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The Finger Lakes Institute Building
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Our Green Building |
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In an age when oil, gas and coal have proven to be finite, exhaustible resources, it is time to take a green initiative toward economic development and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The Finger Lakes Institute and Hobart and William Smith Colleges have declared a commitment to the environment and make an effort to generate awareness of alternative energy sources by incorporating wind, solar and geothermal energies into the infrastructure of the FLI building design. As a demonstration of alternative energy use, this Web page provides an introduction to how wind, solar and geothermal energy mechanisms can be efficient, environmentally-sensitive, comfortable and economical.
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Our Low Flow ToiletsAccording to the American Water Works Association, toilets installed prior to 1994 use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush and as much as 20 gallons per person per day. With an efficient ultra low-flow 1.6 gallon toilet, one person can save up to 7,000 gallons of water per year! At the average cost of water in Geneva, N.Y., a family of four can save up to 28,000 gallons of water and over $181 per year on toilet use alone! The Finger Lakes Institute has installed two ultra low-flow 1.6 gallon water saving toilets. Not only will low-flow toilets save water and money, they will also lower the demand for larger wastewater treatment plant capacity. |
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Our Recycling Program |
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Our Lighting |
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The Icynene Insulation System, installed within the walls, ceiling and floors, reduces heat flow by 92.2% and controls air leakage so that building heating efficiency increases by 30-50%. In addition to its effectiveness, use of Icynene foam improves air quality by eliminating the penetration of dust, allergens and pollutants and controlling humidity, thereby reducing mold and mildew. As well as performing as an insulator, Icynene has a significant effect on reducing air borne sound entering from busy streets, loud entertainment rooms and busy classrooms. Besides having a low waste volume, Icynene is 100% water-blown and contains no harmful chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The USGS defines VOCs as compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. |
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As a visitor enters the Finger Lakes Institute building, one can see the original 1860 stained-glass window valances above each window. Porthole windows are located along the stairwell and basement mudroom. Energy performance ratings for each Marvin window are .30 U-Factor (U.S./I-P), .27 Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and .44 Visible Transmittance. Marvin windows are recyclable if disassembled, reusable and reparable. Marvin Window and Doors produces products composed of recycled materials. Glass used by Marvin is composed of 15 to 33 percent crushed scrap glass. The rolled aluminum used is made from over 98 percent recycled materials and less than 2 percent virgin material. Approximately 6,000 tons of packaging and logging wood waste are recycled annually to fuel the plant’s boiler, which heats the Marvin manufacturing plant. Marvin recycles over 5,000 tons of material annually which includes an estimated 6,000 pounds of office paper, 350 tons of aluminum, 22 tons of scrap metal and more! The FLI compliments companies that make similar commitments to resource and energy conservation. |
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Electricity, generated by wind and solar energy, power the mini-tank hot water heaters. The mini-tank hot water heaters save water, energy, space and time. Each unit functions with immediate water supply between the temperatures of 65-145 degrees Fahrenheit with 110 volts, 1500 watt heating capacity, and 150 psi. Instead of heating and reheating a large 40-100 gallon central hot water tank, the small 2.5 gallon on-demand system provides hot water immediately after the hot water tap is opened. An electric heating module within the tank heats 2.5 gallons of water and supplies it to the user on demand. Hot water will flow until the 2.5 gallons are used up and then take approximately 20 minutes to recover additional hot water. The Ariston 2.5 gallon mini-tank electric water heater is a point-of-use water heater, meant to be used as a booster to a traditional water tank or as a hot water source to RVs, lake cottages, kitchenettes, and boats. It is perfect for the Finger Lakes Institute building because water is used in small amounts at one time. |
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The
Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1992 Act promotes an increase
in the generation and utilization of electricity from renewable
energy sources and furthers the advances of renewable energy technologies.
In September 2002, state Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette)
secured $1 million in startup money to develop the Finger Lakes
Institute (FLI) into a green facility relying solely on renewable
energy. Working with a budget and the existing framework of a building
built in the 1800s, Hobart and William Smith Colleges students researched,
developed, and designed potential energy options to exist in the
framework of the house at 601 S. Main St. in Geneva, NY. In the
Fall of 2003 it was decided to incorporate geothermal, solar and
wind energy sources into the Finger Lakes Institute building design.
