UNC Asheville has actively pursued sustainable concepts on its campus for the past 10 years, crossing multiple departments within Facilities Management and the Office of Design and Construction.

1. Sustainable Sites:

   Reduced Site Disturbance - The campus of UNCA is set in the midst of the Appalachian Mountains. The campus proper has retained much of its natural setting. This is maintained by requiring minimal impact of existing native trees for new construction. Examples include:

• Building a parking structure around an existing tree.

• Minimizing tree removal for the Southridge and Westridge dorms.

Landscape and Exterior Design - The landscape architect and staff have developed a master plan with a heavy focus on sustainability. Some highlights:

• Over 1,700 trees have been planted over the past nine years.

• Use of a biologically diverse plant palette. This:

  • Better mimics actual large diversity of plants found in natural habitats

  • Creates havens for more diverse insect and animal habitat.

  • Created a habitat where rabbit and chipmunk are daily sitings. Other animals have been egrets, hawks and red fox.

  • Minimizes impact when a disease hits a particular plant species.

• Use of native species which reduces water needs, and use of “hardy” exotic species.

• Use of “no mow” grasses in areas.

• Traditional grass planting has been kept to a minimum by reducing grassed areas, and increasing mulched areas/ground covers/plant beds. This has also resulted in less labor costs for grass cutting, as well as reduced fossil fuel emissions related to gas powered mowers. 

• Organic, chicken manure based fertilizer is used for all areas except the athletic fields

• Insecticide/herbicide use has been significantly reduced:

  • Use of broad spectrum insecticides have been replaced with pest specific, low toxicity chemicals (this year, the only insecticides used were a dormant oil, and a miticide for hemlocks at Phillips Hall)

  • Use of corn gluten for pre-emergent weed control for lawn areas on the Quad and the soccer field.

  • No pre-emergent herbicides are used on planted areas.

  • Athletic fields are the only areas where herbicides for turf are used.

  • Post-emergent herbicide use is primarily Round Up. Other herbicides are used for specific, difficult to control plants such as poison ivy.

• Some experimental use of fish waste compost as a top dressing for the Athletic Fields. Research has shown that in addition to its nutrient content and soil building properties, compost has been shown to act as a natural fungicide.

• Removed invasive exotic plants in natural settings on the campus.

2. Water Efficiency:

Water efficient landscaping - No areas on the campus have irrigation systems, with the exception of the athletic fields. Athletic fields are generally watered at night to prevent excessive evaporation.

Innovative Wasterwater Technologies:

• Wetland sites have been, or are being developed across the campus. In one area along Campus Drive, a naturally occurring wet area has been converted into a vernal pond for outdoor laboratory use for classroom studies. 

• Before an architect for the new Math and Science Building project was hired, a grant was obtained to create a wetlands beneath where the building will be located. This will be used to assist mitigate storm water runoff which will occur due to the building, as well as afford additional protection to the stream located just past the wetlands (along W.T. Weaver Boulevard).

• The landscape architect has received a grant to repair stream banks and restore a riparian buffer of Glenn Creek along W.T. Weaver. Materials used included logs, root wads and boulders “recycled” from campus construction sites.

Water Use Reduction - A major emphasis has been placed on water usage/waste over the past ten years:

• ULF water closets and associated flush meters were installed as a pilot project with the assistance of several Environmental Science Department Student Interns. The initial water closets did not work well, and the manufacturer was required to redesign the units. After this, these particular units have worked flawlessly for the past nine years. Special considerations: Not all ULF water closets work well. See below. The most important requirement is to match the water closet with the appropriate flushmeter. The wrong combination will not work. 

• ULF (1.5 gpf) water closets have been installed at the Dining Hall, Southridge and Westridge. The new buildings currently being bid also contain ULF water closets: Reuter Center, New Village Dorms, Highsmith Center Renovation. The units at Southridge have excessive calls for clogged toilets. Special considerations: Require proper matching between flush meters and the ULF water closets. Do not let the water closet vendors off the hook if the units do not work properly. Force them to solve the problem!

