American Public University System (APUS) has been taking measures to reduce its carbon footprint for years.  Recently, we’ve also undertaken a comprehensive wellness campaign for our staff.  Environmental consciousness and wellness often (arguably even always) go hand-in-hand.  In combining these two initiatives, it seems like the perfect time to talk about how we can change our behaviors to benefit our own health as well as that of our environment.

May is National Bike Month which means it’s a great time to dust off those handle bars and get back in the saddle. But really, why bike? Sensation seekers bike because they love that “wind in the hair” feeling, adrenaline junkies bike because it gets the heart pumping, urbanites can beat congested traffic, penny-pinchers save gas money, and environmentalists flat-out save gas. Biking has even been touted by the Union of Concerned Scientists as an effective action you can take to help mitigate climate change. It’s a no-brainer: Drive less, pollute less.

Your carbon footprint, defined as the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere due to the consumption of fossil fuels, can be greatly reduced by biking. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports for every mile that you do not drive, you will lessen carbon dioxide emissions by one pound. This also means that other harmful pollutants—volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide—won’t be emitted into your community making it a healthier place for you, your kids, and your neighbors.

A study by the League of American Bicyclists estimates that 50% of all vehicular trips are three miles long or less. Short trips are known to release more pollutants into the atmosphere, especially when started without properly warming up a car engine. In fact a “cold start” can contribute up to 60% more carbon dioxide to be emitted into the atmosphere. Luckily, it is these short automobile trips that can be replaced with a fifteen minute bike ride.

Not only will replacing a short three mile car ride with a bike ride improve your environment, it will also improve your health. An average person riding at a leisurely pace could burn around 100 calories. Other health benefits of biking include building strength and muscle tone, improving cardio-vascular fitness, and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Additionally, with higher summer gas prices on the horizon, your stress level will be relieved as your wallet thanks you for spending more time on your bike and not at the pump. 

So, do it for your wallet, your health, your community, and the environment. Interestingly enough these are the same pillars of sustainability—economy, society, and environment. Coincidence?

For more information about National Bike Week and to find events and bike paths near you, visit this link: http://www.bikeleague.org/index.php.

The convenience of ebooks and ereaders has made them a popular choice for both leisure and educational reading.  From 2009 to 2010 alone, ebook sales increased by almost 165%! As demand for such digital books increases, so does the debate over which books are more environmentally friendly – ebooks or paper books?  The answer to this question is important especially for online universities that offer a large number of etextbooks to students, such as American Public University System (APUS).  Ray Uzwyshyn, Director of Libraries at APUS, recently published a work on etextbooks in higher education.  To see his in depth review of this trend, click here.

At first glance, it would seem that reducing the amount of ink and paper is the greenest option.  In order to truly capture the carbon footprint of both types of books, however, it is also vital to consider the method by which they are read.  Apple has estimated that an iPad emits 287 pounds of carbon dioxide and the Kindle is thought to emit 370 pounds of carbon dioxide.  Printed books, on the other hand, are typically estimated at almost 9 pounds of carbon dioxide.  Part of the trouble with ereaders is that they need to be recharged, whereas physical books do not require additional energy sources to be reused.  Paper copies may also be given to friends or charities for reuse and tend to last longer than their technological counterparts.

This is not to say that ebooks cannot be the greener alternative!  A person can read 30 – 40 ebooks on an ereader in order to match the lower emissions of a print book.  Another great option is reading books on a computer that you already own (or have access to) instead of purchasing a new ereader.  APUS offers thousands of etextbooks in the online library that can be accessed by students 24/7.  This electronic option also saves students and universities a significant amount of money as etextbooks are approximately half the cost of a physical version.

The Sustainability Committee of American Public University System recently participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new solar array at their Charles Town, West Virginia location.  Guests from a variety of industries visited the campus to view the new installation, and had the opportunity to learn about the importance of solar energy from project managers Mountain View (MTV) Solar and Solarworld.  In choosing solar energy as an option, companies are striving to be both environmentally and financially sustainable. The use of solar power has the ability to positively affect a company’s bottom line.  This graphic, created by another solar energy company, Solar Gaines LLC a solar panels maryland provider, shows the true value of solar power.

Experts note that every hour the sun beams enough energy to Earth to satisfy the world’s energy needs for a full year.  Solar energy is an inexhaustible source and is touted as being non-polluting.  Despite these facts, solar power represents a meager one-tenth of one percent of the world’s energy sources.  In the United States, where 5 percent of the world’s population uses 20 percent of the world’s total energy, solar energy currently provides less than 1 percent of our energy.  Many other countries are leading the solar charge, however, and global demand for solar energy has increased more than 30 percent over the last 20 years.  Germany and Japan, for example, have developed extensive incentive programs and are leading the way in use of solar energy.  Despite the relatively low use of solar energy in the United States, the nation is beginning to slowly see use of solar power increase. 