There are a number of other components of the building interior
and exterior that make it earth friendly, such as choice of building
material, furniture, landscaping and office equipment. 
For
centuries, wind power has been used to grind grain, pump water
and generate electricity without introducing harmful by-products
into the natural environment. Eighty percent of the electricity
used by the Finger Lakes Institute – from providing light
to running office equipment – is generated by wind energy. The green
power source is a wind farm in Fenner, NY (Madison
County). Construction of the Fenner Wind Power Facility was
completed in 2001 and currently uses 20 GE Wind Energy 1.5
MW wind turbines to generate 89 million kilowatt hours of
power to the New York state electricity market. The turbines
have blades that “lift” as wind passes over them.
As the blades begin to spin, mechanical energy is produced
that then drives an electrical generator creating power.
Renewable energy, such as wind, has minimal effects to the
environment compared to coal burning and nuclear energy. According
to the EPA, every 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity generated
by wind turbine offsets the equivalent of 1,100 to 2,200 pounds
of carbon dioxide. As wind energy installations increase across
the country it is expected that its use will become more popular. 
The
Finger Lakes Institute interior temperature is regulated by
a geothermal heating and cooling system, also known as a “geoexchange
system.” Geothermal heating and cooling systems work
by moving heat, rather than by converting chemical energy
to heat like in a furnace. A combination of 20 wells, drilled
to the depth of 100 feet, were installed to use the earth’s
constant temperature, 55 degrees Celsius, as a heat source
or heat sink, depending on the season. The heat pump system
for the Finger Lakes Institute consists of 6 units located
throughout the building. These pumps use electricity to move
heat from the geothermal source, to the surface. This process
produces less environmental harm and provides more efficient
energy use.The EPA has concluded that the geothermal heating
and cooling system is the most favorable technology to use
in terms of operating efficiency and economics. Although geothermal
heat pumps cost more to install than conventional space conditioning
systems, the additional investment can be recovered in three to five
years through lowered heating and cooling bills and minimum
maintenance expenses. 
Research indicates that a typical household wastes
between 8,000 and 10,000 gallons of water per year waiting for it
to warm up. In the FLI building, electricity, generated by wind
and solar energy, power the min-tank hot water heaters. In each
of three bathrooms and a kitchenette, an on-demand mini-tank hot water heater
has been installed to save water, energy, space and time. Instead
of heating and reheating a large water tank, the small 2.5 gallon
point-of-use system provides hot water immediately after the hot
water tap is opened. An electric heating module heats 2.5 gallons
of water as it passes through the heat exchanger rather than coming
from a central storage water tank. Hot water is supplied until it
runs out. The recovery of hot water takes approximately 20 minutes.
This on-demand system saves the energy and time a traditional central
40 gallon hot water tank would otherwise use to heat, reheat and
supply hot water. There is no water wasted down the drain while
waiting for hot water. Energy is saved by eliminating the long runs
of pipe and the need to heat an entire water storage tank.
he
HWS Buildings and Grounds crew maintains the Finger Lakes Institute
property. Multiple efforts are taken campus-wide to conserve water,
prevent runoff erosion, stabilize lakeshore property, and limit
fertilizer and control product use while creating an aesthetically
pleasing, natural environment. The FLI is a supporter of preserving
campus beauty without compromising the natural environment. A conscious
effort is made toward soil and water conservation. Precipitation
and irrigation supply water to the soil. Evaporation returns water,
in a gaseous form, to the atmosphere. In appreciation of the natural
water cycle, the FLI supports landscaping techniques that conserve
water by retaining moisture and reducing irrigation. Bark mulch,
used around plantings to ensure moisture retention, requires watering
less often. By using highly decomposed mulch, nitrogen is retained
in the soil, thereby avoiding the need to apply supplemental fertilizers.
The type of turf grass grown on the FLI grounds has a low water
demand for survival and is planted in a high density growth pattern
to avoid weed growth. This choice of turf avoids the need to use
control products for disease and insect suppression. Once the FLI
turf grass was established with extensive root growth, watering
was no longer needed.To minimize organic yard waste, HWS uses lawn
mowers that recycle grass clippings to the size of sawdust as they mow. The clippings remain on the ground to provide insulation
for retaining soil moisture and cool temperatures. Leaves and grass
clippings that are 4 inches or more in length are collected and
placed in a compost area on campus.
