It's a green dorm after all
By: Sarah Bleau
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: News
Before the green fee and before President Shirley Raines signed a green initiative pact with other college presidents, planning began for an environmentally friendly dormitory on The University of Memphis campus.
"We've been trying in housing for years to move more and more towards using more quality products that are environmentally friendly," said Danny Armitage, associate dean of students.
The new environmentally conscious dormitory, tentatively named Imaginari Cogitare Facere, will replace West Hall.
Three years ago, Armitage and architects looked at other environmentally efficient buildings for techniques they used to conserve energy and resources.
"I felt that it was the direction we'd be moving in. It was one of those things we wanted to do - something very environmentally efficient and environmentally friendly," Armitage said. "We slowly kept putting things together, and we said, 'Wow! We got a pretty green building.'"
Insulated concrete walls will be energy efficient, allowing more consistent room temperatures as well as reducing outdoor pollutants and improving indoor air quality.
Going along with the ICF Complex's green initiative, a variable refrigerant flow heating and air conditioning system and variable-speed compressors will be installed. The variable refrigerant system will reduce energy consumption while still delivering heat and air to residents as desired. By having variable-speed compressors in the building, it will avoid on/off cycles as well as energy efficiency.
These features will also meet noise and temperature concerns with residents. ICF Complex occupants will have individual control of heat and air in their rooms, and insulation will minimize outdoor and indoor noise.
Low-E, energy efficient windows, will be triple paned, helping again with insulation and building temperature. This will be cost effective in hot or cold climates.
Furniture in the dormitory will also be environmentally safe.
"We've been trying in housing for years to move more and more towards using more quality products that are environmentally friendly," said Danny Armitage, associate dean of students.
The new environmentally conscious dormitory, tentatively named Imaginari Cogitare Facere, will replace West Hall.
Three years ago, Armitage and architects looked at other environmentally efficient buildings for techniques they used to conserve energy and resources.
"I felt that it was the direction we'd be moving in. It was one of those things we wanted to do - something very environmentally efficient and environmentally friendly," Armitage said. "We slowly kept putting things together, and we said, 'Wow! We got a pretty green building.'"
Insulated concrete walls will be energy efficient, allowing more consistent room temperatures as well as reducing outdoor pollutants and improving indoor air quality.
Going along with the ICF Complex's green initiative, a variable refrigerant flow heating and air conditioning system and variable-speed compressors will be installed. The variable refrigerant system will reduce energy consumption while still delivering heat and air to residents as desired. By having variable-speed compressors in the building, it will avoid on/off cycles as well as energy efficiency.
These features will also meet noise and temperature concerns with residents. ICF Complex occupants will have individual control of heat and air in their rooms, and insulation will minimize outdoor and indoor noise.
Low-E, energy efficient windows, will be triple paned, helping again with insulation and building temperature. This will be cost effective in hot or cold climates.
Furniture in the dormitory will also be environmentally safe.