Attorney General DeWine Announces BCI Lab in Bowling Green Earns LEED Certification

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Bowling Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey announced today that the BCI laboratory on the BGSU campus has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

“Opening the new BCI lab at Bowling Green was an exciting milestone. It added the latest technology and increased capacity to help the crime-fighting efforts of Ohio’s law enforcement agencies,” said Attorney General DeWine. “And this certification confirms that this important work is being done in a facility that is environmentally friendly and energy efficient.”

"We're proud to have the BCI facility on our campus for the opportunities it offers our students and faculty, and especially pleased that it reflects our goal of achieving carbon neutrality and being a good environmental role model for the citizens of Ohio," BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey said.

LEED certification comes from the U.S. Green Building Council – a national green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. The LEED certification encompasses numerous categories of energy efficiency and environmentally sound design.

For example, the BCI lab is expected to be 14 percent more energy efficient than the standard building baseline, thanks to its HVAC and lighting units, in addition to its windows and insulation. Water consumption is estimated to be more than 40 percent below the standard baseline.

In building the 30,000-square foot facility, which opened in 2014, more than 20 percent of the materials cost went toward recycled products. At the same time, construction waste was recycled or reused, diverting more than 90 percent of construction waste from landfills. Indoor air quality is enhanced through the use of low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) finishes, such as paint and sealants.

BCI laboratory services include: Chemistry; Evidence receiving; Firearms and Toolmark Examination; Forensic Biology; Latent Print Analysis; and Trace Evidence Analysis. Investigative services include: Crime Scene Unit; Crimes Against Children Unit; Criminal Intelligence Unit; Special Operations Unit; Special Investigations Unit; and polygraph examination.

In addition to the building, the Attorney General’s Office and Bowling Green State University partnered to create the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science. The Center’s mission is to foster innovative forensic scientific research and to create training opportunities for forensic professionals and for students in forensic science-related fields.