School of Natural
Resources “Get Green” Initative
A Report from the Working
Environment Committee – Members:
Murphy MacLean, Varna Ramaswamy, John Todd, and Carl Waite
What do SNR community
members say about their working environment?
Temperature/Air
Flow/Humidity
v Indoor summer temperatures need to be
kept below 90° F so that my brain is
functioning well enough to write, calculate and otherwise be
productive. Other problems directly associated with the
heat are fans and their twisted wires littering the hallways
asking to be tripped over, irritable inhabitants.
v I would like to see a series of windows
that open on either side of the stairs on
the 3rd level. This would bring light and air flow onto this
level. I believe the airflow would create ventilation for
a large area on the 3rd floor.
v This building needs to be cooled in the
summer ....I would call that "greening"
for those of us that have to work here under the
Hot, Adverse, Unpleasant, Unhealthy conditions.
v We need to look at airflow in the
building. During the summer the fans create a wind
tunnel effect, which combines noise and air
movement to make working at a desk difficult.
v When it gets hot (and humid) outside,
the work and teaching environment
degenerates quickly. If there are solutions we can explore that
will allow us to keep temps at more comfortable levels, I
would be all for this.
v We need, minimally, some form of air
exchange to allow cool night air to be
brought into the building. Otherwise, we
are basically keeping a building open for the few people who
have to work here in summer, and everyone else leaves to
work elsewhere - a poor image to anyone entering the
building, and terrible morale problem for those who are
obliged to work in Aiken regardless of the heat.
v Here's an issue for the Working
Environment group--unequal, uneven heat
distribution in 590 Main. Just one
little thing... and I should add that unless anyone else
also feels it's an issue I should
probably not make a big deal about it, since I haven't
been around quite enough to be certain whether it's a
"problem." I find it a little cold
in my office! Maybe the air temperature is different
on one side of the building versus
the other... I’ve heard others
mention the uneven
distribution of heat as well. (I'll get back to you in July, when
I'm sure I'll be finding it hot...)
v Poor air flow in labs - need larger
windows that open because chemical smells reach
offices that are connected to labs
v Smoke smell from front of Aiken reaches
teaching lab on 2nd floor
Visual
Changes
v I would like to see the doors in the
offices painted beige like the walls.
Visually, this would create the appearance of offices having
more light when the office doors are closed.
v Another suggestion would be to change
the fluorescent lights and have better lights
for the working environment.
v This is a small thing but it's the area
AROUND Aiken, especially the worn lawn
spots. How to make the outside of the building also feel
that it represents a "green" building? Please add
"LANDSCAPE" to your list.
v There ought to be some creative ways
that we could dress up the atrium.
Maybe John Todd and his students could create a cascade of
water coming down from the 2nd (or 3rd)
v Floor with lots of aquatic plants
growing along it.
Cleaning
Issues
v High humidity and lack of air movement
are additional summer problems. I
would very much like to see the black stuff on the ceilings
analyzed for fungal content. High temperatures encourage
microbial growth and also gas release from carpets.
It seems to me that we people are as nonfunctional under hot humid
conditions as any computer or scientific gadget, yet any
glitch for latter warrants air conditioning, while our
health and mental state appears to be of little concern.
Seems to me UVM has its priorities messed up.
v I think a do-able concern are the
unknowns: like cleaning the vents...making
sure it is done on a regular basis; checking for chemicals
that are dangerous, etc. Like everyone else, it is SOOOO
hot in the summer!
v Smell of cleaners used in building is
sometimes so strong that eyes and throat
get irritated.
Windows/Doors
v How about too hot and not enough air
movement in the summer. It would be nice to be able to easily
prop open the front doors. Right now
we have to have Physical Plant come and use a special tool
to get the doors to stay open. Mike (our old
custodian) used to take care of it each summer and fall but no one
does now.
windows that open
v Ceiling fans in select locations to
optimize air flow in summer.
v Are the windows in Aiken going to be
replaced? If so, I would strongly suggest buying
the more expensive Low-E glass. Low -E keeps heat in
during cold weather and keeps heat out during hot weather.
Even if the windows aren't being replaced, the Low-E
coating may be able to be applied by an after-market
contractor.
v If part of the plan includes window
replacement, the part of the window that opens
(assuming that only part will open) should be the top so
that the hottest air can vent.
v Anyway, the point is don't "cheap-out"
on the windows. The savings in heating and
ventilating way off set the initial cost.
v It would be really nice to be able to
easily and securely open and close windows! Afternoon sun was a bear early
this month. Heat
loading as well.
Other
v Another comfort concern is the scarcity
of toilets
for women. We all waste too much
time making multiple trips to the bathroom, because it
is usually occupied when needed. None of us have
any problem with throwing bricks in the back of the toilet to
reduce water use, or having a toilet that ignites or
composts, as long as we have more of them, we'll be happy.
v Showers for bikers, walkers, and other
commuters
v Noise is also a problem in the winter
since offices are not insulated. Perhaps
increased sound muffling walls and ceilings might be able to
keep it cooler in the summer or at least make is longer to warm
up and allow for private meetings in offices and
conference rooms rather than disturb everyone next
door.
v I am sure that there are many other
things that could be done to make this into a
green building, but it strikes me as being very expensive to
retrofit an existing building in a meaningful way.
v Rubenstein needs a good source of colder
drinking water, a water fountain or
something similar would serve a good purpose during the
summer especially.
How hot does it actually
get in Aiken during summer?
Does Aiken ever cool-off
in summer?
These are
actual indoor temperatures
recorded in 3rd floor Aiken offices from mid
June until late August
2002.
If you have any other greening ideas or concerns about
your working environment please send them c/o Murphy at
mmaclean@zoo.uvm.edu.
Internet Web Sites of Interest
Indoor Air Quality
Green Buildings
http://www.snre.umich.edu/greendana/