• Governor’s Village: Early 1990s: An environmental sciences student intern found gross water bypass in the combination residential style bathtub/shower units. The diverting valves which diverts water from the tub faucets to the shower heads were never properly installed since construction of the dormitories in the early 60s. Over 50% of the water flow “leaked” through the tub faucets instead of reaching the shower heads – since the valve never closed off. All these were repaired.

• Campus-wide - Early 1990s: Environmental science department interns measured water flows from various water closets and urinals across the campus. Where the flush meter design allowed, and where the water closet/urinal operation was not impacted, water flows were reduced.

• Push button water faucets, which keep water running for a short period of time were all examined. In many cases, pushing the button caused the water to flow for 30-45 seconds longer than needed. Hand washing times were observed, and the push buttons calibrated to remain on only for the length of time needed for a typical “hand washing.” These units should not be used. They require periodic calibration/ adjustment, and are extremely difficult to adjust.. They are so sensitive, an extremely small change in adjustment may change the flow period substantially.

• Campus wide: “Water-misers” (flow restrictors), which reduce the amount of water to urinals and water closets , were installed across the campus where there was excessive water flow. Special considerations: Some flush meters have an adjustment that regulates how much water enters the units. These should be adjusted in lieu of a water-miser. Other flush meters have an adjustment that only regulates how long it takes for its specified flow rate to enter the unit. In this case, water-misers may work. However, without proper training of maintenance personnel, these will end up being removed from the units.

• Cooling Towers: Cooling towers use tremendous amounts of water for heat rejection. Several items have been addressed to minimize wasted water:

  • Ball float valves have been replaced with electronic float valves after over $1,500 was wasted in one month at the Ramsey Library. Installed at Robinson Hall, Karpen Hall, Owen, Hall, Ramsey Library, and Highsmith Center. These ball valves are just like those installed in residential water closets. Since they operate only on the buoyancy force of the water, they do not perform a tight seal. At Ramsey, trash prevented the float from closing the valve. The electronic floats use an electric solenoid valve to ensure 100% shutoff.

  • Chemical Feed System Cycles of Concentration: Minerals and suspended solids build up in cooling tower water as the water evaporates. After a certain period of time, this build up needs to be flushed out. We have set the cycles of concentration at a maximum value that will still prevent the solids from creating pipe corrosion. In addition, separators are being installed (Owen Hall) to provide an additional level of solids removal without excessive water flushing.

  • Campus-wide - Early 1990s: 1.5 gpm laminar water flow aerators have been installed across the campus. The laminar flow prevents splashing, which actually improves hand washing. These are commonly used at hospitals since no air is entrained in the water. Special considerations: These units do need periodic cleaning in places (once every several years). Would now recommend 0.5 gpm aerators in most cases. Do not install these where coffee pots are filled. Do not use any type low flow unit on faucets used for housekeeping. These are detrimental to work, and will end up being removed. 

  • Founders Hall - Early 1990s: Environmental science department interns, with assistance from a senior volunteer from the Center for Creative Retirement, found these water closets use an average of 5-6 gpf. The flush meters could be adjusted to reduce the water flow, but the water closets could not properly flush down solids. This fall (2001), this issue will be readdressed. Flows will be reconfirmed, savings and payback times calculated, and test water closet/flush valve combinations installed. If successful, a project will be executed to replace all water closets/flush valves. Our goal will be to obtain a grant for this project. This project fully embraced the concept of a premier liberal arts education, as well as the Intergenerational learning environment envisioned by our chancellor. Classroom experience was coupled with the reality of real life. The learning experience  encompassed “educators” from retired seniors, to staff maintenance and engineers, to faculty.

