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IUB's sustainability newsletter
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Sustainability in the News
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 IUOS interns gear up for Sustainability Internship Symposium
Friday, August 13th from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, the Office of Sustainability will host its fourth annual Sustainability Internship Symposium, featuring the summer research projects of IU Bloomington's sustainability interns. The event will include presentations, a poster session and lunch featuring local food courtesy of IMU Catering and the Office of Sustainability.
All are welcome to join us in the Frangipani Room of the IMU to celebrate our students' contribution to the campus sustainability initiative.
Register Now >>
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 IU English Professor Scott Russell Sander wins Indiana Authors Award
Scott Russell Sanders, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at
Indiana University, has been selected as the national recipient of the
2010 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award. This lifetime
achievement award recognizes the contributions of Indiana authors to
the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation.
Read More >>
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 IU receives Environmental Stewardship Award for energy-saving Microsteam Power System
Carrier Corp. has presented Indiana University with an Environmental
Stewardship Award, in recognition of the university's commitment to
sustainable systems and in celebration of the milestone reached by the
energy-saving Microsteam™ Power System used for green power generation
in Indiana University's Central Heating Plant. The microsteam has
produced one gigawatt hour of electricity since it was installed in
January.
Read More >>
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 BP a classic example of how "greenwash" can engulf a company in perilous waters, says Kelley prof
At a 2002 Earth Summit, a group of NGOs offered a tongue-in-cheek
critique of BP's "Beyond Petroleum" campaign, naming it winner of the
"Greenwash Academy Awards." Today the company's reputation as an
environmental steward and good citizen is in tatters.
Read More >>
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 IU Bloomington offering new Ph.D. minor in sustainable energy science
Indiana University Bloomington will launch a new doctoral minor in sustainable energy science as part of its second-annual thematic semester sustain.ability: Thriving on a Small Planet (http://themester.indiana.edu/) this fall.
The minor is open to all Ph.D. students and encourages interdisciplinary study of the physical sciences that focus on whether current supply patterns of energy use are sustainable.
Read More >> |
 IU wetlands expert: It's too early to assess effects of Gulf oil spill
An Indiana University professor says the doom-and-gloom predictions for the Gulf oil spill's effects on coastal wetlands are premature. "In fact, we cannot know the true effects until after the oil has stopped flowing," said Christopher Craft, the Duey-Murphy Professor of Rural Land Policy in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Read More >> |
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July's Sustainability Catalyst:
Bob Gilmore, Custodial Supervisor for IU Athletics
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 Isaac Farley, our intern working to "Green IU
Athletics," sat down one warm evening in July with Bob Gilmore, the Custodial
Supervisor for IU Athletics, and his team of five dedicated employees - Ted
Tuleck, Justin Wright, Jeff Paynter, Gary Dyer, and Brandon Deckard - to
discuss their new recycling system in Memorial Stadium, Cook Hall, Mellencamp
Pavilion, and Weathers Golf. According to Isaac, "I was excited to meet Bob and
his team. I hear great things about their commitment to sustainability every
time I step foot into the North End Zone. Bob's got out 150 recycling cans in
offices throughout Athletics. He even recycles batteries. He takes them to the
recycle center himself."
Isaac Farley: What barriers have you faced in
implementing recycling in each individual office within Athletics?
Bob Gilmore: No barriers. Zero. We've had zero
resistance. From staff, from above - we've had no resistance. Kevin Clark,
Chuck Crabb, Chris Reynolds, Fred Glass, they've all been great. And, my guys are committed to recycling.
They said, "well, we'll have to carry another collection bin, but they've been
great about it! As a matter of fact, we're going to try it with the football
players. People have said, "Oh, Bob, that won't work. But, how do we know
unless we try? We'll put together some signs and see."
Isaac Farley: Why is an effort like this
important to Athletics, the campus? To you?
Ted Tuleck: One of these bottles takes, what,
600 years to decompose? This is about community awareness. This is about
keeping our community clean for us, and for generations to come.
Justin Wright: We want to really show that
Athletics is committed to this. It's important. We want to be the best!
Bob Gilmore: There are things we're doing here
that other people are not. We're trying to be a leader.
Gary Dyer: Yeah, we want to set a standard.
Isaac Farley: What can other departments on
campus learn from what you and your team are doing, Bob?
Bob Gilmore: Well, I'd tell them to just talk to
me, or the guys to see what it takes. We don't think centralized collections
work as well. I think we can be a model for this on campus. We have 145 cans
out right now. And, my guys are in those offices every night. I encourage
others to strive to be better than us. But, I must say, I think I have the best
staff on campus.
