Green Renovation

Over the past few years, the Law School has undertaken several renovation projects, including conversion of open space in the attic to library archive space, conversion of the former library archive space (Room 358) to offices and a conference room, renovation of the student lounge and renovation of the bathrooms on the first floor.   The Law School has incorporated environmental considerations into all aspects of the planning process and implementation of the renovation and has attempted to minimize the environmental impacts of the renovation.  Below is a listing of the various “green” features of the renovation projects.

Water Usage: When the bathrooms on the first floor were renovated, the flush valves on the toilets were replaced with dual flush valves, which provide for a reduction in water use.                   

Energy Usage: When the new offices were constructed on the third floor, motion sensors were installed on the light switches, so that the lights will automatically be turned off when not in use.  The light switches in the bathrooms already are equipped with motion sensors. 

Re-use and recycling:

(1) Attic renovation: Prior to renovating the attic, a significant amount of old furniture and equipment (blackboards, etc.) that had been stored in the attic was either given to other units of the university or donated to Goodwill. 

(2) Metal shelving recycling: Hundreds of pounds of metal shelving that had been stored in the attic or were removed from the old library archive space was recycled at Macon Iron.

(3) Cardboard recycling: The cardboard packaging for furniture and other new equipment was recycled as part of a program that the Law School instituted last year to recycle all cardboard generated by the Law School to complement the white paper recycling that has been conducted at the Law School for years.

(4) Plastics recycling: Although an outdoor storage bin that was previously used to store plastic bottles collected at the Law School for recycling was removed as part of the renovation process, the Law School continues to collect, store and recycle plastic and aluminum bottles and cans generated at the Law School.  As part of the renovation process, the Law School is arranging to have the recyclable materials collected by Macon Iron periodically from the Law School.  In the past, the Environmental Law Society periodically transported the recyclables to Macon Iron. 

Other:

(1) Materials: Low VOC paints were used throughout the renovation process.  Bamboo flooring was used in the television lounge area of the student lounge instead of hardwood flooring.  In addition, the teak benches that were installed at the entry to the Law School last year were manufactured by a company that uses teak that is certified as sustainably harvested. 

(2) Asbestos remediation: Asbestos floor tiles were removed from the old library archive space (Room 358) and the student lounge.