Going Green

The design, construction, and furbishing of University Center East is part of a University-wide effort to “Go Green.” The building features locally sourced materials and products, saves energy and water, and is itself a recycled building.

The original University Center (now UC West) was completed in 1974 and was first expanded in 1996. It was joined by a bridge to the original David L. Rice Library, which opened in 1971. With the new David L. Rice Library dedicated in 2006, the old library could be repurposed, with many additions, as part of UC East, which maintains the former library’s existing concrete structure and exterior walls.

UC East’s Green features include:

Local and sustainable materials

Many of the materials were locally sourced and/or recycled.
Recycled glass aggregate was used as solid surface counter material and in terrazzo flooring.
The carpet fibers have 25 percent recycled content and the backing is 100 percent PVC-free and 100 percent recyclable. Some carpet is 100 percent wool.
Rapidly renewable linoleum was used instead of vinyl.
A majority of the furniture was manufactured in Indiana.
The building features low-maintenance, durable concrete floors.

Lighting

Daylighting brings light deep into office areas and is used throughout the building. Extensive use of natural light minimizes the need for artificial lighting.
Jewel-box windows are energy conserving with a high-performance exterior glazing. The glass is insulated and has low-emission coatings that help minimize solar-heat gain. The darker the color of the glass, the lower the heat gain.
T5 lamps with reduced mercury content.
Motion-detecting light fixtures with manual-on/automatic-off occupancy sensors for lighting fixtures.
High-efficiency light fixtures and long-life lamps.

Water and energy efficiency

During unoccupied periods, the building control system automatically adjusts temperatures up and down to reduce energy consumption.
Variable frequency drives are utilized on fan and pump motors to reduce energy consumption.
The fan and pump motors are premium efficiency to reduce energy consumption.
The hot-water system temperature is reset based on outside air temperature to conserve energy. The warmer the outside air temperature, the lower the water temperature. The colder the outside air temperature, the warmer the water temperature.
All the plumbing fixtures are designed for low water consumption and are operated by infrared sensors for hands-free operation. The water consumption savings for UC East exceed the standard set by the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Insulation has been added to the exterior brick walls to prevent heat loss.
Energy-conserving “cool” or white roof.
The HVAC control system utilizes outside air for cooling in lieu of mechanical cooling when the outside air temperature is favorable.

Air quality

Low-emitting materials, paints, and adhesives improve indoor air quality.
Carbon dioxide sensors are provided in classrooms for indoor air quality monitoring to help sustain long-term occupant comfort. These sensors measure carbon dioxide concentrations and are incorporated into a demand-controlled ventilation control system that increases/reduces the amount of outside air based on the carbon dioxide levels within the classrooms. Controlling the carbon dioxide levels provides better indoor air quality and reduces energy consumption necessary to heat, cool, and humidify the air.
No chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants are being utilized in the building HVAC systems. CFCs are a contributing factor in serious environmental and health problems as well as ozone depletion.
Indoor air quality was maintained during construction.