SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AT UNH 
Part of UNH's commitment to being a Climate Protection Campus and to sustainability
UNH is committed to being as sustainable as feasible in its construction and renovation of buildings. Our comprehensive approach targets high impact intervention areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as impacts on biodiversity and cultural continuity.
Highlights
- Sustainable Design: As part of the Presidents Climate Commitment, UNH-Durham is committed to having all new campus construction and major renovation projects achieve U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards or equivalent; this policy will be applicable to all new projects initiated after UNH design and construction building standards have been modified in 2008. UNH Design Guidelines used by UNH Facilities Design and Construction require that designs use energy efficient systems and components and consider environmental impacts.
- Sustainable Renovations: The replacement of DeMeritt Hall on the UNH Durham campus is a perfect example of this. Our DeMeritt Design Team (Architerra Inc.), is very familiar with LEED and prides themselves in being on the leading edge of sustainable design. Though not registered with LEED, Architerra, Inc., says the DeMeritt Hall replacement, expected to open in August 2008, will be comparable to a Silver LEED building in their opinion. What's more, the upcoming renovation of James Hall (starting in 2008), which not coincidentally houses the departments of natural resources and earth sciences, will include designs and renovation that facilities energy efficiency, emissions reduction, water conservation, and beyond. The James Hall Renovation has been officially registered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to seek LEED Certification.
- Energy Efficiency: Ranked by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) (PDF) in the top 5% of universities in its peer group for energy efficiency and by the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers in a 2006 survey of over 100 universities as one of the most energy efficient four-year colleges with graduate programs through the post-doctoral level, UNH has conducted an on-going energy efficiency program for over 30 years. If we consumed energy at the mean rate for our peer group, we would have spent over $20 million for energy during Fiscal Year 2006; because of our ongoing energy efficiency programs, we actually spent only FY06 $13 million, resulting in a yearly savings of $7 million.
How do we do this? Through elements including - but not limited to - the following:
- Efficient Lighting: UNH has used energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting (CFL's) for several years. In combination with T-8 and T-5 fixtures, UNH uses CFL's as a matter of routine on new construction and major renovation projects. UNH has also done some specific lighting upgrade projects using this technology. It is UNH Facilities policy to remove all incandescent lighting through attrition and replace this lighting with CFL's. What's more, no new purchases of incandescent bulbs (unless specific conditions are required that cannot be attained through CFL's) are allowed. Learn about how UNH recycles spent CFL's and encourages their safe disposal...
- Efficiency Retrofits: Several million dollars have been invested in retrofit projects across the UNH Durham campus, including high efficiency lighting, motor, heating, and cooling, control systems; window upgrades; conversion of electric clothes dryers to natural gas dryers in residence halls; and conversion of domestic hot water conversions from electricity to natural gas.
- Proper Use of Equipment: Just installing energy efficiency equipment is not enough to save energy, however. UNH Facilities staff play a crucial and role in properly maintaining and operating systems and equipment.
- Use of hand dryers in restrooms: Electric hand dryers in restrooms are our campus standard for new construction and renovation. Even taking the energy used into consideration they are usually more economical than paper towels and more sanitary. Unfortunately, to retrofit restrooms whose buildings are not undergoing renovation is an expensive undertaking and cannot be accomplished all at one time. However, UNH is working to escalate retrofits from paper towels to hand dryers where feasible.
- U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Residence Halls: In May 2006, UNH was the first institution of higher education in the nation to receive ENERGY STAR ratings for residence halls. And in 2007, five more UNH buildings achieved the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR efficiency rating, bringing UNH's total number of ENERGY STAR rated buildings to 8. These awards were presented by EPA New England Administrator Robert Varney at UNH's 2007 Earth Day Celebrations. What's more, UNH Housing performs energy efficiency improvements as part of all major residence hall renovation projects.
- Sustainable Landscaping Master Plan: UNH promotes and maintains sustainable landscaping throughout campus for the education and enjoyment of the community, the enhancement of natural systems, and the protection of biodiversity. A UNH Sustainable Landscaping Master Plan (PDF) has become part of the umbrella UNH Campus Master Plan.
More UNH Sustainable Building Information
- Sustainable building design guidelines for UNH construction and renovation projects
- List of UNH energy efficiency projects with dollars saved and atmospheric emissions avoided
- Energy efficiency projects in residence halls
- Energy efficient new construction and renovations
- 1999 University Office of Sustainability remodeling to act as a demonstration of sustainable materials, methods, & technology
