Green Building Standard FAQs

The UW's Seattle campus has a LEED Master Site designation, and all three campuses have many LEED projects and resources to share. Therefore, UW can document or support several credits on behalf of project teams, on a project-by-project basis.

For UW Seattle, UW will document any credits with a "c" next to the credit name in the UW LEED Scorecard. For all campuses, UW should be involved in credit discussions and can collaborate in documenting any credit with the "UW" indication next to it.

The UW LEED Scorecard represents credits that all UW projects are expected to pursue and achieve. They were selected in alignment with the goals of version 2 of the UWGBS and as widely applicable across project types and locations. For projects required to certify LEED Gold, select one of the ‘preferred pilot and innovation credits’ to implement, in addition to the required credits in the primary categories of LEED. Beyond these requirements, project teams are responsible for managing and achieving LEED Gold on applicable projects.

Yes, however the new UW GBS is designed to be flexible enough that exceptions are not needed or rare. There are limited permitted reasons for an exception, and upfront cost alone does not drive the exception process. See Exceptions section in the UW GBS for full details.

The reporting template is still in development. UW Facilities will reach out all current projects when the reporting requirements are confirmed.

Note that the UW LCCA Requirements are separate policy from the UW Green Building Standard. Required documentation and where to submit are outlined in the UW LCCA Requirements.

Project teams are not required to register for Fitwel or submit any documentation to Fitwel. Projects that have a Fitwel pilot credit requirement can choose any Fitwel credit that aligns with project goals and pursue it to the best of the project's ability. We request the project team document their efforts as if it would be submitted for third party review and provide any context for parts of the credit that were unachievable or not a good fit. Then, submit documentation to UW Facilities at the end of the project. Piloting this credit helps the UW determine if this rating system is a good fit to adopt in future GBS versions. .

Biogenic carbon refers to the carbon stored in biological materials, such as wood, plants, or soil. When performing embodied carbon calculations for the UW GBS v2, do not include biogenic carbon in the calculations. If there are possible biogenic carbon benefits from design approaches the project team undertakes, please provide that information separately.

The GBS is meant to require projects to electrify their systems and phase out old fossil fuel systems, where it does not impact life safety or research. This includes systems like natural gas cooking. The requirement to connect to the UW Central Plant is driven by the University’s Energy Transformation Strategy to convert fossil fuel-based utility plants to non-fossil fuel energy sources. Read more here. By connecting to the plant now, all projects will be fully electric when the plant is transitioned to 100% clean energy, and helps the UW comply with the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard and, in Seattle, the Building Emissions Performance Standard.

Emergency replacement projects may use fossil fuels if no alternative is available on the time scale required. Going forward however, capital planning must include phasing out all fossil fuel-based equipment and systems. Emergency repairs are only to bridge to ultimate replacement.

No, not completely. The UW LCCA Requirements identify a wider range of projects that are required to conduct LCCA, provide specific parameters to use when performing an LCCA, and require conducting LCCA earlier and submitting to UW Campus Energy Utility & Operations for review. The requirements are complimentary to state LCCA requirements. Review the LCCA requirements for more information.

No, projects may provide gendered restrooms, provided gender-neutral options are also available to all occupants. New construction projects and major alterations (projects where more than 50% of floor area is altered) are required to provide at least one single occupant, gender-neutral restroom with baby changing station on each floor in close proximity to gendered restrooms per the UW Gender-Neutral Restroom policy. Projects are also strongly encouraged to explore gender-neutral multiple occupant restrooms per design guidelines in the Gender-Neutral policy.

There are no strict requirements for lactation facilities. See UW Seattle lactation spaces for examples of what is provided and determine the appropriate approach for the building or space. A good lactation facility is dedicated for the purpose or reservable, equipped, and easily accessible to users. See Fitwel credit 08. Shared Space - Lactation Rooms and Stations for additional guidance. Projects required to pilot a Fitwel credit may consider this credit.