Isaac Farley: Gentleman, how does it feel, or
what do you think when you hear Bob say that about you? I've been hearing it in
these halls from more than just Bob.
Ted Tuleck: Bob's a great motivator. He's
positive. He's supportive. He gives clear objectives and engages his staff.
Jeff Paynter: That positive feedback is the
biggest thing. Bob and Chuck are always supportive of what we do. It's a great
atmosphere to work in, and it encourages me to make suggestions about what I
think we can do better, because I know they'll be open to it.
Isaac Farley: Do any of you have anything you'd
like to share about sustainability and what you're doing here?
Gary Dyer: This is something that has to live
on. We're in it for the long run. We have to be.
Bob Gilmore: It's not only about the environment.
A lot of what we do is about costs [savings]. We're saving money for the
department. It's about our kids, too. Four of us have children. We want what's
best for our kids.
Ted Tuleck: People wouldn't throw this [plastic
water bottle] in their yard. We want people to think of this as their home.
Bob Gilmore: I must say, I have a hell of a
team! We're fortunate. We have a lot of backing [in Athletics] here.
Bob later told Isaac that he and his staff
learned a lot from the interview. They are currently working on a slogan or
motto for their efforts within IU Athletics. The Office of Sustainability would like to thank
Bob, Ted, Justin, Jeff, Gary, and Brandon for their role in advancing a greener
IU campus.
Photo: From left to right: Brandon Deckard, Bob Gilmore, Jeff Paynter, Ted Tuleck, Justin Wright,
Gary Dyer. |
Featured Sustainability Intern:
Laura Nading, Sustainable Communities (IMP)
Integrating Sustainability into the First Year Experience
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 Over the past several months, I have worked with the IU Office of First Year Experience (FYE) and the IU Office of Sustainability (IUOS) on efforts to integrate sustainability into the first year experience at IUB. The concept for my internship came out of the recognition that effectively engaging new students is crucial to growing sustainability awareness and participation on campus. Through collaboration with FYE and with other IU staff members that work with first year students, many exciting sustainability features have debuted during New Student Orientation this summer with more to come at the beginning of the fall semester.
A large portion the initial work for my internship was devoted to communications with FYE, which has blossomed to the establishment a comprehensive, in-office sustainability initiative. Since then, FYE has implemented progressive sustainability initiatives during this summer's New Student Orientation (NSO), including: the campus sustainability-orientated annual new student common reader, reduced orientation sack lunch waste, and the transition of the NSO Resource Fair to being "paper-free". For the first time, FYE included information about their sustainability efforts in their pre-orientation communication with new students and parents.
Working closely with Bob Rathbun, the IUBeginnings and Sustainability project manager, Emilie Rex (IUOS Assistant Director), Alex Luboff, and I have assisted in the development of "Thrive-ability", a five-day long freshmen-only adventure that will be focused on the many different elements of sustainability-social, economic, and environmental-and how they affect and enhance the college experience. Taking place on campus and throughout Bloomington, the trip offers freshmen the opportunity to meet other students, campus staff, and community members with interest in sustainability. The trip itinerary is packed with engaging activities like eating at local restaurants around town, meeting with campus and community sustainability experts, touring the Bloomington Bike Project, and foraging for local seasonal food on an afternoon hike.
Lastly, I'm in the process of developing and implementing a Green Dorm Room Certification Program (GDRCP) that will provide residence hall students with a tiered set of personal actions they can pursue in favor of lowering their carbon and environmental impact footprint. The creation of a green dorm room certification program at IUB has the potential to improve the educational and living experience of residence hall students, while also enhancing campus sustainability on a larger scale. In collaboration with Residential Programming and Services (RPS) and the Residence Hall Association (RHA), I'm currently aiming to have the program ready for use for the quickly-approaching fall semester. |
Date: Saturday, August 21
Time: Volunteers are needed for the following shifts:
- 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
- 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM (clean up)
Location: Memorial Stadium - West Concourse
Description: We need volunteers or a variety of tasks. From answering questions to moving furniture, there's something for everyone, and everyone is welcome!
What is Hoosier to Hoosier?
Hoosier to Hoosier (H2H) is a reuse program that aims to 1) to
divert reusable items generated during the student move-out from the
landfill, 2) to prevent additional resource consumption by selling
collected items to students and community members in order to 3) raise
funds for local charities and other organizations. The program allows
students to donate reusable items, and also help out their neighbors in
need at the same time. Aside from a small percentage
that will be set aside for administrative costs associated with the
second H2H next year, all proceeds from the sale will benefit United
Way and Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County. Hoosier
to Hoosier is a partnership between the United Way of Monroe County,
Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, the City of Bloomington, IU
Athletics, the IU Office of Sustainability, and IU Residential Programs
and Services.
