Sustainability at NSCC

Zero Net Energy Building

NSCC's state-of-the-art Health Professions & Student Services Building, the Commonwealth's first state-owned Zero Net Energy building, demonstrates on multiple levels NSCC's commitment to sustainability. The facility is a green building prototype that meets LEED Gold certification requirements.

As defined by the Massachusetts Net Zero Building Task Force, a Zero Net Energy building is one that is optimally efficient and over the course of a year generates energy onsite, using clean renewable resources, in a quantity equal to or greater than the total amount of energy consumed.

Breaking Ground

The college broke ground on the building in November of 2009, hoping to lead the way to a cleaner future. Completed in October, 2011, the Health Professions & Student Services Building covers 58,000 square feet; consolidating all the college's health programs as well as student and administrative support services, offering a welcoming gateway for new and returning students. Its three stories contain five general academic instruction spaces, as well as nursing, physical and occupational therapy, radiology, respiratory and surgical care, and animal sciences classrooms.

The building's sustainability is reflected through the use of architectural and engineering methods such as natural ventilation, lighting, a green roof, building orientation, chilled beams, geothermal energy technologies and photo-voltaic panels harvesting solar energy. The building's green design and energy efficiency components will be integrated into course curriculum and engage students in the principles of sustainability. The green campus will serve as a classroom—a "real-time" laboratory—for students, faculty and the community.