Univ. puts a focus on environmental issues
By Nicole LaPrade
Santa Clara kicked off its first Environment Awareness week Tuesday, in an attempt to involve students in the university's ongoing sustainability campaign that promotes the construction of environment friendly facilities and waste efficient programs.
"Sustainability is now a buzz word and means a lot of things to lots of people," Sarah Tarpley, a member of the Santa Clara Community Action Program, said.
According to Lester Deanes, resident director for Swig Hall which houses the Delphi and Education for a Sustainable Future Residential Learning Communities, the message that needs to get out to students is that sustainability is more than just about the environment. It is also important to society and the economy.
The university's planning committees have recognized the need to create an environmentally friendly atmosphere. As a result, Santa Clara has pledged to have all new buildings meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards created by the U.S. Green Building Council.
A LEED-certified structure must meet at least half of the green building criteria which fall under six general categories and include water and energy efficiency as well as an indoor environment that is maintained without the use of chemicals or toxic materials.
Faculty, facilities, projects and planning, an outside consultant, and the environmental studies institute among others, comprise the sustainability committee.
The program has three components for which they have set goals for this year: environmental stewardship, environmental education, and environmental service.
According to Joe Sugg, assistant vice president of university operations, the new library will meet many of the green building criteria.
The air distribution system will be especially energy efficient as it will be located under the raised floor and will allow for easy air temperature control. Only the lower portion of the building will need to be heated and cooled since the air will rise from the floor. Also, the coolants used in the air conditioning will not contain any toxic chemicals.
This will reduce the building's energy consumption to 30 percent below the minimum level required by California, Sugg said.
Heating and cooling will also be efficient in the new business school building. The air conditioner will be cooled using what is called an ice plant. Ice will be made at night during off-peak electricity hours to save money while during the day, water that is cooled by the ice will be pumped throughout the building to cool the air.
Even the new baseball stadium will be environmentally friendly, employing an new irrigation system that will use reclaimed water.
According to Steve Brodie, a consultant with Master Program Management, whom the school has hired to help with these efforts, Santa Clara is currently researching the possible use of interior finishing products made from recycled materials.
He also said that during demolition, up to 70 percent of the asphalt, concrete and steel from the demolished buildings will be recycled.
According to biology professor Michelle Marvier, Bon Appetit is part of the sustainability movement as well. The company only serves fish that are on a list compiled and certified by the Monterey Bay Aquarium as cooperating with certain practices. The fish must be caught and harvested in environmentally sustainable manners. Bon Appetit also practices compost and only uses organically grown vegetables.
* Ã Ã Contact Nicole LaPrade at (408) 554-4546 or nlaprade@scu.edu.