Conventional buildings are responsible for a considerable percentage of
waste in every sector. In the United States, buildings account for 65%
of the nation's electricity consumption, 30% of all greenhouse gas
emissions, 30% of all raw materials use, 12% of all potable water used,
and 136 million tons of waste output per year (30% of all the waste
output in the U.S.). Green buildings, on the other hand, are designed
and constructed to significantly reduce energy and water use and waste
output. They do this by incorporating features which decrease the
amount of money spent on maintenance and operations and that also
increase the health of those who live and work inside them.
The features which make a green building green can be divided into seven
areas: land use, architecture and design, building materials, energy
use, water use, waste management and interiors. In each of these areas,
natural resource use, human health, and the community are taken into
consideration.
Land Use- The selection of a building's site can have a large
impact on the surrounding environment. In green buildings, developers
look for sites that provide things like close proximity to public
transportation systems, ideal lighting conditions, and efficient
stormwater management.
Architecture and Design- In the initial stages of planning,
architects and designers decide which technologies can be utilized to
create a building that maximizes efficiency and minimizes environmental
impacts.
Building Materials- All buildings need a large amount of
materials, yet green buildings strive to reduce the amount of raw
materials
used. The incorporation of recycled and reused materials is
preferred.
Energy Use- Features such as daylighting, motion-sensor
controlled lighting, and programmable thermostats are implemented to
create buildings that use significantly less energy and therefore have
reduced operating costs.
Water Use- Efficient use of potable (drinkable water) and
non-potable water (non-drinkable, or "waste" water) is essential in
creating a green building. The water used in toilet systems and
landscaping is often drastically reduced in green buildings.
Waste Management- Much of the waste involved in construction
consists of wood, drywall, various metals, concrete, dirt, and
cardboard. These materials can almost always be recycled or reused.
Green buildings reduce the amount of waste during all phases of
construction.
Interiors- According to the EPA, indoor pollutant levels may be
two to five times higher than those of outdoor pollutant levels. Green
interiors feature low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emitting carpets
and paints, natural lighting, higher indoor air quality and
acoustics.
Green buildings are becoming increasingly popular as more and more
people realize that they are an affordable and worthwhile investment.
In some cities, like Portland, San Mateo, and Chicago, green buildings
are springing up everywhere. Even federal, state and local governments
are moving towards green buildings by developing policies which require
that new or renovated government buildings be built according to green
standards.
As with any new practice, it is important to set agreed on standards so
that businesses and organizations do not take advantage of the benefits
of being labeled green without adhering to the practices. The
organization that has taken the lead in certifying buildings as green is
the United States Green Building Council. Their rating system is called
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. Depending on the
materials used, the energy efficiency, the plan for managing on-site
water and other factors, a building (new or renovated) can apply for
certification up to platinum.
Since 1992, MU has received over ten awards for its environmental
efforts, including some very competitive federal awards. In addition,
many of the newer and newly renovated buildings on the MU campus
incorporate green features, like day lighting, "smart" air handling
systems, automatic flush toilets, storm water management, and even a
green roof (planted with sedum to soak up the rain). So, when students
expressed a strong interest in making the new student commons (Brady) a
green building, going for LEED certification was a logical next step.
To make it happen, students and student groups are working with project
staff to raise the funds for certification. At this point they have
identified the goal - Silver certification, and are researching grants
to cover the up front costs of incorporating special features, like a
green roof, and to cover expenses of the certification process. If they
succeed, it will be a great asset to students on campus, a hands-on
illustration of the way that economics and the environment can go hand
in hand.
BioRegional Quiz: : Is our weather breaking any records?
JOB OF THE MONTH - Philanthropy Assistant; The Nature
Conservancy; Little Rock, AR. RESPONSIBILITIES: Assistant will
provide support to the Director of Philanthropy. Tasks will include:
scheduling meetings, preparing fundraising reports, arranging travel
plans, tracking departmental budgets, assisting with prospect research,
and assisting with the planning of special events. STATUS:
Full-time position. QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors degree; at least
one year of related work experience preferred; experience with MS
Office, Word and Excel required; must have strong organizational and
interpersonal skills. SALARY: Inquire. APPLICATION
PROCEDURE: Send cover letter, resume and three references to: The
Nature Conservancy; Attn: Human Resources; 601 North University
Avenue; Little Rock, AR 72205 -OR- email: arkansas@tnc.org
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
MU Organization Meetings and Contact Information
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
Answer to BioRegional Quiz: Not if you consider it at the state
level. The hottest summer on record is, 1934 with the average
temperature at 81.9¡ F. Our July temperature was only 78¡ F in spite
of that string of hot days. The driest summer is 1936, with only 3.78"
for all of June, July, and August. For the state, we had 3.71" in July,
just a little low for the month. We may be feeling it more in Columbia
though, because the thunderstorms keep passing us up. For a map of
July's rainfall in Missouri, check out:
http://solberg.snr.missouri.edu/MCC/monitoring/prcp-30days.gif
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider
publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@ missouri.edu), snail mail
(Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan
Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is
published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions
expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this
newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
Interested in an Environmental Career? For information on courses,
majors, and careers in the environmental field, contact Jan Weaver at
envstudy@missouri.edu, or visit:
http://web.missouri.edu/~esiwww/index.html
Green Buildings
by Heather Clenin
To find out more about LEED - www.usgbc.org/leed/leed_main.asp
NATURE DETECTIVES: Thursday August 11 , 2005, 10 - 11 am, Devil's Ice
Box parking lot, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. call 815-9255 to
register
KATY TRAIL WALK AND DINNER: Friday August 19, 2005, see the Native Plant
Society website
BIO-BLITZ: September 9 - 10, 2005. 3:01 pm Friday to 3:00 pm Saturday,
Martin Luther King/MKT Trailhead Park - Flat Branch Watershed. free but
must register at http://bioblitz.missouri.edu/
LANDSCAPE CHALLENGE CONTEST: Saturday September 10, 2005.
http://wildones.missouri.org
BOONEVILLE/ROCHEPORT RIVER CLEAN UP: Saturday September 24, 2005, 9:00
am - 4:00 pm, Franklin Island Conservation Area.
http://www.riverrelief.org/cleanup050924.html
HONEYSUCKLE ERADICATION: Saturday October 8, 2005.
http://wildones.missouri.org
FALL FOLIAGE HIKE: Sunday October 16, 2005, Painted Rock State Forest
and lunch in Westphalia, http://digmo.com/npsboco/activities.html
ORIENTEERING MEET / ECO-KNOWLEDGE MATCH: Sunday October 16, starting at
10 am. Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.
http://web.missouri.edu/~esiwww/march/March2005.html
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE: November 4-6, MU Campus, sponsored
by the Missouri Environmental Education Association, www.meea.org for
conference details.
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:
http://www.missouri.edu/~jesse105/committees/pages/environmental.htm
RECYCLING COMMITTEE:
882-3091
SUSTAIN MIZZOU:
http://www.students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou
882-7116. Next meeting at the beginning of the semester
STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONS ASSOCIATION:
882-7116 Next meeting at the beginning of the semester
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed
7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/,
1st Wednesdays 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or
http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The
Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for
information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY STORMWATER PROJECT: 884-8333 or
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/StormWater/cswp.html
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES:
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or
http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT COALITION: 442-4789 or http://greenbelt.missouri.org Meet 1st
Tuesdays, 7 pm, Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: npshawth@hotmail.com 2nd Mondays in Jan,
Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov at 7:00 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church,
2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia, MO.
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 443-0292 or
http://mrcn.missouri.org/
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or
http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or
www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 443-4401 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd
Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation,1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com,
http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.