Archived Sustainability Spotlights
Gene Matthews, Director of Facilities Services
2006 Champion of Sustainability: Next Generation Energy
One building, one conversation, one mind, and one day at a time, Gene Matthews effects positive change at Case Western Reserve University. Almost 10 years ago, Gene Matthews came to Case from Oberlin College to accept the position of Director of Facilities Services. Since his arrival, Matthews’ leadership has emphasized high performing campus buildings- whether that has been through renovations and upgrades in existing buildings or in construction projects of new buildings. It is this consistent track record of steady improvements to Case’s campus that won this year’s award from
Entrepreneurs 4 Sustainability
Most relevant to the “next generation energy” category of the award, Matthews and his team in the Facilities Services division at Case have been conducting hundreds of projects involving the exterior of buildings (building envelopes), windows, roofs, lighting, and all aspects of our mechanical systems. Through each of these projects and over time, Matthews has been educating the campus about the importance of energy and the relevance of daily choices, “It’s changing light bulbs and behaviors!” he’s often heard saying.
An example of one of Case’s successful retrofits, is last year’s de-lamping project in Kelvin Smith Library. Because KSL is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the building consumed a lot of energy, a quarter of it going directly to lighting. The KSL project included the installation of motion and daylight sensors, and a reduction of 1500 lamps where brightness was not effected. These common sense applications
resulted in a 30% reduction in the building’s energy consumption!
To kick off our
Sustainability Spotlight series, we are featuring the Squire Valleevue and Valley Ridge Farm campus. The Farm, owned by Case, is located in Hunting Valley, Ohio, comprise a 389 acre property rich with deciduous forests, ravines, waterfalls, meadows, ponds, and a self-contained natural watershed. In addition to the natural features of the satellite campus, the Farm includes several historic facilities, which have been renovated for research, educational, and recreational purposes.
Although busy with upkeep of the facilities and supporting the many research and visitor activities, the Farm staff have been implementing a variety of "triple bottom line" sustainability principles, promoting the environment, reducing operating costs, and educating their community.
Many of the recent improvements have been aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of the facilities located on the farm. More than forty old single paneled windows have been replaced with much more efficient models. The greenhouse has also been made more "green" by replacing old glass with new high energy efficient greenhouse glass.
Other efforts to make the area more ecology friendly include rain water harvesting to supply water to the greenhouse and the possibility of a geothermal system for the greenhouse is currently being explored.
All aspects of daily and seasonal work at the Farm are being reviewed to identify ways of reducing its environmental impact and support the local ecosystem. For example, the mowing cycle has been changed to an annual cycle in eighty percent of the open field areas to promote bio-diversity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The
Squire Valleevue and Valley Ridge Farms deserve major kudos for demonstrating how easily sustainability principles can fit into an organization's daily operations, promoting cost savings, community enrichment, and stewardship of natural assets. How can you incorporate the triple bottom line in your life? Get suggestions for your home, office, transportation, recycling, and food choices. See
Sustainability FAQ and
Further Resources.
