Talking Stick - March/April 2017 - 30

FACILITIES
students to climb the stairs
Forward; and an impressive
The
patio
at
Young
rather than ride the elevator.
achievement of Gold-level
Harris College's
In addition to offering views
status with the Association
Enotah Hall.
to the outside, the stairway
for the Advancement of
features translucent panels
Sustainability in Higher
containing plant materials
Education's Sustainability
and a river stone basin
Tracking, Assessment &
well to provide biophilic
Rating System (STARS),
elements, bringing natural
which addresses not only
forms inside the building.
facilities and operations, but
Short corridors with
also educational curricula.
windows at either end
Sustainability is a
offer views to the outside
journey, not a destination.
throughout the building,
Green building has
while eliminating the
expanded and matured
need for artificial lighting
from a sole focus on energy
during daylight hours.
efficiency (sometimes at the
PHOTO CREDIT: ©FRED GERLICH
Furthermore, a terraced
expense of health) to include
courtyard forms an informal
dynamically tints when heated by
an array of impacts and
amphitheater for outdoor classes,
the sun) manufactured in Michigan,
issues including building materials,
and a rooftop terrace has become a
external sunscreens which vary by
water efficiency, transportation
popular outdoor gathering space. Like
orientation to control heat gain and
efficiency, health and wellness,
Agnes Scott's Campbell Hall, Enotah
glare in residential units, and rain
operations, and equity. The goal of
Hall is also heated and cooled with a
gardens to treat storm water runoff.
sustainability has likewise evolved
highly efficient geothermal system.
As a way to educate students, the
and expanded from simply doing
In this case, the introduction of an
buildings' sustainable design features
less bad than conventional practice
enthalpy wheel, which captures energy
are explained in educational materials
(e.g., this building uses 40 percent
exhausted by the system to pre-treat
provided to incoming residents.
less energy than a code-compliant
outside air, reduced the number of
building); through having no impact
Green operations extend to green
geothermal wells required to serve
(Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Water,
housekeeping, with custodial staff
the building, effectively paying for
Net Zero Waste, etc.); to the concepts
utilizing Green Seal Certified cleaning
itself before the building went into
of Resilient Design (as championed
products and chemical-free deionized
operation and lowering its energy
by the Resilient Design Institute
water to clean windows. Recycling
consumption ever since.
- design for a changing climate,
containers are provided in each room.
Just as the design strategies to
design for natural disasters and utility
Green site maintenance procedures
build green have evolved, so have the
interruptions, passive survivability,
include Integrated Pest Management,
operations that maintain the building
etc.); and Regenerative Architecture
snow-melt systems at building
and the metrics that measure their
(creating sustainable systems, Net
entrances, and weather-responding
success. When Western Michigan
Positive buildings which renew and
irrigation controllers. And for tracking
University in Kalamazoo decided to
restore their eco systems, energy, and
purposes, sub-metering of electrical,
build the first new residence hall on its
water sources, etc.).
natural gas, and water usage is tied to
campus in more than 40 years, they
the Building Automation System. This
At present, the Living Building
knew they wanted to build a green
allows facilities management to actively
Challenge is the most aspirational,
building as well as implement green
track and optimize ongoing building
inclusive rating system. Created
operation procedures and a tracking
performance, which is reported via the
by the International Living Future
system. The Western Heights complex
EnergyStar Portfolio Manager tool.
Institute, it seeks to embody an
opened in 2015, and this 750-bed,
expansive definition of sustainability,
Western Heights is currently under
two-building complex is the state's first
with mandatory imperatives including
review for LEED Gold certification
pod-style housing model. It features a
support of ecosystems, production
and has achieved many green awards
host of didactic green design features
of more energy and water than used,
as well. They include recognition
including salvaged granite window
creation of an indoor environment that
in the Best of Green Schools by the
sills and salvaged gymnasium floor
supports the health and happiness of
USGBC; a Climate Leadership Award
used as a decorative element in the
occupants, use of non-toxic building
from Second Nature; a Sustainability
lobby, thermochromic glazing (which
materials produced equitably,
Innovator Award from Planet
30

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Talking Stick - March/April 2017

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