Located in historic downtown Charles Town, West Virginia, APUS has always been mindful of its geographic location and the community’s long history.  In designing their campus, the school has used an innovative strategy mixing historical preservation with energy efficiency and sustainability.  The school’s adaptive reuse practices have reclaimed many historic buildings in the downtown Charles Town area which otherwise were vacant and often neglected.  The school’s solar array, on the other hand, embodies the innovative and forward-thinking spirit of this fully online university.  With more than 100,000 students located in and studying from all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the world, APUS has been a cutting-edge leader in the education industry.  It is fitting for that reason that it also plays a leading role in the innovation of the American energy landscape. 

The APUS solar array clearly represents the school’s commitment to the environment.  In addition, it is also representative of the school’s commitment to its more than 100,000 students, its local community, and the nation.  Nearly all of APUS’ students are adult learners, most juggling fulltime jobs, families, and often military deployments as well.  The APUS solar array is evidence of the school’s “lead by example” mentality.  In developing such a project, the school’s students will have a tangible learning tool that will serve them well as they take their degrees into the workforce to create additional positive change toward promoting sustainability.  The array is also a benefit to the community and APUS will continue as it has been to educate the local community about the array, solar power in general, and how others can invest in such technologies.  On a national level, the APUS solar array is another step in the right direction toward promoting more sustainable energy sources and breaking the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Check out this timelapse video showing the panel installation.

Three Ways To Reduce Your Impact on the Environment by APUS

We’ve been talking a lot lately about the adaptive reuse and green new construction on the American Public University System (APUS) campus in Charles Town, WV. So, yes, we know that many of the buildings are green retrofits, that solar installations are estimated to offset 350 tons of carbon each year, that the appliances are Energy Star certified, and that the faucets and toilets conserve water.  But, did you know that both the recently constructed Academics Center and the under-construction Finance Center are built on what has been designated a “brownfields site?” 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines brownfields as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” Basically, this means the property has been blighted by past uses—such as, in APUS’s case, a junkyard—and requires special care and investment to make it suitable for use. The EPA estimates that over 450,000 of these properties exist in the United States and has since leveraged more than $14.0 billion in funding for cleanup and revitalization projects.

The City of Ranson and the City of Charles Town, West Virginia, where APUS has one of its campuses, has teamed up and applied for a piece of the funding pie. In 2010, the Ranson-Charles Town partnership represented one of 23 communities selected for the EPA’s  Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program. The community has been awarded a grant to aid in the area-wide Commerce Corridor brownfields revitalization plan, which is currently underway. The Commerce Corridor plan is a 1.5 mile long corridor where a total of 15 brownfield sites have been identified. Included in these 15 properties are a 100+ year old brass foundry, abandoned chemical fertilizer and pesticide facilities, residences, and shopping areas. 

The property under APUS’s Academic Center and Finance Center was formerly a metal scrap yard which had significantly polluted the site. Metal scraps left behind heavy metals and petroleum based substances in the soil which slowly, especially with rainfall, infiltrated into the groundwater. To contain the contamination and prevent future groundwater contamination, a “cap” needed to be placed over the area. A cap is a common engineering control used to prevent direct contact with the soil and prevents the continued emissions of contaminants. In this case, the cap came in the form of concrete which both prevented exposure to the contaminated soils and stopped groundwater contamination. A storm water retention pond was installed as a preventative control in the unlikely case that contaminants were to seep out.

Revitalizing brownfields sites is a way to address the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.  Socially, these projects encourage community collaboration and multiple stakeholder engagement. Not to mention, redevelopment can increase a community’s “sense of place” while encouraging mixed-use and walkability. Economic benefits entail job creation and increased property values. Since the inception of the EPA Brownfields Program, it has been estimated that 75,290 jobs have been leveraged and nearby residential property values have increased between 2 and 3 percent.  The environmental benefits include improved water and air quality, decreased storm water runoff, decreased development pressure on local green spaces, and the overall removal of contamination.

The EPA has highlighted many brownfields success stories which show that a clean and healthy foundation is also a strong foundation. Now, who wouldn’t want to build on that?

When American Public University System (APUS) re-located its headquarters to historic downtown Charles Town, WV in 2003, the university’s leadership was mindful of the abundant and rich history of the area.  Rather than purchase land outside of the city center to build a standard office building, the university system undertook a comprehensive adaptive reuse policy.  To date, the university system has “recycled” 5 historic buildings in Charles Town’s downtown area for office space.

