Students who drive fuel-efficient/hybrid vehicles have several designated parking places closer to class on SE Campus.

The 24 parking spots are currently located only on SE Campus behind the ESCT building at the front end of the G lot for specific vehicles and were installed as part of the new wing, said building services administrative office assistant Lynette Henshaw.

“The parking spaces are for specific vehicles,” strategic project development director Margaret Lutton said. “If your car is not a hybrid car, you could get ticketed.”

SE Campus police said non-fuel-efficient/hybrid vehicles found parked in the area will receive a campus parking ticket.

The ESCT building is certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council, which means it is internationally recognized as a green building.

In LEED buildings, the design, construction, operations and maintenance all must have used or currently use green options.

SE and TR are both LEED-certified, but SE is certified gold and TR is silver. The certification rating is based on a point system.

The more points the building has, the better certification it gets.

“The parking spots were established as part of the LEED checklist for the new wing, which is one of the reasons the spots are available on that campus,” Lutton said. “If we build or convert [TCC] buildings to LEED status, fuel-efficient parking will be added to that area.”

Being LEED is important to TCC because from a construction standpoint, it minimizes waste to use green products, she said.

“It gives those who spend the extra time and money in helping to better the environment the chance to park in a special place,” Lutton said.

­— Elaine Bonilla