UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY RENOVATIONS 
In late 1999, the UNH Office of Sustainability (OS) began a remodeling project using sustainable design and construction guidelines that are aligned with our mission. These guidelines are based on three principles: the building or space must be able to stand up to the elements, be practical and functional, and be inviting. Expanding on these principles, our office space was renovated with a focus on reducing waste and pollution, using renewable resources, recycling building materials, and creating an open and bright place in which to work. As part of the sustainable learning community at UNH, we hope that the renovation at 107 Nesmith Hall will establish a new way of thinking about design and construction and will act as a practical demonstration of new materials, methods, and technology. Below is a brief description of the materials that held up to sustainable design and construction standards and that were used in the renovation.
Sustainable Flooring Materials
Several flooring options were investigated for use on the renovation project including cork, bamboo, hardwood, linoleum, and vinyl composition tile. Based on cost and familiarity with the product, two options were selected for further research: linoleum, and vinyl composition tile. A life cycle analysis was performed to test the sustainability of each material. We concluded that vinyl composition tile was an unacceptable solution based primarily on the nature of vinyl manufacturing and the potential for the release of dioxins during product disposal. We judged linoleum made from natural materials including linseed oil, cork, and jute fibers to be the best option. Linoleum also requires less maintenance than other options because it does not need to be waxed. We decided on a product called Marmoleum, manufactured by Forbo Flooring, due to its availability and Forbo’s commitment to the environment.
Sustainable Paint
Many standard paints contain a variety of chemicals that may negatively impact health. A group of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are unstable and can contribute to respiratory problems, ground level ozone, and smog. Another known carcinogen present in many paints is crystalline silica. Crystalline silica causes a condition called silicosis when it is inhaled. Silicosis is irreversible. Symptoms include reduced lung capacity, fever, and an increased susceptibility to other pulmonary diseases. We chose Safecoat Semi-Gloss Enamel from AFM Paints because it is the only product that does not use crystalline silica. For our purposes, recycled paints were found to be impractical, and although Safecoat does offer a line of zero VOC paints, we found the Enamel to be best suited to our application.
Sustainable Lighting
Fluorescent bulbs can last up to ten times longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs. In order to use only the amount of light needed, we installed a feature to regulate light levels in the office. Groups of fluorescent bulbs in a given fixture may be turned on or off in a range of combinations. A number of large windows let natural light into the space. As a result, on bright sunny days it may be unnecessary to turn on any lights until late afternoon.
Sustainable Furniture
In addition to some permanently enclosed offices, we used partitions and shelving to divide the space into work areas. These structures can be rearranged as needed and removed altogether without any demolition. If our officewere to relocate, we would be able to take some of our initial investment with us and leave the space open for the next tenant. In researching furniture companies we looked for a positive environmental record in terms of practices and materials. For example, there are a number of furniture companies that use recycled materials. Unfortunately, the cost of furniture from these companies was prohibitive for this project. We chose to purchase our furniture from a company called Haworth Furniture. Although they were just beginning to consider environmental issues in their construction, they did include an environmental statement of commitment to working toward sustainable practices.
- Custom table and bookshelves: For these pieces we used third-party certified sustainable wood. This lumber is harvested from forests that have been certified by an independent, third party certification organization as using sustainable management practices. Certification is site-specific and validates management practices that ensure long-term health of the forest ecosystem. (According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, forest protection through government initiatives and regulation alone haveonly been partially successful in protecting forests. Third party certification rewards environmentally sound practices instead of penalizing poor practices.) Our bookshelves also incorporate agricultural waste board.
- Recycled furniture: Wherever possible we reused furniture and fixtures from other buildings on campus. For example, doors were saved from demolition or taken from storage. In order to maintain the open feeling of the space and to allow light to filter into the main office we inserted glass panes in the center of each door. The picture molding used in the entryway was donated by a UNH Small Projects construction team member who was remodeling his home. All of the meeting tables came from our old office. In order to give them the appearance of being new, they were refinished with new laminate tops.
