Ecological Design: Creating the Green Mountain Center for Sustainable Living

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Ecological Design Creating the Green Mountain
Center for Sustainable Living
Deirdre Huzzard, Environmental Studies with a
Concentration in Science Beth A. Sanderson,
Sustainable Community Development Heather
Polhemus, Environmental Economics with a
Concentration in Global Sustainability
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Statement of Project and Goals

• To create a conceptual design of a center for
  sustainable living to promote environmental
  ideals within a community of students
• To showcase methods with which groups of
  individuals can reduce their impact on the
  environment
• To utilize ecological design principles such as
  renewable energy technologies, alternative
  building techniques, responsible waste management
  and meeting green building standards

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Ecological Design is

• A methodology that reorients human activity in a
  way that is compatible with natural processes
• An alternative to conventional design that
  considers conservation, regeneration and
  stewardship
• A holistic approach to design that promotes
  healthy ecosystems and human communities

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• The problems that we have created cannot be
  solved at the level of thinking that created
  them.
• -Albert Einstein

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Our Design

• Renovation of South Hall
• Emphasis on reusing and recycling materials
• Remove unsuitable materials and replace with
  natural alternatives
• Replace windows with double paned, gas filled,
  high glazed, low emissivity models
• Super-insulate walls and attic

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Our Design Continued

• Increase passive solar qualities of the building
  and add thermal mass on south side
• Possibly remove non load-bearing walls to change
  floor plan
• Create communal cooking facility, dining area and
  food storage area
• Design living quarters for 20-25 students
• Build an addition onto the southeast side of
  house potentially utilizing alternative building
  techniques, such as straw bale or cob. The
  addition would include a small greenhouse, sun
  room, and gathering area/library

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Energy Components

• Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) fixed axis
  rooftop panels and a ground-mounted tracking
  array
• Compact fluorescent lighting
• Solar hot water heater
• Heat exchange ventilation system for optimum air
  quality
• Radiant floor heat
• Geothermal heat pump
• Masonry stove for radiant heating and bread
  baking
• Experimental renewable energy projects

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Water Systems and Nutrient Cycling

• Greywater recycling system
• Composting toilets
• Low-flow showerheads and sink faucets
• Rainwater catchment system
• Possible Living Machine
• Outdoor composting bins for kitchen waste
• Vermicomposting project

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Gardens/Greenhouse

• Landscaping with native plants
• Medicinal herb garden for educational and
  practical purposes
• Outdoor cold frames for season extension
• Sun room and greenhouse for passive solar gain
  and food production
• Construction of straw bale maintenance shed with
  living roof for garden tools

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Student Survey Results

• Question 1
• Do you feel that a sustainable living center is
  appropriate to the mission of the college?
• Question 2
• Do you feel that a sustainable living center
  would be a positive asset to G.M.C?

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Next Steps and Challenges

• Campus wide support
• Funding
• Incorporating our vision into the master plan
• Implementing our ideas into an architectural
  rendering of the project
• Continuous communication between student
  representatives, architects, administration and
  faculty
• Dedication to this project in the upcoming
  semesters
• Establishing a realistic time frame for the
  projects completion