  • Reduced meter sizes - Early 1990s. While not water consumption- reduction oriented, significant savings (several thousand dollars a year per meter) were realized by having the local water authority reduce their meter. A senior from the Center for Creative Retirement volunteers calculated actual water needs and found the water meter size could be substantially reduced. Since the Water Authority charges a monthly fee based upon the meter size, substantial savings were realized. This concept can also be applied to cooling towers. A meter can be installed on the makeup for the cooling tower. Subtracting this from the main meter gives the actual water usage that goes “down the drain”. The Sewage Authority may reduce your bill based upon the new, actual figures.

  • Rhoades Tower Distiller - Spring 2001: A Center for Creative Retirement senior was tasked with investigating possible excessive water usage from a still. The still was found to be no longer functioning, yet water was continuously being used to “cool” the still. The consumption was 40 gph at a cost of over $2,400 per year. the still is being completely overhauled, and the defective solenoid valve which caused the constant waste of water replaced. In addition, the water flow is being adjusted down to the proper levels. Even if the still was operating properly, over $1,000 per year would have been saved from setting the flow properly.

  • Rhoades Chemistry Laboratory – Water efficient design, Spring 2001: a new laboratory was designed with a large number of cup sinks. The primary usage of the cup sinks was for water flow. A venturi would be hooked up to these to create a vacuum flow. The water would run to the drain during all this usage. In lieu of this, mechanical vacuum pumps were purchased. The reduction in cost due to significantly fewer high cost sinks, specialized plumbing, and labor to install these units was avoided. Also avoided was the cost to run water constantly to the drain.

  • Owen Hall Photography Development Lab water efficiency upgrade - Mid 1990s: Water was constantly being run to drain 24/7 to maintain the proper temperature required for photography development. Faucets with automatic temperature compensation were installed so these units could be shut down when not in use. 

• A new student group, United Solar, has recently received a donation of four waterless urinals. These will be installed on a pilot project basis to determine their feasibility for the four new buildings either currently under design, or soon to be designed. Special considerations: These units offer the potential for tremendous water savings. Maintenance savings will also occur due to the elimination of a flush meter (during water outages, trash often accumulates in the meter, requiring “removal”). However, there are several important considerations. A monthly to quarterly (depending upon usage) replenishing of the mineral oil trap, and a six to12 month replacement of the trap (again, based upon usage). Who performs this maintenance? The biggest problem: no incentive for us to maintain the system. Tremendous savings occur through water, which comes out of the utility bill. The mineral oil and traps come out of the maintenance budget.

3. Energy and Atmosphere:

Building Commissioning - Facilities Management HVAC Department has always prided itself on building inspections during construction installation. However, we have recently redoubled our efforts: 

• A new building commissioning subcommittee within the HVAC department has been started. This group is developing standard forms and procedures.

• We are working to develop pre-construction training for the HVAC contractor. These mini training classes would reinforce specification requirements that are frequently overlooked. Installers frequently do not understand the piping and ducting systems they are installing. Our goal is to help them understand why we have specified certain criteria, and, insure proper installation the first time, and not have to force the contractor to correct their work.

• Design standards have been developed that standardizes certain equipment and procedures for all new construction (as well as incorporate energy efficient design).

• Testing and balancing is being handled by UNCA as owner to ensure we avoid “pistol whipped” test and balance reports.

• Building Commissioning has been approved for the Highsmith Center Renovation. Basic commissioning will be included in the New Facilities Management Building, and new Math and Science Building. 

CFC Reduction - A report was prepared in August 1996 to study refrigerant phase out at UNCA. As of today, three of the four major chillers have been retrofitted with environmentally friendly refrigerants (Robinson Hall, Karpen Hall, Ramsey Library). The fourth (Mills Hall) will be eliminated soon after the Highsmith renovation is completed. Highsmith Center will have a chiller plant which will serve this building.

Optimize Energy Performance - Early 1990s to present: a tremendous amount of work has been accomplished to reduce utility consumption in new and existing buildings.

• New Buildings:

  • Building envelope is required to be a minimum of R-18. Roof of U-40. In future buildings, blown in cellulose (recycled) will be used. Poorly installed batt insulation has been installed in the past. Glazing is required to utilize the Heat Mirror Technology.

