2. Background Information: In 1996 a small group of professional staff formed what two years later, with financial support from the University Chancellor and Assistant Vice President for Facilities Operations, became the Council For Environmental Stewardship (CFES). A half-time coordinator position was funded, and membership has included up to 38 faculty, staff and students. Members are appointed by administrators, department heads, and campus organizations to represent major areas of academic and campus constituencies. Each member brings his or her expertise and interests and is encouraged to join one or more of our nine workgroups. This poster will focus on one project of the Materials Management Workgroup.

3. Goals of Materials Management: Our goal is to incorporate more environmental sensitivity into the design, construction and operation of buildings on our campus, both new and existing undergoing renovation. In part this may be accomplished by bringing alternative resource into our in-house materials library and testing them on small renovation projects. Successful alternatives could then be recommended for the architectural specifications upon which in-house and outside designers base their selections. The impact of materials and finishes on energy use (surface light reflectance, ease of maintenance) is a related factor which has been discussed with our engineers, as is recycling of construction waste.

4. Content and Process: Our Council For Environmental Stewardship (CFES) connects students, staff and faculty from a variety of disciplines, not only at monthly meetings, but by organizing brown bag lunches to which we invite the general IU public. This "best practice" initiative is an outgrowth of a brown bag lunch organized by the CFES Materials Management Workgroup. There a connection was made between an interior designer with the University Architect's Office (UAO) and a professor who teaches about green materials and sustainable architecture at our Indianapolis campus (IUPUI). The following year her students researched the environmental impact of commonly-specified furniture and finishes. The poster will show both original and student follow up environmental impact charts. With the help of IUB Interior Design student interns, the UAO member has done further research into alternative products.

5. Indicators of success: If we receive a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating for a new building, that will be the greatest and most visible success (see below). In the meantime, we will continue our analysis of materials and local resources.

6. Accomplishments:

Building materials research and resource library is under development. However, alternative materials are not always available at affordable cost and/or without sacrificing performance quality (durability being key in the university built environment). We have started to use the following resources:
* The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design for definitions, project actions and case studies.
* BEES software (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) for lifecycle analysis of materials by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, with support from EPA and HUD.
* GreenSpec Binder (by the U.S. Green Building Council) for manufacturers and products to obtain, analyze and (if appropriate) specify.
* EPP (the EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program) ranking environmental impact of products (http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/).
* Green Seal databases (consulted for levels of specific paint VOCs).
* CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) 3/01 Draft Sustainability Report.
* ASTM E2129 green product survey.
* Manufacturers' MSDS and questions to their sales representatives (and staff at furniture factory tours) about their processes and products. By asking our suppliers for their environmental policies and accomplishments, we show it is important to us. When we then specify their "greener" products, we support their research, development and production.

Whole Building Design: One CFES member received training in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system. With support from an interested architect, engineer and facilities manager, we hope to apply the US Green Building Council's LEED rating system to a new building.

Old Growth Forest Protection: With the initiative of an active student environmental group, SEAC (Student Environmental Action Coalition), Indiana University became the first university to pass a purchasing procurement policy banning products from old-growth forests. Other students had introduced this two years previously without success. This time the administration listened, asked for input from CFES members, and decided to implement a policy. Although certification (of forests) is not yet required, this is an important first step. The next steps are to raise awareness through education and insure compliance by our suppliers. CFES members and SEAC students will need to flag questionable practices.

7. Reflections: Since much of the work is done on a voluntary basis, in addition to members' full time commitments, progress is slow. It is important to have a group to encourage one another to be patient but persistent in reaching our goals. Outside conferences and workshops like this one are also important for resources, inspiration and motivation.

8. Advice: Until there is a clear mandate (from the general public, state government and/or university administration) for change toward sustainability, I recommend concentrating on incremental and "hidden" changes in practice, looking for opportunities to demonstrate their value (energy savings, long term vs. short term cost, health advantages of "green" materials).

9. Institutional Transformation: If each individual's comfortable practices are hard to change, then institutions are that much harder to change. If sustainability becomes more generally understood and accepted as a necessity, this should become easier. Environmental sensitivity is becoming more mainstream. Many of our suppliers are looking for more environmentally friendly solutions (especially furniture, textile and carpet manufacturers). As IU's new Old Growth Forest procurement policy shows, students can bring about long-term changes in administrative policy that may elude faculty and staff (or even previous groups of students). Students should be encouraged and counseled by the faculty. Professional staff members need to set realistic goals and be ready to lead or join projects that will help turn the tide. Student internships can bridge academics and administration.

For additional information:
Molly O'Donnell, Interior Designer
Indiana University
University Architect's Office
700 North Walnut Grove
Bloomington, IN 47405

Council For Environmental Stewardship (CFES)

This document was last modified on 02/20/2002 10:43:03 AM