Universities serve as fertile ground for green projects - Kansas City Business Journal:

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“Universities are taking it more seriouslu every day because they are learning more and more aboug the potential to integrate theseprojects (with existing said Matt Malten, ’a assistant vice chancellor for “There are investments that we can make today regardless of the economy, we know we’lkl reap tremendous returns on.” Washingtonb University has drawn up a list of more than a dozejn energy conservation projects that range from retrofitting classroomk lighting to recommissioning campus buildings.
Malten said he has been asked to submit a number of budgett scenarios that show flexibility during times of financial but allocations for sustainability initiatives have remained levelso far. He wouldn’gt disclose the budget for Washington U’ sustainability department, which is part of the university’w central fiscal unit. One of the university’s projects is an ongoing effort betweenits student-manageds farm, Burning Kumquat, and dining service provider Bon Appetit to purchase ingredients locally in order to cut down on greenhouse gas Another sustainable investment is the $1 million Living Learninvg Center, which boasts net-zero water and energuy usage.
Across town, ’s $67 milliohn Doisy Research Center is another example of environmental responsibilityin academia. Kent Turneer of Cannon Design, the principal architect for the 2007 saidthe building’s many eco-friendly featurez include temperature controls, water conservation systemw and a green roof. The university’s $80.5 million Chaifetzz Arena also makes useof energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems to reducse energy consumption and lower associated costs. “Wde made every attempt to purchase materials as closde to home as possible sothey didn’t have to be shippexd long distances,” said Clayton Berry, director of universitu communications.
“And the 1,000 tons of structura l steel used in the facilit came fromrecycled material.” Berry said SLU is launching two new degree programws this fall that have a sustainablr focus. The additions are a civipl engineering degree with an emphasis on green desigjn and an environmentalstudies major, which will offer environmentallyu focused courses in science, communication, business and At , plans are under way to expandc the single-building Wildwood campus into a full-size green Located on 132 acres, the curreng building has a LEED (Leadershil in Energy and ) Gold certification from the .
Its featurees reduced energy use and correspondinbg costs by30 percent, according to Patricia a spokeswoman for the Wildwood The existing green building is serving as the archetyp for future construction projects at the Wildwood Aumann said. “Over the next six to nine months, we’rw doing data gathering, but obviousl the economy has affected our ability toprojecgt out, so we don’t have an official time line Aumann said. “We’re beinf careful with university finances.
” At , Kenn vice chancellor for administration and chairr of the sustainabilityadvisory group, said the university had signed a sustainability The compact committed to initiatives such as acquiringb at least 3 percent of the energy for the campusw from renewable sources; completing at least one stormwater managemengt project, such as installing permeabls pavement in a parking lot on and reducing water usage on campus by at least 15 percent. Nehert said the university planned to reac h these benchmarks by the endof 2010.
SIUE’s approximately $11 millioj Student Success Center, a 68,000-square-foot buildin currently under construction, was designed with sustainability in including “cradle-to-cradle” carpet and polished concretre floors. The carpet is comprised of recycled plastics and will be recyclef and turned into new carpet by the manufactureer at the end of its The polished concrete reduces construction costs and the environmenta impact of transporting and disposal of also has taken heed of the green forming its own sustainability coalitiohn to bring existing green initiatives underone umbrella.
Underf the oversight of Deborah Dey, vice president for students andenrollmentg management, the coalition has begun centralizing eco-friendly efforts, includinb recycling programs, providing biodegradable containers and organicx ingredients in campus cafeterias, and replacing paper towel dispensers in