  • T-8 with electronic ballasts 10% THD or less have been a standard for new construction long before this was popular (since 1995). Use of compact fluorescent fixtures is promoted, use of incandescents strongly 

  • In the latest building, these lighting fixtures also include silver reflectors (new Village Dormitory)

  • As a standard, high efficiency boilers and chillers are specified.

  • Automatic balancing valves are required for all zones. Since systems are never really balanced, substantial energy savings occur from proper flow rates.

  • Water or air side economizer systems are mandatory.

  • All controls down to zone level are full DDC. All actuators are electronic, eliminating the need for air compressor systems and accessories. This saves maintenance time, and energy consumption.

  • Variable Air Volume Air Distribution Systems, and variable speed pumping are used where life cycle cost analyses prove viable.

  • High efficiency motors are specified.

   

• Existing Buildings:

  • Tremendous progress has been made in our existing buildings over the past ten years. Where feasible, we have eliminated incandescent lighting across the campus, including mechanical rooms (often with “old” fluorescent fixtures which were slated to be thrown out – see Recycling Section). T-8 with electronic ballasts 10% THD or less, and reflectors have been retrofitted building wide. In most of the lighting projects, a volunteer Senior from the Center for Creative Retirement has been instrumental in savings calculations, as well as construction oversight of the projects. Small renovations have utilized energy efficient lighting. New glazing must utilize Heat Mirror Technology. When interior renovations occur, and an exterior wall is impacted, additional insulation is installed in those walls. Our direct digital control (DDC) systems requires some addressing. DDC has been required for all major equipment for all new building since 1990. Since 1994, this requirement was extended to Zone Control DDC. DDC zone control is now the standard for all renovations, no matter how small. The system used has built in capacity for campus wide demand limiting. A new substation is being installed. We are currently working with Carolina Power & Light to obtain data from their remote monitoring system. As our DDC system is now web based, we will be able to obtain real time data directly from them via the internet. Possible savings of $5,000 a month are possible once this comes on line. Our system allows for individual changing of setpoint and temporary scheduling override. Since we schedule control zones, not major heating and cooling equipment, only the areas needing cooling/heating are provided this. The system is also set up to allow, with one push of the button, a schedule to shut down every zone (as needed) on the campus. This works well for campus shutdowns such as at Christmas. Finally, we have built up expertise in-house to design/install/commission our system. This includes drawing and graphics generation. We are beginning to recycle old lighting fixtures/tables, etc, instead of sending them to the landfill. Most of the boilers were combination gas and oil fired. All have been changed over to gas fired only due to their much cleaner operation. Specifics are provided for every building:

    • Phillips Hall:

      • New glazing utilizing Heat Mirror Technology installed building wide.

      • Energy efficient primary/secondary heating system installed off of central heating plant at Rhoades Hall

      • When air conditioning was installed around 1996, DDC zone control was added. All piping includes automatic balancing valves. 

      • Individual room electronic DDC is being installed with every small renovation project in this building. So far, the West Wing has been completed. The need for pneumatic control air has been reduced by over 70% (some zones, while still DDC controlled, use pneumatic hot water valves).

      • Incandescent light fixtures were replaced with a campus standard fixture. Exterior ceiling fixtures are using compact fluorescent lamps with built in electronic ballasts.

    • Rhoades Hall:

      • Energy efficient Lochinvar Boiler Plant installed in 1991, with small primary/secondary/tertiary piping. Original , grossly oversized heating plant required both boilers to operate full time because the system design could not be balanced. All motors energy efficient, with hot water reset for individual building zones.

      • Individual room electronic DDC is being installed with every small renovation project in this building. So far, six offices have been completed. Automatic balancing valves, and two way valves have been installed for energy efficient operation.

