By: Wesley Holmes
Picture by Author July, 20, 2011
APU employees moved into the Academic Center in December of 2010. The new 45,000 sqft high efficiency building offers substantial changes from most employees’ previous accommodations, many of whom were relocated from one of APU’s many historic properties across Charles Town. When APU began operations in Charles Town, these preserved and restored historic properties offered unique and sustainable alternatives to new construction. Initially designed as homes and commercial properties they also offered a distinctly different work environment than modern office facilities. The Academic Center, by contrast, is a large office space with all the modern amenities and a wide variety of sustainable technologies. On the eve of APU’s first annual Sustainability Summit, I took the day to talk with APU/AMU President Dr. Wally Boston about the University’s first green building experience and see how Academic Center staff is adjusting to their new eco friendly office space.
“We’re just hoping to spread the word”
At the outset of construction in 2009, President Boston hoped that the effort would serve as an example to the community and to other developers who were skeptical about sustainable development. Transparency was a key issue for Dr. Boston. He wanted to create an example where others could see for themselves what is possible, both aesthetically and economically, in green development. Over a year later, APU is continuing to follow through on this pledge, hosting the first annual APU Sustainability Summit.
Attended by local developers, city and county officials as well as sustainability planners from West Virginia University and Shepherd University, the summit brought professionals together to discuss how to advance sustainable practices in the region. The Summit featured lectures and lessons from planners, managers and development experts with a keynote presentation from Ed McMahon, the Senior Resident Fellow for Sustainable Development at the Urban Land Institute. Describing the schools first foray into sustainable construction as “a really positive experience”, Dr. Boston is most pleased about the number of introductions to green building he has been able facilitate through the Academic Center. Through the APU Sustainability Summit, APU has established a regular platform to continue spreading the word about sustainability.
“I feel good in this building”
A native of sustainably conscientious Germany, Gabriel Gimbel doesn’t usually like newly constructed buildings. When she finishes her work with the APU admissions department Gabriel, Gabi to her coworkers, looks forward to returning to her 200 year old home. Preferring the traditional look, feel and chemical free construction of historic properties, Gabi is surprised by the level of comfort she finds in her new surroundings. “I don’t know how to explain this”, she says, “but something about the atmosphere of this place feels different than most new buildings; the air feels better, even my skin feels better”. She suspects that it may be due to the buildings Indoor Environmental Quality plan which restricts the type of noxious chemicals that may be used in construction. Clean, comfortable air quality is a recurring sentiment with staff.
“I love the light and the views”
New view, means new life for plants. Picture by Author.
A simple concept and a huge green component, high windows offer great views and bring a ton of natural light to every part of the office. Whether seated directly by a window or set deep in the office everyone can see daylight from their desk. Looking around one notes the many potted plants perched along windows and atop cubicles taking advantage of the abundant sunshine. In a precipitous nod of approval from nature, Mrs. Gimbel is happy to note that two of her own plants have actually come back to life since moving from her former basement office location into their new third story window sill with a view.
Hidden Solar Array. Photo by Author.
Not only does this abundant light seem to brighten the spirits of staff it also allows the facilities department to rely much less on electrical lighting power, substantially reducing the electricity consumed in the building. This reduction in consumption is complimented by the Academic Centers array of more than 100 solar panels hidden on the roof. These panels are providing 5% of the buildings energy already saving nearly 7000 lbs of carbon emissions in their first two months of operation.
“I guess we’re not as hot as we think we are”
In any new building it can be expected there are going to be a few quirks and kinks that need adjustment. Green buildings are no exception. If a building can be said to have a peccadillo, and I hope it can, the Academic Centers’ is its dual occupancy sensors. These little gadgets are great energy saving devices that use both heat and motion sensors to determine when a person is in the room and shut the lights off when its empty, something many of us forget to do. It seems that sometimes when people are working stilly at their desks, most often in the open spaces of the office, the energy saving feature will shut the lights off in their section.
It may be the case that the buildings energy saving features are working against each other. By and large, the buildings HVAC system is regulating the temperature very well. Nearly everyone reports great thermal comfort in the building with many remarking at the “perfect temperature” in their new space. The thermal controls seem to be regulating the temperature so well that the heat sensors can’t register the body heat of just one or two people spread out in the space. To save power the light switches off. Luckily the ample windows prevent staff from being left in the dark.
“Sometimes we have to dance a little”
I’ve noticed that often when I enter a room as one hand is turning a door knob my free hand is already on its way to meet the light switch. Preceding me into a familiar room to turn on the light before the rest of my body arrives. We like the idea of having technology save time and energy for us but that technology has not yet caught up with our need for speed. Assuredly one day we will create spookily aware sensors that can anticipate our imminent arrival and the room will be prepped and ready for our presence. For now we will have to be patient with our hands free technology. Sensors may take half a second to sense us, sanitary hands free sinks and dryers may still require a couple of waves to get going and toilets may flush unpredictably.
Though it is still not perfect, technology that can help us save time, energy and the environment is improving each day. But while we wait, we can take this time to appreciate that a glance across the office might reveal a manager dancing their way into an office or restroom. The more adventurous can be seen experimenting with dance moves to see which one will catch the sensor the best. Given that this is the closest a mundane office setting is likely ever going to get to an episode of Soul Train, maybe we shouldn’t see this so much an inconvenience but rather as a gift.
