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Bicycle Racks
Now you can get a workout, help the environment, and still feel comfortable at work or in class. Those who ride their bikes to campus can conveniently park them in the bike racks located near the building. And if they like, bicycle commuters can use the showers in the first floor restrooms to clean up and change after arriving on campus. Bicycling to work also reduces pollution from vehicle emissions.
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Landscaping
Plants indigenous to our area fill the large, landscaped spaces around this building. These trees and shrubs are not only beautiful; they also serve many important purposes. Their root systems are more efficient at absorbing and filtering storm water runoff than grass is, and this helps to reduce the amount of pollutants carried off site. These plants also provide a habitat for animals. Best of all? Because they are native to our area, they require minimal water and maintenance to thrive. This reduces water consumption associated with irrigation by 87% annually, saving 3,513,159 gallons of drinkable water.
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Green Roof
This building’s roof isn’t just eco-friendly; it is literally green. That’s because plants cover over 50% of the roof, and these plants play a critical role in improving the building’s energy efficiency. The plants insulate against extreme outside temperatures and even help reduce the energy used by our rooftop mechanical units by cooling the air that comes into the building. These plants, all native to our area, also filter and absorb rainwater. Those areas not covered with plant life are a light color, so as to reduce the heat island effect. What is the heat island effect? It’s what happens when temperatures in developed areas are hotter than those in rural areas. These temperature variations can lead to increased energy consumption, more air pollution, and heat-related illnesses.
If you are ever in the building and want to know what a green roof looks like, take a peak at canopies just outside the windows on the third floor sitting area and in the open, glass stairwell. -
Parking
To encourage the use of more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, the College dedicated parking spaces near the building to those who drive fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles. If you walk through the adjacent parking lot, you’ll notice that vehicles in these spaces sport a special Revive decal. These stickers show the vehicle has met the necessary requirements. Spaces are also set aside for those who carpool. To be eligible for those spaces, a minimum of three people must ride in the vehicle each time it comes to campus.
