Executive Summary
The University is planning to construct two new residential colleges
in the next several years. This provides the University with a invaluable
opportunity to make a bold statement regarding the University's commitment
to becoming a sustainable campus. We have a beautiful campus, but
we have yet to embrace environmental design and construction as a high
priority in our campus planning. We have an opportunity with the
two new colleges to join other institutions of higher education in providing
leadership in working toward a sustainable future.
Environmental design and construction has several obvious advantages
that are bought with wise, although sometimes more costly, initial investment:
- reduced electrical usage
- reduced heating and cooling loads
- reduced water usage
- reduced waste disposal
In parallel
to these engineering/economic advantages there are educational values that
are of equal if not greater value especially since education is the highest
priority of our University. Lecturing on the importance of our stewardship
of the environment on a campus that does not practice sustainability is
counterproductive. In contrast, building a residential college for
students that embodies responsible, state-of-the art, environmental design
and construction forges an indelible message of the importance of sustainable
living. All Rice community members and the University's friends involved
with a campus with a demonstrable commitment to developing sustainable
living become participants in the process of living and working in a sustainable
manner.
If we do it right these buildings can become learning tools to our campus,
to Houston, to the world.
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