the project team at its Tuesday meeting.

"Central Florida Community College is working to set an example for sustainability at our campuses and in the community," said Dr. Charles Dassance, CFCC president. "The Founders Hall designation is testament to our commitment for responsible stewardship of our resources."

Founders Hall, the oldest building at the college, was constructed in 1959. When the aging structure was set for renovation in 2008, college leaders requested that sustainable features be part of the plan. LEED certification is based green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community.

Features of Founders Hall include:

* low-flow restroom fixtures, which reduce water usage by 35 percent
* room occupancy sensors for lighting
* native vegetation and water efficient landscaping
* materials with recycled content
* regional materials.

The CFCC Citrus Learning and Conference Center - set to open in October - was designed was similar features.

"The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on nonsustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council.

CFCC has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability in a number of ways, including implementation of an Internet-based platform for online and hybrid courses; online applications for admission, financial aid and employment; online versions of credit and noncredit schedules, manuals and other publications; and the elimination of free student printing.

To learn more about sustainability at CFCC, visit www.CF.edu , then search for sustainability.