Going Green: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System

Maize and Blue are “green” at Mott

C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan Health System is nationally recognized for excellence in clinical services, research, and education. As one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States, Mott is committed to being a strong environmental steward while fulfilling our mission of providing newborns, children and pregnant women with the best health care possible.

Incorporating many architecturally innovative and environmentally responsible features, the building was designed and built in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

In April 2012, we were awarded LEED® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, providing a prestigious third-party verification that our facility was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across several important evaluation criteria:

  • energy savings
  • water efficiency
  • CO2 emissions reduction
  • improved indoor environmental quality
  • stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts

 

Environmentally-friendly features of the new Mott Children's Hospital include:

Green Roof

The new "green roof" on C.S. Mott Children's Hospital filters rainfall as part of a natural storm-water management system. Planted with sedum, a drought-resistant perennial groundcover, the living roof helps insulate the building and reduce energy loss and contributes to overall air quality. Because the new hospital is built on what was previously a parking lot, the green roof essentially reduces the amount of paved surfaces on campus. The eco-friendly roof is also expected to last twice as long as a conventional roof.

Recycled Materials

93% of the material harvested from the site the new hospital was built on has been recycled for use in the new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. More than 200 tons of concrete and asphalt were recycled from the project site.

No-wax floors

Most of the flooring in the new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital are rubber-based, requiring no waxing, stripping or buffing. The floors are also PVC- and chlorine-free, contributing to the overall indoor air quality within the facility.

Other "Green" Features

  • 84.6% of wood materials in the new hospital are certified in accordance with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) principles for wood building components.
  • Construction equipment used on the new children's hospital operated on biodiesel fuel.
  • Interior materials such as carpet, paint, adhesives and composite woods were chosen for low-emittance characteristics to ensure the high indoor air quality.
  • HEPA filters throughout the hospital enhance air quality for immuno-compromised and other high-risk patients.