What is most notable about APUS’ adaptive reuse policy in Charles Town is the dual nature of the undertaking.  Considering the historic nature of the properties and the entire downtown area, the university’s leadership was careful to maintain as many of the historic features of each building as possible.  At the same time, however, cognizant of its commitment to reducing its environmental impact, the university upgraded specific areas of each building to make them more efficient.  Below are some specific examples of adaptive reuse projects at APUS. 

Etter Hall – Etter Hall (named for APUS’ founder, Major James P. Etter) was the first building that APUS purchased in Charles Town and serves as the university’s main administrative offices.  The building now known as Etter Hall was originally built in the late 1800s and served as a private residence and office for physician Charles Taylor Richardson.  By the early 1900s, the house was being used as Charles Town’s first hospital, a capacity it served until the late 1940s when a new hospital was built and the house was converted to a retirement home.  APUS kept the original elevator in the property (which was the first in the area and quite a novelty) but upgraded the circuitry and wiring to meet current standards.  Though the original floors remain in the building, the windows were upgraded to provide greater energy efficiency and a high efficiency HVAC system, motion sensor lighting, and low flow toilets were also installed.  

Samuel Washington House – Samuel Washington was the brother of George Washington, first President of the United States and the Washington family spent a large amount of time in the area.  What is now known as the Samuel Washington House was built in the late 1800s by descendants of Samuel Washington.  The structure was originally built as a private home and was later used as a bed and breakfast.  In 2009, APUS purchased the property and renovated it to serve as office space for the university’s Human Resources department.  Most of the features of this building remained the same but some upgrades were made including the installation of a highly efficient HVAC system and motion sensor lighting. 

Gray Hall – Gray Hall was built in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of the New Deal program introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  The building served many capacities throughout its history.  Originally built as the first municipal building, the building also housed the Magistrate’s Court, the County Health Department, and the Jefferson County Board of Education.  APUS purchased the building in late 2004.  After extensive renovations, the building was completed an occupied in 2006.  While restoring the building much to its original state, the university also installed a highly efficient HVAC system, low flow toilets, and motion sensor lighting to provide greater energy efficiency.

Adaptive reuse is reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than that for which it was built or designed. Frequently reused buildings include industrial buildings and community buildings such as churches or community centers. While usually seen as a way to reduce urban sprawl and environmental impact, adaptive reuse also has its controversies.  A short article from College Planning and Management considers the pros and cons of adaptive reuse, and examines what should be considered when deciding between “reuse” versus “build new.” Colleges often have limited facilities maintenance and renovation funds, and adaptive reuse can become an option for both maximizing those funds and for creating a teaching moment on the concepts of sustainability and smart growth.

First, consider the pros of adaptive reuse. Reusing an existing campus or community building helps to foster community involvement in campus activities. Students, faculty and community leaders can become involved in the research and planning process for the renovation, perhaps even assisting in seeking out buildings for reuse. Adaptive reuse is environmentally friendly. According to the EPA, building-related construction and demolition accounts for up to 160 million tons of construction debris each year in the United States. In addition, consider the “embodied energy” of a building. Embodied energy includes all of the energy used in raw material extraction and processing, product fabrication, transportation and the assembly of a building.  The demolition of existing buildings adds waste to local landfills, but also throws away all of this energy that was used to build them. More, historic buildings are-contrary to popular myth-actually quite energy efficient. Including such properties as heavy masonry walls, natural ventilation systems and natural use of light, older buildings are inherently energy efficient. In addition to all of these benefits, buildings that can be reused utilize idle space, support sustainability goals of a college campus, and provide opportunities for Federal tax incentives and credits, further allowing straining budget dollars to be fully utilized.

There are a few downsides to renovation versus building new, and they are significant.  Renovation projects on historic buildings can be very complex.  Building codes can change as the building is modified, furthering what could be a very long design and construction schedule. If the building is currently in use as another service area, those employees and services will need to be temporarily relocated.  Renovation projects may also need a construction contingency reserve to cover the costs of “unforeseen issues” that almost always arise.  After careful and professional site evaluation and historic structure assessment, all of these pros and cons should be weighed accordingly for the best possible decision.

To read about some examples of adaptive reuse on college campuses, visit the descriptions of projects at Emerson College, The University of Delaware, and Amherst College. In addition, please look for the continuation of this article next week, where blogger Beth Gray will highlight the adaptive reuse efforts on the main campus of American Public University System in historic Charles Town, West Virginia.