Southern Methodist University

Extract

[...] This should also be considered in renovating the school buildings. Third, waste management is a growing concern today. Given the increasing population and consumption, waste seems to pile up quickly. Also, efficient waste management is important to decrease pollution and eliminate health hazards. The City of Dallas Sanitation Services launched a recycling program last year that includes a 96-gallon Big Blue recycling roll cart to be used by everyone for recycling. With this rolling cart, people can recycle more items without the need for manual separation of wastes. [...]

[...] The design for plumbing should use recycled water for toilets (or gray water system) that will recover rainwater for site irrigation. In addition, to minimize the wastewater used in toilets, the ultra low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, and other water conserving fixtures should be used. For a centralized hot water distribution, recirculation systems should be used. A water budget approach being promoted by the California Irrigation Management Information System data for landscaping should also be used (Green Building Basics). Conserving water would not only be beneficial to the environment but also helps in saving money for the school. [...]

[...] It is also expected that tinted windows would make the room cooler as it reduce the amount of light entering the room. The heating and air conditioning would remain as it makes the students and teachers comfortable while studying/teaching. Further, fluorescent lighting would allow SMU to save on electricity cost. Fluorescent lights use less amount of electricity than incandescent lights. The dimmers would help control the amount of light being put out n the room, thus, saving electricity cost. Through the solar electric system and other ways discussed, there would be great reduction in electric lighting, heating and cooling loads, and equipment, thus operating costs will be lesser. [...]

[...] By doing this, the school would not only incur savings from electricity cost but would also help in the reduction of environmental impact. Solar energy comes in three forms: concentrating solar, photovoltaic, and solar thermal. Concentrating solar and solar thermal depend much on a resource which may not be available on sufficient amounts across the country since the latitude and cloud cover determines its viability as a source of electricity. Whereas, photovoltaic require lesser concentrated solar energy and can be used in many regions. [...]

[...] It is expected that aside from savings, there are other unquantifiable benefits of ‘going green' and this include better school image, improved health of students and teachers, comfort, increased productivity, and reduction of environmental impact. Works Cited Air Quality. Green Dallas City of Dallas Initiative. Retrieved on 27 March 2008, from [http://www.greendallas.net/air_quality.html] Energy Efficiency. Green Dallas City of Dallas Initiative. Retrieved on 27 March 2008, from [http://www.greendallas.net/energy_efficiency.html] Energy Facts. Retrieved on 28 March 2008, from [http://www.solarenergy.org/resources/energyfacts.html] Enrollment. Southern Methodist Unversty. Retrieved on 27 March 2008, from [http://www.smu.edu/enrollment.asp] Facts. Southern Methodist Unversty. Retrieved [...]