Mitt Romney might be in denial, but global warming is indeed a 'real' issue and environmental sustainability is increasingly being taken into account while designing new buildings or structures.

To encourage such efforts to safeguard our environment through eco-friendly structures, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificates are awarded to them by the U.S. Green Building Council as a positive reinforcement to keep the good work going.

The LEED certification accredits buildings that exhibit outstanding sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy efficiency, resource selection and indoor environmental quality.

South Carolina's Clemson University has announced that its Lee Hall III academic building has been awarded LEED Gold certification.

Lee III, completed in April of this year, is a 56,000-square-foot expansion of the original Lee Hall, which is the academic home of the School of Design and Building and the department of art. The structure which has cost $31.6 million for restoration and new construction to the university, is zero energy-ready, designed to offset its energy expenditure by producing as much energy as it consumes.

The eco-friendly expansion project was a joint effort by Clemson alumnus Thomas Phifer ('75, '77) of Thomas Phifer and Partners of New York City, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture of Greenville and Holder Construction of Atlanta.

"We call Lee Hall the building that teaches," said Clemson President James F. Barker.

"It is significant that our students will study sustainable design in a building that symbolizes Clemson University's commitment to sustainability. It is a welcome and beautiful addition to our campus."

Lee III is the 11th Clemson project to receive LEED certification and its seventh LEED Gold building. It is the first LEED Gold certification for Clemson under the U.S. Green Building Council's 'Version 3' rating system, which features significantly more stringent requirements for energy reduction than the earlier system.

The structure is in compliance with university board of trustees' 2004 policy, that all buildings newly constructed or substantially renovated should be designed to meet at least LEED Silver standards.