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CSI's HSHS Building is LEED Gold certified

Health Sciences and Human Services Building

     Learn more about the offices & services in the HSHS Building

Green Features

Windows

Look any direction in the HSHS building and you see windows in abundant supply. Windows present a transparency in the learning environment, but serve another purpose as well that of daylighting. The idea behind daylighting is to enable natural light to reach as much of the buildings interior as possible so less fixture lighting and power consumption is needed.

Dedicated Fresh Air CO2 Sensors

Most commercial mechanical HVAC systems heat and cool the air supply, mixing in a little fresh air as dictated by code, and blow it in through a common duct. Our HSHS HVAC system has a dedicated fresh air duct reaching throughout the building that is equipped with CO2 sensors. These sensors direct the high tech air handlers on how much fresh air is needed to keep the building full of conditioned fresh air. A learning and working environment is better when plenty of fresh air is available to students, faculty and staff.

Motion Detection

This is a very important piece of equipment in most rooms of the HSHS building. The gizmo on the wall that looks a bit like the Starship Enterprise, spends its day looking for motion and listening for noise in the room. One half hour after motion and sound ceases in the area, the motion detector shuts off the lights and any room plug ins that are wired to them. It also shuts down or starts up the local HVAC supply system.

Staged Lighting

Rooms that are along the outside walls of the building contain daylight sensors. They are a relatively flat flying saucer like thing that reads the natural light coming into the room from the sun. This sensor then directs the dimmer control, telling the florescent lighting fixtures how much light to produce in the room. It is to be at the 50 foot candle per square foot level. On top of this, lighting being on or off is dictated by motion detection.

Power Cutoff

Most plug ins located throughout the building are wired to the motion detection feature. Any plug in with a black socket is 24/7 and have an isolated ground, preferable for computers. Others with a black dot on them, are 24/7, without isolated ground. All white plugs and trim plates are on motion detection.

Recycling

Ongoing effort with three recycling stations located in the building. This is an important aspect of the HSHS building both from an ongoing effort to recycle materials as we hold classes and work in this building, as well as utilizing materials with recycled content in them for its construction.

Construction Materials Used

Linoleum Tiles

Linseed oil, rosin from pine trees, cork (rapidly renewable) and wood flour plus limestone and jute make up our floor tiles in some labs/classrooms. The linseed oil is considered rapidly renewable. The linoleum material is low emitting, so it adds to indoor air quality as well. This product also contains some recycled content.

Bamboo Tiles/Wall Panels

Bamboo is considered rapidly renewable due to its quick regeneration after harvesting. The plant itself also survives the harvest of the individual poles of bamboo, and lives to produce again. It is the thin exterior veneer peeled away from the bamboo poles that are converted to the interior wall applications in the commons, as well as the acoustic ceiling tiles outside of the entrances to our beautiful lecture halls. This veneer coupled with wood product composite backing featuring recycled content, make up each individual panel you see in these areas. They add to indoor air quality by not having any urea-formaldehyde adhesives in their formulation.

Fly Ash

This material is a waste product from coal fired plants that was used to strengthen our concrete throughout the building.

All Steel used in the building

All have recycled content from 19% TO 99%.

Carpet

Our carpet squares contain up to 50% recycled content.

Terrazzo Countertops

Countertops in the recycling areas and restrooms contain 80% recycled content.

Forest Stewardship Council Certified Wood

70% of the wood products used are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This means they were farmed, harvested and transported in a responsible manner.

Rubber Wall Base

Recycled content

Insulation

Up to 40% recycled content

Drywall panels

Feature recycled paper.

Construction Waste Management

Construction projects generally send most waste to the landfill. Our total waste was over 527 tons. 411.54 tons (78.01% of all waste) was recycled or diverted from the landfill, while 116 tons went to the landfill (21.9%) The 411.54 tons that were recycled or diverted breakdown as follows: (30 plus tons of metal, 23 plus tons of wood, 5.81 tons of cardboard, and 352.1 tons of concrete and masonry were used for base and fill)

Geothermal Heating

Geothermal hot water has been used extensively throughout the CSI campus for heating our buildings. Our geothermal “waste water” is intercepted near the HSHS building and brought back up to comfort temperature with water to water heat pumps for use in this building.