Goin' Green
Some of Moseley Architects' exciting collegiate projects that are pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification include:
  • Blue Ridge Community College, Information Technology Center, Weyers Cave, Virginia

  • James Madison University, CISAT Campus Dining Hall, Harrisonburg, Virginia

  • Longwood University, Bedford Hall Visual Arts Add./Renov., Farmville, Virginia

  • Norfolk State University, Brooks Library, Norfolk, Virginia

  • Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas Campus Academic Building Phase III, Manassas, Virginia

  • Richard Bland College, Science & Technology Building, Petersburg, Virginia

  • Virginia Commonwealth University, MCV Student Recreation Center Add./Renov., Richmond, Virginia

  • Virginia Tech, Henderson Hall Renovation & Black Box Addition, Blacksburg, Virginia





College Sustainability Report Card 2009 Released
The Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI) has released its ranking of the 300 North American colleges and universities with the largest endowments according to their commitment to sustainability. The College Sustainability Report Card 2009 determines how sustainable colleges and universities are and assigns them a grade in nine categories: administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green building, student involvement, transportation, endowment transparency, investment priorities, and shareholder engagement. First released in 2007, the Report Card also shows how colleges and universities have improved over the last two years in terms of sustainability.

This year, the SEI has also launched an interactive website to accompany their report. A great tool for students, parents, and administrators alike, this Web site allows users to search and compare schools in the database to see how particular schools rank. Users can also filter results to find schools with particular features, including a recycling program, green building policy, green dorm or house, and alternative transportation options.

For more information or to see how your favorite school ranks, visit www.greenreportcard.org.
W&M Making Progress with Third LEED Building
The cupola was recently placed atop Alan B. Miller Hall, the new home of the Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary, and while the project has a way to go before it’s completed, it is already a symbol of the progress being made on the College of William and Mary campus in terms of sustainability. Miller Hall will be the third LEED project on the campus, but only the first to pursue a Silver LEED rating.
Representing a synthesis of the past and the present, Miller Hall honors the architectural tradition of the College’s “Old Campus” while presenting a polished example of green design and construction in higher education. Composed of three wings surrounding an east-facing courtyard, the facility will evoke the feeling of the College’s historic Wren Building while minimizing the impact of development on the surrounding College woods. The energy and water-efficient three-story facility will house classrooms, common areas, faculty and program support offices, meeting rooms, and research centers to better meet the needs of the College’s expanding business program.
High performance and sustainable strategies incorporated into the design and construction of Miller Hall include:
  • Locating the building site on an existing parking lot, which was demolished.
  • Restoring over 71 percent of the site with native trees and plants.
  • Preserving an area of land equal to the building footprint.
  • Identifying and protecting mature trees on the site.
  • Designing custom light fixtures to be full cutoff to prevent light pollution.
  • Locating the facility near two bust stops on the Williamsburg Area Transport Green and Gold routes.
  • Using Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood doors, floors, and wood for the completed walking bridge.
  • Collecting rainwater in a cistern on the site to be used for irrigation.
  • Installing dual-flush water closets, low-flow urinals, and ultra low-flow lavatories for a water use reduction of approximately 32 percent.
  • Reducing energy consumption by approximately 23 percent as a result of installing efficient HVAC equipment and making improvements to the building envelope including exterior wall construction with a U-value of 0.061 and double-coated low-e glazing.
  • Providing offices and multi-occupant spaces with lighting controls, including dimmer switches and occupancy sensors to light the building more efficiently.
  • Monitoring carbon dioxide levels using sensors, which allows for demand-controlled ventilation and improved air quality.
  • Outfitting offices with temperature controls and operable windows for greater occupant comfort.
  • Utilizing low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, and composite wood materials to prevent potentially harmful chemical emissions.
  • Employing materials with pre- and post-consumer recycled content that are manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
  • Providing preferred parking spaces in an adjacent parking lot for low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles.
For more information regarding the Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary, please contact George Nasis at 757.368.2800.
Green Tips - Green Your Holidays
With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s time to think about how you are going to celebrate this year. Holidays usually come with a large amount waste: plastic Halloween masks are worn once and then discarded; food travels thousands of miles to reach your table for Thanksgiving; and Christmas trees end up in landfills. The holidays are a time to have fun and enjoy being with friends and family, but they don’t have to increase your environmental footprint. Here are some things you can do to green your holidays.

Fall Holidays
  • Rather than purchase a new costume, sift through thrift store finds and create your own costume. You can also check eBay – chances are, it’s only been worn once!
  • Buy an organically grown pumpkin for carving.
  • Don’t toss those pumpkin seeds. Compost them or, better yet, use them in seasonal recipes, like pumpkin pie or toast them for a healthy snack.
  • Carry a reusable bag for trick-or-treating instead of a plastic container.
  • Hand out candy made with organic or fair trade ingredients.
  • Buy locally grown and/or organic produce rather than canned goods.
  • Go for all natural turkey, raised on a vegetarian diet without hormones and antibiotics. If you’re feeling adventurous, go meatless and try another dish as a substitution.
  • Don’t waste money on decorations that will just be thrown away. Use nature as your decorator! Gourds, leaves, or pumpkins can be composted after use. You can also use construction paper and recycle when you’re finished.
  • Bring plenty of reusable bags to the store when going grocery shopping for your Thanksgiving meal.
Winter Holidays
  • Take your Christmas tree to be ground up for mulch rather than putting it in the trash. Visit www.earth911.org to find a place that will take your tree.
  • Buy a living tree that can be planted after Christmas.
  • If you’re in need of new lights, invest in LED lights, which are much more efficient than traditional lights. Go one step further and decorate your tree with natural and biodegradable materials such as dried berries and popcorn.
  • Wrap presents in newspaper, magazine pages, or recycled paper instead of new wrapping paper. Another option is to use containers such as boxes and baskets that gift recipients can reuse.
  • Send cards made from recycled paper.
  • Use soy or beeswax candles, which burn cleaner than candles made from paraffin wax.
  • Always carry reusable shopping bags with you. They’re not just for grocery shopping and cut way down on plastic bag use!
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