565,207 tons per acre of sediment are estimated to enter
Seneca Lake by erosion of agricultural lands each year causing
poor water quality, increase turbidity, and accelerated nutrient
inputs. In recognition of the impacts of shoreline development,
the Finger Lakes Institute has chosen not to alter the properties
shoreline of Seneca Lake. The large trees and ground cover
that exists stabilize the soils along the steep bank, absorbing
nutrients that would otherwise enter the lake, and slows the
flow of water runoff, often carrying silt and nutrients downslope.
Other efforts to conserve soil include planting dense turf
that holds the soil together to prevent runoff. Fertilizers
that may be used initially to establish root growth are designed
as plastic coated pellets that reluctantly break down and
slowly release nutrients to the soil. This slow release product
allows one application to act efficiently and long lasting,
thereby avoiding damage to soil composition.
Blue bins, scattered throughout the FLI building, are depositories
for paper, corrugated cardboard, plastics, aluminum cans and batteries.
The Hobart and William Smith Colleges Department of Building and
Grounds separates the recyclables in preparation for transport to
the local recycling station. Battery recycling depositories
are in 105 Lansing Hall. The FLI encourages recycling
and the use of products made from recycled material. One example
is the use of recyclable printer paper and printer cartridges. Printer
cartridges are recycled at the HWS computer centers.
The back deck of the Finger Lakes Institute was built with environmentally
friendly materials. The material on the floor of the deck is an
artificial decking material made from recycled and reclaimed wood
and plastic products, primarily with recycled plastic grocery bags,
reclaimed pallet wrap and waste wood. The durable and synthetic
deck contains no toxic chemicals or preservatives.
Special attention was given to selecting the items used to furnish
the Finger Lakes Institute building. For example, recycled oak wine
barrel staves, which came from the Finger Lakes region, were used
to create a seat for the bench in the reception area. The remaining
furniture, which furnished the majority of the building, was chosen
specifically because of efforts by its makers, KI, to
use manufacturing methods that emphasize pollution prevention, including
waste minimization, recycling and the use of alternative, non-hazardous
materials. The FLI chose particular office furniture that contains
up to 100% recycled fabric, plastic and steel components. Of the
many environmental programs KI has, the use of a water-based glue
drastically reduced KI volatile organic compound and hazardous
air pollutants emissions. By increasing the use of recycled
water, KI saves more than 40,820,000 gallons per year. The company
also employs a recycling program that includes paper products, aluminum,
steel, bi-metal cans, cardboard, wood pallets, plastic purgings,
foam and fabrics. 
In terms of reducing electrical energy use, motion
detector lights were installed to function only when a room is in
use. Unfortunately, incandescent light bulbs are not very efficient
-- only about 10% of the energy used by the bulb creates light;
the rest is given off as heat. For this reason, the FLI building
is lit with Energy Star certified fluorescent bulbs. 
In just one year, Energy Star qualified home office
equipment significantly reduced the demand for energy - enough to
prevent the release of 19 billion pounds of greenhouse gases into
the atmosphere. As a commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions,
the Institute purchased Energy Star certified office equipment to
function on a sleep mode when not in use. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency Energy Star Program, each Energy Star qualified
computer in sleep mode consumes about 80% less electricity than
it does in full-power mode. Employees of the Institute make an
extended effort to turn off computers, printers and fax machines
during evenings and weekends.
The six thermostats located throughout the building
are Energy Star programmable and can be set for daily
scheduled use, so the system does not run while the building
is not in use. The thermostats store four or more temperature
settings a day, adjust heating or air conditioning turn-on times
as the outside temperature changes and save and repeat multiple
daily settings. Options like these allow the Institute to reduce
global warming and promote cleaner air.
Windows
in the Finger Lakes Institute Building are rated, certified, and
labeled as Energy Star products for their U-factor (heat loss) and
solar heat gain coefficient (heat gain from sunlight). Each Marvin
window is made of insulating glass plus a low emissivity layer that
keeps heat in the building in cold months and reflects warmth out
in summer months. 
The
FLI installed three Ariston point-of-use heating units to save the
energy and time a traditional central water tank would otherwise
use to heat, reheat, and supply hot water. Energy is saved by eliminating
the long runs of pipe and the need to heat an entire water storage
tank.