September 25, 2007
Campus buildings are going green
A variety of green initiatives, such as low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, marmoleum flooring, carpet tiles, a high efficiency water mechanism, and Energy Star appliances, were incorporated into Nebraska Hall, which opened its doors as a residence hall in August.
According to Jorge Abud, assistant vice president of facilities, AU is “committed to using sustainable practices wherever it makes sense [and] has been moving in that direction for many years.”
The first floor of the Mary Graydon Center, which was renovated over the summer, for example, features bamboo wood panels and marmoleum flooring, which is produced from renewable materials. The Katzen Arts Center also includes many elements that reduce its environmental impact, including a green roof system.
Abud said AU’s building standards, which are applied to new construction, renovations, and major maintenance projects, are “in the midst of a greening, so that products and systems that reduce our environmental impact are selected on a regular basis.
“Today all projects we do have a number of sustainable elements,” added Abud. —AF