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Volunteer with Tend!
Help plant IUB's first edible sculpture garden
Dates: Vol unteers are needed for the following dates:- Thursday, July 29th
- Tuesday, August 3rd
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 PM Location: Bryan House
Description: Volunteers will be planting, weeding and helping build the sculpture.
About Tend
This volunteer project is a part of a bigger piece called Tending a Difficult Hope by artist Leah Gauthier. Tend
is an installation and relational work exploring agricultural plant
matter as sculptural material, sustainable solutions towards a healthy
food supply, community building through growing and cooking food, and
ways of re-incorporating agrarian sensibilities and simplicity into
modern life. The piece has two components, an outdoor generative
sculpture food garden located behind Bryan House and an installation
located in the SoFA Gallery.
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Volunteer with IU Athletics!
Dates: Saturday, September  25
Time: Volunteers are needed for the following shifts:
- Tailgating SHIFT 1: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
- Tailgating SHIFT 2: 4:15 PM to 7:15 PM
- Stadium SHIFT 1: 4:15 PM to 7:15 PM
- Stadium SHIFT 2: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Relief Team: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Memorial Stadium
Description: Game day initiatives include:
- Recycling during tailgating pilot-
Volunteers will circulate the tailgating area, instructing fans on the
proper techniques - will distribute bags (clear for recycling, black
for trash) and educate and encourage fans to recycle
- Recycling inside Memorial Stadium -
Volunteers will co-locate garbage and recycling bins in the stadium,
educate and encourage fans to recycle, and supervise recycling of
aluminum, plastic, cardboard, etc. in the stadium
- Vendor waste reduction -
Supervised recycling should assist in reducing contamination of
cardboard, paperboard - greenware pilot - 100% compostable corn-based
"plastics"
- Eco Cell phone collection - Volunteers
will supervise collection of cell phones for recycling - recycled
phones reduce the destruction to gorilla habitat and proceeds from our
effort benefit campus sustainability
- Bike Valet -Volunteers
will valet bicycles on the west concourse of the stadium and at the
initiative tent - encouraging alternate methods of transportation to
athletic events
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Brown to Green:
Lessons from the Greenest Building in Indianapolis
by Bill Brown
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Field tours, on and off
campus, to look at examples of sustainability in all its forms, are a tradition
of the IUB summer sustainability internship seminar. This summer's off-campus
trip with 12 interns featured a tour of the Indianapolis area with stops at The
Nature Conservancy's new Indiana headquarters, the Efroymson Conservation
Center - a green building slated for LEED Platinum certification; Hoosier
Disposal/Republic Recycling Center where some of IUB's recycling is processed;
a picnic lunch meeting with the City of Indianapolis Sustainability Director
and IU SPEA grad, Kären Haley (after a visit to Goose the Market to pick up
sustainable local lunches); Butler University's Campus Garden, which supplies
food grown by students to its dining halls; and Bright Automotive in Anderson,
a start-up planning to manufacture electric delivery vans.
This mo nth's column will
focus on the Efroymson Conservation Center, which
was designed and constructed as "the bricks-and-mortar embodiment" of The
Nature Conservancy's conservation mission. Recently completed, the 40,000
square-foot office and meeting center is slated to achieve the highest level of
LEED green building certification while keeping the budget below the market
rate. We were guided on our tour by project architect, Eric Anderson, and
principal architect, Drew White, both of Axis Architecture and Interiors, and
Adam McLane, The Nature Conservancy of Indiana's building projects manager. Getting
the owner and designer perspective on the decision-making process proved
fascinating.
The tour began outside,
where this former one-acre industrial warehouse site at 620 East Ohio Street
has been transformed into a showcase for stormwater management using bioswales,
native plants, rain gardens, stormwater capture and storage, porous pavement,
two types of green roofs and other measures to capture and control 100% of the
storm water on site. The City of Indianapolis awarded The Nature Conservancy
one of its first Indianapolis Sustainability Awards as a result of these
strategies noting, "this project will reduce stormwater runoff by almost
650,000 gallons per year. This should result in a savings for the City of
Indianapolis of over $642,000 in water treatment costs over a 30-year period."
Various native plant areas on site illustrate the types of vegetation found in the
70,000 acres The Nature Conservancy preserves throughout Indiana. A 2500-gallon
cistern provides water for flushing toilets and irrigation and the facility
uses 40% less water than typical construction. The site also hides 38 vertical geothermal
wells for efficient ground-source heat pumps that heat and cool the building.
