| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.18 |
| Liaison | Weston Dripps |
| Submission Date | Aug. 19, 2024 |
Amherst College
OP-2: Building Operations and Maintenance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 5.00 |
Weston
Dripps Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
2.1 Percentage of existing buildings managed for sustainability performance
Floor area of existing buildings managed under a green cleaning program:
Online location of the institution’s green cleaning policy:
Copy of the institution’s green cleaning policy:
Description of the institution’s certified green cleaning service:
Green Cleaning Program
Amherst College is committed to cleaning practices that protect our employees, students, and the environment. We strive to reduce chemical use whenever possible, through innovative cleaning systems, changes to cleaning practices, and staff training. Additionally, we strive to reduce material and energy use in all of our cleaning practices.
Our Green Cleaning Program includes the following elements and goals:
-
When we do use chemicals, we adhere to the following policies:
-
Most chemicals are Green Seal Certified
-
All staff are trained once a year by Environmental Health and Safety on safe chemical use, and by our custodial managers on reducing overuse of chemicals, ensuring that we are only using chemicals when necessary and not using any more than required
-
We use dispensing systems that reduce overuse of chemicals
-
Whenever possible we purchase materials made with recycled content. This includes all paper products (toilet paper, paper towels) and cleaning supplies like mop heads and dusters.
-
We routinely analyze and update our practices to reduce material and energy use and create healthy work environments. Some examples include:
-
Reducing the frequency of private office cleaning to once a week (saves on material use particularly trash liners)
-
Moving away from carpeting to reduce allergens, vacuuming
-
Moving towards flooring material that does not require re-coating with wax
Floor area of existing buildings individually assessed for energy performance:
Narrative outlining how building-level energy performance is assessed and how the results are used to improve performance:
The college has a full time energy manager in our Facilities team who closely monitors all of our buildings’ energy use and performance. We have an energy dashboard that pulls energy and electricity data from all of our buildings on a 5 minute interval. Each building has its own meter and gauge so that monitoring happens at the building level. Adjustments are made and tracked in real time based on their performance, and some buildings like our new Science Center have an automated system to optimize its performance and help regulate the temperature by adjusting the shades in the atrium.
Floor area of existing buildings individually assessed for indoor environmental quality (IEQ) performance:
Narrative outlining how building-level IEQ is assessed and how the results are used to improve performance:
https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/media/Air%20Quality%20Management%20Plan%20-%20June%202022_0.pdf
Every building, including faculty housing has the potential to be assessed for Indoor Environmental Quality. Spaces are assessed at a minimum on an annual basis.
Many of our academic and residential halls have appropriate ventilation and exhaust, which is improved with each renovation.
HVAC systems on campus are a top priority, and a preventative maintenance program for the replacement of filters and the repairs of systems has been incorporated as a standard operating practice
MERV-rated filtration has been installed across campus
Humidification is monitored for proper levels across campus, for both occupant health and well-being as well as for contents control, such as dehumidification to areas where moisture (condensate) cannot otherwise be controlled.
Thermal comfort is also monitored across the campus, depending on weather conditions
All cooling towers are inspected twice weekly during the season, with the chemical maintenance / testing company on site monthly
Systems are cleaned out at the end of the season.
Buildings, such as the Science Center have an indoor air quality monitoring system (AirCuity) which constantly monitors the buildings indoor air quality and then changes any deficiencies that it picks up on, which includes carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, VOC's etc.
In addition to the AirCuity System, the Science Center also has a RaeGuard VOC monitor, as well as oxygen deficiency monitors and Carbon Dioxide monitors for areas using Liquid Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide, respectively
Amherst College EH&S also responds immediately to any Indoor Air Quality concerns, which includes, but is not limited to odors of all types (i.e. exhaust, gas, mildew and mold, as well as any other unknown odor.
EH&S has a variety of instrumentation for the above investigations, which include carbon dioxide and monoxide, as well as combustible gas and VOC's.
We also have GrayWolf IAQ monitors that monitor for carbon dioxide and monoxide, oxygen, relative humidity, sulfur dioxide temperature and particulates
We have both fixed and portable Ammonia Sensors for both the Ice Rink and the Central Energy Plant, as well as
Freon Detection equipment, which is monitored by the Andover Reporting System
The above referenced alarms report directly to the responsible technicians in the EH&S and Mechanical Shops, as well as to the Amherst College Police Department Dispatch Center
Amherst College uses only low or non-VOC adhesives, finishes and paints
SDS's and product literature are evaluated before a product can be used on campus
Cleaning products are also evaluated before purchase
Construction activities are also monitored for products being used
Adhesives, caulks, flooring, mastics and waterproofing are also tested in advance to insure new products do not contain asbestos
Demolition and renovation activities are evaluated before any work is performed for the presence of asbestos, lead and PCB's, which (if discovered) are professionally abated in advance in accordance with both federal and state regulations
Amherst College EH&S immediately responds to all mildew and mold notifications and aggressively remediates same if discovered
- Source of the water / moisture is identified and corrected
- All impacted surfaces are abated immediately
- Porous materials like carpet, sheetrock and wood are removed
- Non-Porous surfaces are aggressively cleaned and dehumidified
- Dehumidification processes begin immediately, even before abatement can be initiated.
Integrated Pest Management Program(s) https://www.amherst.edu/offices/enviro_health_safety/pest-management
Amherst College has policies, procedures and SOG's for IEQ
Floor area of existing buildings managed or individually assessed for water performance:
Online location of the institution’s minimum standards for water efficient fixtures, fittings, and equipment:
Copy of the institution’s minimum standards for water efficient fixtures, fittings, and equipment:
Narrative outlining how building-level water performance is assessed and how the results are used to improve performance:
We have standards for low flow showerheads, flushometers, sink aerators, and dual flush toilets. We don't have any site specific leak detection systems in place outside of the science center, but we monitor the ongoing usage through the building level meters to determine if we may have a leak somewhere. If the data suggest a leak may be present, we send out facilities teams to assess and address as needed.
Floor area of existing buildings third party certified to a green building standard:
List of the institution’s existing buildings and their green building certifications:
Sustainability is a priorirty in our current and all future buildings, but we have chosen not to green certify any of our campus buildings.
Inventory of the institution’s existing buildings and their green building certifications:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following six figures:
Percentage of existing buildings assessed for energy performance:
Percentage of existing buildings assessed for IEQ performance:
Percentage of existing buildings managed or assessed for water performance:
Percentage of existing buildings third party certified to a green building standard:
Points earned for indicator OP 2.1:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.