      • DDC controls are being retrofitted to the existing pneumatically controlled convectors. Estimated completion of September 2001. While this DDC system will still be using air, the air quantity used will be substantially less since the digital controls are of the non-aspirating type (conventional pneumatic controls constantly bleed air to provide control).

      • Incandescent light fixtures were replaced with a campus standard fixture. 

    • Rhoades Tower:

      • Energy efficient primary/secondary heating system installed off of central heating plant at Rhoades Hall.

      • When air conditioning was installed around 1998, DDC zone control was added to all major equipment. All pneumatic controls were replaced with electronic controls, eliminating the need for a controls air compressor.

      • Individual room electronic control was added to the third floor during its renovation. A project has been designed, and is waiting funding to replace this will DDC control

      • The hallway convectors were running “wild”. They are now under DDC control.

      • VAV and Variable Speed drive system are being installed on the first two floors since the associated floor was renovated for computer labs.

      • Incandescent light fixtures were replaced with a campus standard fixture.

    • Robinson Hall:

      • Energy efficient primary/secondary heating system installed off of central heating plant at Rhoades Hall

      • A DDC control system is being designed in-house for the major equipment. Expected completion is December 2001. The pneumatic control air needs should be reduced by over 75% since the DDC controls are of the non-aspirating type. 

      • The AHUs are all VSD driven. However, these drives have failed. A request for funding to replace these units and restore operation to original condition has been requested via Repair and Renovation Funds. 

    • Karpen Hall

      • All major equipment had DDC installed in the original building in 1990. However, those controls have become extremely outdated, and the control strategies inflexible. All Air Handling Units have been converted in-house, over the the campus standard. The remaining boiler plant and chiller plant are scheduled for conversion by December 2001.

      • The existing VAV box controls are pneumatic. The original control concept was very complicated, but relatively energy efficient for its time. However, many components have failed, and the system requires constant reheat to maintain occupancy comfort. . A request for funding to replace these units and restore operation to original condition has been requested via Repair and Renovation Funds.

    • Facilities Management

      • Boiler converted to natural gas operation 1994.

      • An in-house turnkey zone DDC system was installed to improve occupancy comfort, and allow for individual zone scheduling. 

      • Incandescent light fixtures were replaced with fluorescent fixtures.

    • Southridge Student Residence - A relatively new building with these energy efficient features:

      • primary/secondary heating system with relatively efficient boilers and hot water heaters.

      • Energy efficient motors

      • Double glazed storm windows

      • Super insulated walls and R-40 insulation in the attic.

      • Individual Suite DDC control.

      • T-8 electronic ballast fluorescent lighting, and fluorescent PL lamps for downlights.

    • Westridge Student Residence, 1998 -  A relatively new building with these energy efficient features. Similar in design to Southridge, with additional improvements were made:

      • Primary/Secondary heating system with Lochinvar High Efficiency boiler plant. Four same model units provide all heating hot water, domestic hot water, and laundry hot water. Heat exchangers maintain the desired hot water temperatures. In Southridge, each had their own, different style boilers. With only one boiler type, the number of boilers decreased (from 6 down to 4), and expertise, materials, etc are needed only for one type boiler. On all but the coldest days of the year, we have found one boiler is needed to maintain all the buildings heating needs.

      • All zone piping included automatic balancing valves for accurate flow control.

      • Energy efficient motors

      • Double glazed storm windows

      • Super insulated walls and R-40 insulation in the attic.

      • Individual Suite DDC control.

      • T-8 electronic ballast fluorescent lighting, and fluorescent PL lamps for downlights.

    • Founders Hall

      • Energy efficient primary/secondary coolng system was installed off of central cooling plant within Highsmith Center. Multistack chiller plant installed for staging of cooling. Variable Speed drives installed on all pumping.

      • When air conditioning was installed around 1997, DDC was installed for all equipment, including zone control. All pneumatic controls were replaced with electronic controls, eliminating the need for a controls air compressor.

