Green Opportunities
Mar 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Susan Haifleigh
Existing buildings are a key component in making a campus sustainable.
Salem State College, Salem, Mass., is tracking sustainability on campus.
The significance of green building initiatives on college campuses is becoming increasingly evident. Sustainable facilities are a reality and even a necessity for forward-thinking schools. Many campuses have established an office of sustainability; more than 600 presidents of U.S. higher-education institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which pledges that they will create a plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible.
Prospective students also are considering sustainability efforts as they decide which college or university to attend. And more donors and alumni are asking that their donations be earmarked to make campuses greener or to develop courses around environmental sustainability.
Much of the buzz around green buildings has centered on new construction. But the inventory of existing buildings far exceeds that of new construction. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, existing buildings in the United States account for 36 percent of total energy use and 65 percent of electricity consumption. They make up 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and 30 percent of waste output, totaling 136 million tons annually.
Making existing buildings more sustainable is critical to achieving large-scale environmental benefits. Sustainability initiatives in existing buildings also promote significant business benefits, ranging from enhanced productivity to operational savings. But how can an institution effectively evaluate its sustainability options and focus its "green" dollars where they will have the greatest effect?
Green assessment
The first step in identifying the best strategy for pursuing sustainability is an objective evaluation of a college or university's existing level of sustainability and its options for change, including estimated costs and potential benefits.
Examining all these areas holistically — ideally within the context of overall facility improvement needs — can help schools identify economies of scale and bundle the resulting projects most cost-effectively. These categories include energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air and environmental quality, materials and construction, and site sustainability:
For schools looking to roll out green programs incrementally, the initial focus often is on energy efficiency. This is because more effective energy use can deliver the greatest cost savings. An evaluation of energy performance, including electrical and mechanical systems and the potential for renewable energy sources, should identify recommendations for reducing operating and consumption costs and decreasing emissions. In some cases, the savings captured through improvements can be used to pay for other longer-term sustainability initiatives.
Water consumption and treatment and the impact on discharge systems, as well as campus water-use practices, also should be assessed to identify opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce waste and improve water conservation. Installing water-flow controls on faucet and flush systems or capturing rainwater for campus landscaping for irrigation are some examples of water-saving initiatives.
Indoor air quality, lighting quality and thermal comfort also are important elements of sustainability. An acceptable amount of fresh air provided through a building's HVAC system is important to the health of all building occupants. Eliminating ozone-depleting gases from HVAC, refrigeration and fire-suppression systems is critical to the integrity of the atmosphere. Bringing natural light into the interior of a building can decrease energy use and enhance productivity.
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus
