Building 7: Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
Oberlin College likes to practice what it preaches. To reflect what students learn inside, the construction of the school's environmental studies building has focused on reducing environmental impact. Located in Oberlin, Ohio, the building, funded by private donations, implements several green building techniques to keep this large structure energy-efficient and yet comfortable.
For example, to minimize water consumption, the Lewis Center employs a water treatment system it named "The Living Machine." As the system takes in wastewater, the machine treats and purifies the water so that it can be reused for toilets.
The photovoltaic (PV) system on the building's roof also works to reduce environmental impact. Using the sunlight, this system provides a significant amount of the energy for the building, which reduces its reliance on coal-fired power plants. Whenever this system provides more energy than the building needs, the local power company purchases the gratuitous electricity. Sensors that detect sunlight and movement regulate lights, so to avoid unnecessary use.
As with the Factor 10 House, appropriately positioned windows help the building take significant advantage of the daylight. Geothermal wells also help to heat and cool the building.
When possible, the construction utilized scrap materials from the rest of the campus. For example, an old bowling lane is now a table in the Lewis Center.
The students and faculty also strive to use surrounding land in the most environmentally conscientious ways as well. Part of their mission included creating a nearby wetland to help reverse the effect of human elimination on wetlands in Ohio. Wetlands are swampy areas that organizations like the EPA seek to protect because they provide habitats for wildlife and can even improve water quality by grabbing the nasty ingredients out of runoff before it becomes drinking water. Also, fruit orchards on the Lewis Center land provide produce.
On the next page of this article, we'll learn about a house that lets in so much sunlight during the day that artificial light is pointless.