      • All fan coil units have automatic balancing valves installed. Before the automatic balancing valves were installed, the system could not maintain sufficient pump pressure on the seventh floor. This has been eliminated by the automatic balancing valves.

    • Mills Hall

      • DDC system is under design for all major equipment within this building. Expected completion is Spring 2002.

      • All hallway fluorescent fixtures were retrofitted with reflectors, T8 lamps and electronic ballasts. Lamp quantities were reduced by 1/2. 

      • T8 fixtures were installed in all living rooms

    • Highsmith Student Center. This building will be completely renovated starting January 2002. Included in the design:

      • Primary/Secondary heating system with high efficiency boiler plant serving three buildings-Mills Hall, Founders Hall, and Highsmith Student Center. All boilers will be same model units which will provide all heating hot water, and domestic hot water. Heat exchangers maintain the desired hot water temperatures.

      • All zone piping will have automatic balancing valves installed.

      • Energy efficient motors

      • Heat Mirror Double glazed storm windows

      • Super insulated walls and R-40 insulation in the attic.

      • Individual Zone DDC control.

      • T-8 electronic ballast fluorescent lighting, and fluorescent PL lamps for downlights.

      • All pumping will be variable speed drive controlled. 

      • AHUs to be VAV with Variable Speed Pumping

    • Dining Hall

      • DDC was installed for all equipment including zone control (valves were still pneumatically controlled).

      • Current renovation of second floor parking deck to temporary offices including changing all controls to electronic actuators. The air compressor is being eliminated.

      • T-8 electronic ballast fluorescent lighting

    • Justice Gymnasium

      • When the Health and Fitness Center was added in 1996, the 35 year old boiler plant was replaced with a Primary/Secondary piping system, and more efficient boilers.

      • The current office renovation below the Concession Stand incorporates DDC zone control.

      • In 1998 all major equipment was placed under DDC control. In a current renovation, DDC zone control is being installed for all offices, including automatic balancing valves. 

      • Incandescent light fixtures were replaced with a campus standard fixture.

      • Most renovations have included fluorescent fixtures with T8 lamps and electronic ballasts.

    • Health & Fitness Center - A relatively new building with these energy efficient features:

      • Primary/Secondary heating system fed from Justice Gymnasium.

      • Energy efficient motors

      • Double glazed storm windows

      • Zone DDC control.

      • T-8 electronic ballast fluorescent lighting, and fluorescent PL lamps for downlights.

    • Weizenblatt Health Center

      • Boiler plant recently replaced with high efficiency Lochinvar Boilers.

      • All major equipment had DDC controls installed in-house in 1999. This included individual room control on the ground floor.

      • Original lighting was incandescent and grossly inadequate. New compact fluorescent fixtures were added, which reduced energy but increased light output.

    • Lipinsky Hall

      • Energy efficient primary/secondary heating system installed off of central heating plant at Rhoades Hall.

      • DDC controls were installed in-house on all AHUs and zone controls on the first and second floor. A repair and renovation request has been made for the design and installation of DDC for all zones on the ground floor. DDC controls are currently being installed on all AHUs on the ground floor, and for the chiller equipment. Scheduled completion is Spring 2002.

      • Incandescent lights have been replaced with energy compact fluorescents.

    • Ramsey Library - New addition 1990, existing building renovation 1995:

      • AHUs are variable speed drive units. The VSD units need to be replaced due to age. A repair and renovation project has been requested to replace these units.

      • Individual room DDC control was added to to both the renovation and addition. 

      • The system utilizes a hot water reheat system that is constantly bleeding hot water due to valve failures. Two repair and renovation projects have been requested. One to install a waterside economizer, the other to replace all the failed valves.

      • T8 lamps and ballasts were installed in the renovation.

    • Zageir Hall

      • Energy efficient primary/secondary heating system installed off of central heating plant at Rhoades Hall.

      • DDC controls were installed in-house on all major HVAC equipment in 1998. 

      • During the remodeling of 6 offices, Room DDC was installed in-house. 