 The former smaller warehouse
on site was deemed to be structurally unsound, but the exterior of the new
structure includes many of the bricks salvaged from the demolition, along with
Indiana limestone. The interior features native Indiana hardwood species sustainably
harvested as part of normal conservation practices on preserve properties. Due
to its narrow footprint with northern and southern exposure, the interior is
flooded with natural daylight and views. High-efficiency lighting is controlled
via daylight and occupancy sensors and each employee has a high level of
control of the lighting levels for their own workspace. Conditioned air is
delivered from raised floor plenums that allow for efficient displacement
ventilation that saves energy, improves worker health due to the fact the
freshest air is always near the people and the stale air rises to the ceiling.
This system allows each employee to dial their own comfort level. Raised floor
plenums also allow for easy relocation of vents, as well as power and data
cabling. Due to elimination of duct friction and free assistance from gravity
and buoyancy, raised floor plenum delivery can also save as much as 30% of the
energy of typical overhead ducted systems. Ease of reconfiguring is a key characteristic
of sustainable office environments to reduce construction and demolition waste.
 Material selection was
based on aesthetics, durability, low life-cycle cost, low indoor air quality
impact, high recycled content, and local or regional origin. Recycled content
carpet tiles and native hardwoods cover most of the floors. The lower level
public meeting room that holds 75 people features a beautiful stained concrete
floor and a view of a fascinating "living wall" that is planted with native
cliff-dwelling plants. Over 90% of the construction and demolition waste was
recycled.
We were all impressed that this building was
planned with one printer room on the second floor, which makes people think
twice about printing and reduces the plug loads and cost of operation of
individual workstation printers. Employees also said it resulted in more
interaction with people on other floors and in other departments and provided
access to premium printing equipment that may not have been possible if
everyone had a printer in close proximity.
 A small, intensive green roof is visible from the
upper floors, which is much more appealing that looking at a black tar roof.
The upper 7500-square-foot extensive green roof is planted in native plants
that can tolerate drought and extremes of heat and cold. It not only helps
retain rainwater but extends the life of the underlying membrane by shielding
it from temperature extremes, ultraviolet light and other elements that
typically shorten the life of roof membranes. The living roof also moderates
temperature extremes and is particularly effective at keeping the building
cooler in summer. This is important in urban environments where the collective
heat from dark surfaces causes the "urban heat island effect," which makes
cities as much as 10 degrees warmer than surrounding vegetated areas.
This building breaks down several myths about
green buildings. It proves that they are not necessarily more expensive than
brown buildings, even when you shoot for the highest level of achievement. Mr.
White noted that the building construction cost came in under $180 per-square-foot,
the typical cost for class A office construction in Indianapolis. An analysis
prior to construction showed that The Nature Conservancy could save money by owning
their building rather than continue to lease office space. Axis Architecture
and Interiors and the rest of the design and construction team also blew
through the myth that green buildings are odd or unattractive. As an architect
who has judged state design competitions, I predict this one will win a lot of
design awards for purely aesthetic reasons.
 Another important aspect of ultra-high
performance green buildings that this one illustrates magnificently it is often
easier to raise the money to build the project if it heroically exceeds the
norm and aligns with the mission of the owner. McLane confirmed that the
ambitious goals were key to their successful fundraising efforts. Had they
elected to build a brown building or a timid green building instead, they may
still be looking for that major donor. This one came with a loud buzz long
before groundbreaking and they are reaping the benefits of a continuing
afterglow as hundreds of people tour the facility and use the public meeting
room. This is a rare example of effective systems thinking where decisions made
in one area contribute to success in other areas. This integrated approach to
design and construction is just now beginning to bloom and bear fruit in
Indiana. As a result of that approach, this is also a rare economic success story
during the great recession.
Perhaps there are some lessons for IU Bloomington
here as we pursue our ambitious new construction goals in concert with the Campus Master Plan, which
also challenges us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 (see
pages 12, 116 and 183). The Efroymson Conservation Center is definitely worth a
visit if you plan to be near Downtown Indianapolis. Don't be surprised if you leave with a question on your
mind, "why aren't all buildings built this way?"
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General comments and questions should be directed to sustain@indiana.edu.
Our address:
IU Office of Sustainability
1001 E. 10th St.
Geology 429
Bloomington, IN 47405
For IUOS staff:
Bill Brown
Director of Sustainability
brownwm@indiana.edu
812-855-1822
Emilie Rex
Assistant Director of Sustainability
ekrex@indiana.edu
812-855-2678
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