The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) is a specialized institution of higher education which focuses its work in resource sustainability and human interactions with their environment. The students at SUNY-ESF pride themselves on the sustainability practices of the university in both small and large scale projects, and the university faculty utilizes every practice from campus composting to the university rain gardens as educational tools. However, the largest and most impressive sustainable project the university has undertaken in recent years was the construction of the new Gateway building.
Proposed by the university to satisfy the college’s need for a student center and the sustainability initiative supported by the students, the Gateway building now functions as a central hub for student activity and education. The construction of the building serves to evaluate the practical and financial feasibility of different conservation technologies and practices. The building incorporates technologies such as a combined heat and power system, which utilized a combined system of biomass and natural gas systems that compliments the university’s research on willow biomass production and energy sustainability. The heat and power system of the Gateway building is connected to four other buildings on campus, for which it provides 65 percent of campus heating and 20 percent of campus electrical needs and reduces the campus-wide carbon footprint by approximately 22 percent. The building cost the university approximately 3.2 million dollars to build; however, through the independent production of a portion of the campus’s electricity and heat, the university is able to save approximately $350,000 per year. The Gateway building proves to be not only environmentally preferable, but also a fiscally responsible option for campus construction.
The educational opportunities provided by the construction of such a modern environmentally conscience building are invaluable for the student body. Across different major and areas of study students are able to utilize the different aspects of the building to enrich their education and understanding of their studies. Construction management majors are able to access the primary documents and accounts of sustainable construction. Wildlife biologists are able to utilize the green roof to understand how plant communities interact and the necessary resources required for healthy interactions among ecological communities. Bioprocess engineering majors are provided the opportunity to engage in work with the biomass and energy systems of the building. These opportunities are equally as valuable as the building itself. By providing educational opportunities associated with the construction and function of environmentally sustainable campus buildings, a university begins to cultivate a generation of individuals with a greater understanding of sustainability and its application in the human environment. It is for this reason that it would be beneficial to promote the construction of environmentally sustainable buildings to benefit not only the university fiscally and sustainably, but also the students educationally and the future environmentally.
The construction of the Gateway building was a result of the constant influences of student organizations and the student body on the actions of the university. By creating and utilizing open lines of communication between an organized student body and the university leaders, students at SUNY-ESF have been able to promote a sustainable campus initiative that can be seen in the majority of the university’s decisions including sustainable construction. Open and honest communication between students and their university is the first step in promoting not only sustainable buildings and construction, but any environmental initiative. Through unifying a student body and effectively communicating the desires of the students with the university leaders, it is possible to promote more sustainable buildings, more sustainable campuses, and a more sustainable planet.
For more information on The Gateway building and sustainable construction, please visit the following links:
Atlantic Youth Environmental Council 