See what makes this GreenSpot green

Columbia Gas of Ohio HQ_2See two kinds of green at July 15’s Environmental Professionals Network breakfast program: The new LEED-certified Columbia Gas and NiSource Gas Distribution headquarters building in downtown Columbus, shown here, which is part of the city’s GreenSpot sustainability initiative; and, while looking down from that spot, the Columbus Clippers’ ballpark. Details and a link to sign up to be there. (Photo: Cleveland Construction, Inc.)

Speakers to look at LEED, new Sustainable Sites Initiative

Ohio 4H Center for GBThe LEED green building program and a similar new program for sustainable landscapes, called SITES, are the focus of the next monthly breakfast program of the Environmental Professionals Network (EPN). Read the press release. Download the flier (pdf). Register here. The event takes place at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau Center, shown here, the first LEED-certified building at Ohio State. EPN is a service of CFAES’s School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Student team: New Ohio State buildings should have green roofs

artists image of green roofs near ohio stadiumOhio State President E. Gordon Gee has expressed interest in the university becoming the most sustainable campus in the U.S. in five years. Ohio State has implemented several sustainability efforts but is yet to implement a green roof policy. Green roofs are able to further advance sustainability efforts through reduced energy costs for buildings; improved air quality by absorbing carbon, nitrogen, and other pollutants; and can reduce stormwater runoff by as much as 70 percent.

In addition to contributing to sustainability efforts, green roofs can also help utilize existing space for academic purposes through research opportunities. Other U.S. universities have implemented green roof policies in order to expand their academic horizons. Studies have found that the present value of the net benefits of a green roof, which include reduced stormwater runoff and lower electricity costs, can be up to 20-25 percent higher than a conventional roof (source here; pdf).

Our policy recommendation is that every time a new building is built on campus, it should be built so it can support a green roof. Also, whenever a roof is scheduled to be replaced and is a good candidate for a green roof, it should be replaced with one.

Through the One Ohio State Framework plan, the university has an opportunity to implement a green roof policy and join the network of green roof institutions across the nation, several of which (such as Michigan State) are Big 10 schools.

(Image: Artist’s depiction of green roofs on buildings near Ohio Stadium on Ohio State’s campus from a report titled “The Ohio State University Framework Plan.”)

‘Biophilic Design’ to screen Jan. 17 at Ohio State: Kellert to give seminar, lead student ‘design charrette’

Yale’s Stephen Kellert, executive producer of “Biophilic Design,” which has a free screening in Wooster on Jan. 16, will present “Birthright: People and Nature in the Modern World” on Jan. 17 at Ohio State, part of the School of Environment and Natural Resources’ seminar series.

Later that day, “Biophilic Design” gets another screening, this time in Ohio State’s Drake Union. Then Ohio State students will present their proposals for restoring the Olentangy River corridor in a design charrette including Kellert, local design experts, and Ohio State administrators. The screening is open to the public, the design charrette only to registered participants.

Get times, locations, and other details here (scroll down).

Walk this way: ‘Biophilic Design’ screening moved, videocast site added

direction sign for GB

There’s been a location change for the “Biophilic Design” film screening on Jan. 16 in Wooster, from OARDC to the Lean Lecture Room, Wishart Hall, 303 E. University St., at the College of Wooster. And a videocast site has been added as well: in Room 103, Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, on our campus in Columbus. Click here for details and a link to a map.

Watch: ‘Creating good habitat for people’

biophilic design trailerHere’s the trailer for “Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life” (video, 2:45; click the arrow to play), which has a free screening in Wooster (with a videolink to Columbus) on Jan. 16. Details. All are welcome. Also: The film’s website.

Previous posts about the screening here, here, here, and here.