CMU leads way in environmental design

By Meredith Mayberry
Edited by Sarah Schuch and Kelly Morse

Central Michigan University’s campus is becoming green, and not just because of spring.

CMU’s newest Education and Human Service building, set to open in May, 2009, will make Central a leader in energy conservative campuses.

“It has design features to reduce energy cost and uses materials to lower the impact it has on the environment,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of facilities management at CMU.

The structure is Central’s first Leadership Energy Environmental Design building, which recognizes the campus as having a thorough understanding of green building practices and principals, according to LEED’s official Web site, usgbc.org.

Lawrence said the Education and Human Service building received a LEED silver rating: a second place mark.

“There are a lot of different categories,” he said. “This is our first LEED building so it’s exciting.”

The building will have a number of ecological friendly features, such as a green roof that will be made up of soil and sedum, a leafed plant.

Lawrence said the building is designed to have low flowing water features and natural light shafts that will carry sunlight from the roof to the ground floor.

“It will be 30 percent more efficient per square foot than the Health Professions building,” he said.

Lawrence is not the only person excited about CMU's environmental steps. Students are impressed by the project.

“It’s cool that we’re leading the way in architectural design like this," said Vince Cavataio, a Shelby Township freshman.

Central is not only leading the way in architectural design, it is making advancements in energy conservation throughout the campus.

Green stickers have been placed on light-switches in campus buildings, reminding students and staff to turn off lights when leaving a room.

“We hope spending a little money on stickers will help save a lot of money on energy,” Lawrence said.

Cavataio said the stickers have helped him remember to flip off his switches.

“I feel like they’re yelling at me,” he said.

Aimee Herweyer, a Utica freshman, said she had always been careful with energy even before the stickers made it on campus, which took place in December of 2008.

“I never leave the room with the lights or the TV on,” Herweyer said. “Why
waste?”