      • The existing inefficient chiller is being replaced with a Multistack chiller plant in October, in accordance with our long term Chiller/refrigerant replacement program.

      • A “building shakedown” was performed in 1992. This included installing access doors at every VAV box. Most coils were completely clogged. The Variable Inlet Vanes had failed full open. The controls were calibrated at that time. Electrical consumption went down 35% that year from the previous year (approximately $10,000). Several areas had inadequate air flow due to the dirty coil conditions. Once these were cleaned, they finally were comfortable.

      • The fluorescent light fixtures made light changing very difficult. The holders (tombstones) which hold the lamps were very poorly designed. In the early 1990s, this building was chosen to retrofit with T8 lamps and electronic ballasts, including reflectors which decreased the lamp numbers by ½. The tombstones were replaced at the same time to eliminate the maintenance issue. Incandescent light fixtures were also replaced with a campus standard fixture. Lighting quality improved substantially.

    • Owen Hall

      • DDC controls were installed on all major equipment in-house in 1998. Pneumatic air usage has decreased dramatically since the DDC system uses non-aspirating switches to control the air.

      • The HVAC system consists of perimeter heating AHUs. These have been running “wild”, grossly overheating many areas. In 1999, zone DDC was added to these units to eliminate the overheating problems.

      • Individual Zone DDC control was added to the third floor during its renovation. The original controls were Moduline units with thermostats that are not accessible to the occupants.

      • New high efficiency Lochinvar Boilers were installed in 1999, along with primary/secondary piping.

    • Belk Theater

      • New high efficiency Lochinvar Boilers were installed in 1999.
        ü DDC controls were added to all major equipment in 1999. A Repair and Renovation fund request has been made to add DDC room controls to this single zone ahu system.

      • Incandescent lamps were replaced with compact fluorescent lamps.

      • During the front office renovation, PL fluorescent fixtures were installed to replace the incandescent lighting fixtures.

    • Carmichael Hall

      • New high efficiency Lochinvar Boilers were installed in 1999, along with Primary/Secondary Piping.

      • Air conditioning was installed in 1998, and consists of a Multistack chiller plant, Primary/Secondary Piping. Automatic balancing valves and DDC controls were installed on all zones/rooms.

      • The lighting levels in the halls were grossly inadequate. Hallway fixtures were retrofitted with T-8 lamp lighting fixtures. All other lay in fluorescent lighting fixtures were retrofitted with reflectors and (2) T8 lamps and electronic ballasts in lieu of 4 T12 lamps. All incandescent lights were replaced with energy efficient fluorescent fixtures. Special Considerations: the fluorescent lighting fixtures used were residential grade, and used high color renditioning circuline fluorescent lamps. Recommend only the use of commercial grade fixtures in the future. Standardize on lamp styles. The retrofit reflectors used in this project have fallen “down” inside the fixtures, and make lamp replacement difficult. Be careful to insure retrofit units will work properly and allow for easy ballast replacement.

4. Materials and Resources:

Storage and Collection of Recyclables - The campus has an extensive recycling program underway, including these highlights:

• Paper recycling has increased from 45 tons in 1997 to 69 tons in 1999.

• the HVAC department composts their coffee grinds, and other related food stuffs

• the HVAC department scrap metals all their bad motors, miscellaneous wiring, etc. Proceeds are deposited into the Recycling Program.

Construction Waste Management - this is a new area of interest for us. US Solar, a student organization on campus, is leading the way to address these issues. Specifically:

• New Village Dorm: Contracts are just being let. Three buildings must be demolished. A report has been written by a student intern related to the efficiency of recycling including:

  • Cost feasibility to crush the brick and concrete structure and use as project aggregate. Special Considerations: Paint on the concrete may not make this possible. We are currently determining exactly what rules are required to see if this is still a possibility.

  • Reuse of all windows, exhaust fans, doors, light fixtures, sink fixtures. Currently lining up vendors who may actually pay to receive these units. Student volunteers are being lined up from the Environmental Sciences Department, and staff volunteers from Facilities Management, and, Design and Construction, to actually remove the units.

