UH, in its current location, began with the Roy G. Cullen Building, dedicated June 4, 1939; it is believed to be the first higher-education building with air conditioning in the U.S.
It is important for students to understand what it takes to make sure buildings on a college campus survive. The building is 70 years old, yet is still one of the most beautiful and interesting structures on campus.
An understanding and appreciation of the work and funds required to keep the building functioning would likely generate newfound respect for the building, as well as those who maintain it. But UH is still responsible for giving students a greener university.
UH can educate students about the environment by letting them know the total impact of the everyday energy usages of certain buildings. Then, students’ can come together to make our campus greener.
It’s important for students to understand ideas of efficiency and overuse concerning electricity, water and gas, but there is a difference between understanding and actually having an impact.
UH is in a more powerful position than its students because it is responsible for the maintenance and creation of new buildings and utilities. New buildings are being designed with environmentally friendly specifications in mind.
The Michael J. Cemo Hall is being built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications of sustainable architecture. UH needs to apply this concept of sustainability and efficiency to buildings in need of renovation.
Rives Taylor, a designer of higher-education facilities at Gensler, a global architecture, firm, and leader of the firm’s sustainability task force, teaches sustainable-design methodology at UH and Rice University.
In an Oct. 9 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Taylor said, ‘The University (of Texas) reported millions of dollars of savings in renovations and more than $10 million in cost avoidance in continuing operating costs as a direct result of employing an integrated and pro-maintenance approach.’
If UH were to renovate buildings with a green design in mind, it might save money in the long run. Isn’t that what everyone should be looking to do in the current economic climate?
There’s no point in creating an ideal of everyone working together to create greener buildings, because the reality of the situation is that the task falls on the shoulders of UH.
The maintenance crew will be around long after students graduate, as will the buildings.
Students can learn to appreciate where they work and study, but the University is the leader when it comes to maintenance. If they fall short, then that is the example they’re setting for students.
Most UH operations are unknown to students. For example, how does the air conditioning in the library work? Believe it or not, all the air comes from the power plant next door.
How does the campus get power? UH is actually plugged directly into the backbone of the power grid through large steel poles that surround the Quadrangle and the economy parking lot near Cullen Street, which is the reason UH never lost power during Hurricane Ike.
Many students have no idea how UH provides important services like power, water or air conditioning.
The maintenance staff of the Quadrangle is one of the unluckiest groups on campus. They are stuck with perpetual preventative maintenance on a 59-year-old structure. While one of the staffers was fixing my sink, he let me know that the pipes, just like the electrical wiring, were original to the building and constantly break down.
Also, few students know the Quadrangle was originally built without air conditioning. The Quadrangle had a vent system that equalized the internal conditions with the weather outside, which is what the air conditioning uses now.
Only UH can actually do something about going green. Students can take little steps, but UH can make strides.
Michael Padon is a computer engineering sophomore and may be reached at [email protected]
