University of Louisiana at Lafayette
OP-4: Building Operations and Maintenance

The University has a well-established, multi-faceted energy efficiency program. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the University permanently altered operating hours to close early on Fridays in order to reduce energy consumption. The university utilizes a building automation system (BAS) to monitor and control Heating, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation (HVAC) equipment in buildings on campus. The system is a computerized, intelligent network of electronic devise.
The BAS keeps the building climate within a specified range, monitors system performance, device failures, and provides malfunction alarms via text notifications to the Facility Management AC shop. The BAS reduces building energy and maintenance costs by scheduling HVAC equipment to follow occupied and unoccupied temperature set points in all academic and administration buildings.

Throughout the year, the Office of Sustainability staff and Environmental Systems Manager coordinate closely with university administration to align the BAS system with campus operations. During semester breaks, the BAS is adjusted to reduce energy consumption. The Provost and Registrar assist with consolidating all summer and intercession classes to specific areas to maximize energy savings. During COVID-19 shutdowns, the Energy Management Team effectively reduced energy consumption by more than 40% from 2019, which was already a best performance year.

The University Building Design Standards require all new construction to be included in the existing Energy Management Control System Program.

Website for University Design Codes: https://facilities.louisiana.edu/sites/facilities/files/Design%20Standards%202015.pdf

The University contracts with ABM for our janitorial services. Through their ABM GreenCare program, they have switched to environmentally preferable green cleaning products to improve indoor air quality. Whenever possible ABM utilizes products that meet Green Seal, UL Environment (Ecologo, GreenGuard, or GreenGuard Gold), or USDA BioPreferred certification standards.

In addition to the green cleaning program managed by our custodial services, ABM also maintains a program to capture dirt and particulates entering the building at regularly used exterior entrances. In all buildings other than the Student Union, rollout mats are located at out building entrances. These mats are cleaned daily, shampooed regularly, and replaced often. In the Student Union, permanently installed grilles that allow for cleaning underneath, are located at every entry. The grates are removed and the pans are vacuumed frequently, or when needed during heavy traffic times.

In addition to our active operations and maintenance programs to improve indoor air quality, the University has a formal indoor air quality standard operating procedures for addressing areas of concern and scheduled routine inspection for maintaining optimal conditions, which is led by the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

Quarterly inspection program for all of the buildings on our campus: This regular inspection assigns the Departmental safety coordinators to formally inspect their assigned building quarterly, reporting any physical evidence of issues which may cause Indoor Air Quality problems, such as mildew, particulate accumulation from doors that will not close properly, leaks that lead to mold and other issues of the like. In addition to the quarterly inspections of buildings for potential problems, a work order/reporting can be sent at any time (24 hours a day) via email, online work order form, fax or phone call. After hours reports go directly to our emergency crew who is trained to take action after hours, on weekends and during holiday closure.

A safety and facilities team is assembled to investigate for a physical cause of the reporting. A solution is proposed between the group and action is taken. If that action is unsuccessful, our next step is to pull in the UL Facilities Engineers.

Physical sample testing is done if necessary to determine a spore are species of grown, which is sent off to a lab. If the team suspects an IAQ issue, air quality samples are taken and sent off to the same lab. Depending on the results of the lab samples, a corrective action plan is developed and implemented.

Sampling is done again after corrective action to ensure this corrective action has worked and eliminated this hazard and issue. Standard operating procedures are located in section 3.0 of the EHS policy.

The Environmental Health and Safety Office also leads the University's Asbestos Management Plan. This SOP is required when an asbestos inspection or sampling reveals the presence of asbestos containing material (ACM) in a building, and the ACM is in good condition. Although the plan may be appropriate for managing asbestos in place and assuring compliance with construction and exposure regulations, in some cases the plan is not enough, and abatement will be necessary. This plan will help identify, monitor, manage the Asbestos containing materials on campus in an effort to keep our employees and campus community safe.

The primary objective of this SOP is to control building occupant and employee exposure to asbestos. In addition, the procedures in this plan attempt to minimize any potential hazard posed by ACM or presumed ACM (PACM) during cleaning, maintenance, and general operation activities. This plan applies to employees, tenants, other building occupants, and contractors.

(https://safety.louisiana.edu/sites/safety/files/Sec03%20Building%20Safety%20Inspections%209th%20ed.pdf)
(https://safety.louisiana.edu/sites/safety/files/Sec09%20Industrial%20Safety%20Rules%20and%20Information%209th%20ed_1.pdf)
(https://safety.louisiana.edu/sites/safety/files/Confined%20Space%20SOP.pdf)
(https://safety.louisiana.edu/sites/safety/files/Asbestos%20Management%20Plan.pdf)

The Environmental, Health & Safety Office offers university employees, faculty and students effective online training courses, as well as hands-on training programs to effectively conduct there jobs in safely and confidently. These training programs are offered at no cost and are available at any time in the Cornerstone Learning Management System (LMS). Common courses taken by faculty, staff and students include:
Asbestos Awareness Training
Bloodborne Pathogens Training
Hazard Communication Safety Training
Confined Space Training
Workplace Safety Training
Chemical Spill Safety Training

Finally, in accordance with Act 211 of the 2013 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette intends to provide a tobacco-free environment for its faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Smoking and the use of all tobacco products is prohibited within all University buildings, facilities, campus grounds, University vehicles, and all property that is owned, operated, leased, occupied or controlled by the University, except in special situations defined in this document.

Any advertising, marketing, or promotion of tobacco products or tobacco-related companies is prohibited on a University campus, at University-sponsored events or through other University assets. Distribution of tobacco products is prohibited on a University campus or at University-sponsored events.

Littering a campus with the remains of tobacco- or smoking-related products is prohibited.
(https://safety.louisiana.edu/sites/safety/files/Tobacco%20Free%20Policy%20approved%20June%202014.pdf)