  • Recycling of the wiring, and steel convectors. Currently lining up vendors who will accept these metals.

  • The student report will also provide projected cost savings to the contractor to implement construction recycling during the new construction period.

Resource Reuse - Another new area of interest for us. The following areas are underway, although no official policy is in place:

• When departments no longer need equipment or certain supplies for their department (e.g. printer cartridges, printer paper for older style computers), an email is sent out globally to all faculty and staff. Invariably, another department still uses those materials. These products then don’t enter into the waste stream.

• We are currently investigating the reuse of materials that are “demolished” for inhouse projects.

• Central Stores: Toner Cartridges are sent back to a recycler. Ink cartridges recycling just started in August 2001

• Central Stores always purchases office supplies with recycled content, if available.

• Approximately 80% of the paper sold on campus by Central Stores has recycled content.

• Mowers are of the leaf mulching type.

• A grant was received for an in-vessel composter for use at the Dining Hall for pre-consumer waste.

Recycled Content - Central Stores has worked hard to incorporate recycled products for use on campus.

Local/regional Materials - the landscaping architect and grounds crew have worked diligently in this area. Work includes:

• All large boulders obtained from new construction is kept onsite for landscaping projects. Two stream bed gardens, created where there was once a drainage gully, are examples of reuse of this stone.

• All onsite limb debris is mulched/shredded and kept for future reuse.

• Where large old trees have been removed due to disease or impending death, the wood is donated to local artisans to create sculpture and furniture. Examples include:

  • Benches in the dining hall entrance way came from wood from the campus

  • Bird houses and bat houses have been made and placed around the campus from wood “recycled” from the campus.

  • Gifts for retiring University employees, such as clocks, have been made from these trees.

Indoor Environmental Quality:

• Tobacco Smoke: A smoking policy has been established on campus that prohibits smoking within buildings.

• Carbon Dioxide Control: CO2 sensors have been installed in several buildings. Software has been written to control outside air control based upon CO2 levels, but not implemented to date. A Repair and Renovation Project has been indentified to install CO2 monitoring in existing buildings, and to provide DDC controls accordingly.

• Increase Ventilation effectiveness: See item b) above. The digital control of all our buildings’ AHU systems, and, therefore, outside air control, dramatically improves our ability to monitor and correct Ventilation problems. 

• Controllability of Systems: A 10 year goal was set in 1990 to have all buildings under DDC control. In the past five years, a goal was set to provide individual zone control to every office. By December 2001, all buildings will have their major equipment under DDC control. In addition, all renovation projects since 1995 have included individual zone control

• Thermal Comfort: See d) above. In addition, in November 2000, the HVAC Department embarked on a TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) program. This program is very similar to ISO 9000 quality standards, and TQM – all of which make World Class Operation their focus. This program requires a complete evaluation of every aspect of their work. So far, two student interns from the Management Department have been instrumental in helping us set up our program, begin the necessary metrics (measurements) by which to judge our success, as well as gauge customer satisfaction. Through this program over the next seven years, one major area will be improvement of thermal comfort by constantly evaluating where our shortcomings are, and then addressing each issue, starting from the largest), until we reach World Class Standards. 

Innovative Concepts - LEED provides for innovative design processes. In our efforts to become more sustainable, we have enlisted innovative processes for the success of our programs:

• The landscape architect and grounds crew has co-sponsored, with the UNCA Student Government Association, Greenfest – an annual to semiannual event where students, faculty and staff are invited to help “green” the campus.

• Use of Center for Creative Retirement Senior Volunteers to analyze potential energy efficiency projects, and oversee their implementation.

• Use of Institutional Conservation grants (over $200,000) to implement energy efficiency related projects

• Approximately nine grants received for landscaping and recycling sustainability issues. Their success rate with grants has been over 75% approved for all grants applied for.