Rice University as an Environmental System
A report prepared by the BAKE 302 class
Executive Summary
I. Learning Spaces
Rice University is committed to developing a learning and social environment that upholds past traditions, creates new traditions, and develops a "sense of place" in students. Both exterior and interior spaces are important influences on our environmental aesthetic. While the beautiful campus landscape fortifies these values, shortcomings are identified in two specific areas concerning interior space:
Problem Areas:
- classroom environment
- accessibility
Proposed Actions:
- Assess classroom functionality relative to student and faculty needs
- Develop a policy to ensure that classroom layout and design are conducive to the creation of optimal learning environments, and apply to future classroom construction and rennovation
- Implement a comprehensive system for effective classroom allocation according to specific course needs
- Relocate currently inaccessible services (e.g., Disabled Student Services, Health Services, and the Rice Counseling Center) into accessible locations and implement current and future plans regarding disability access
II. Playing Fields
As the number of buildings on campus increases, the amount of green space eventually diminishes. In face of this trend, preservation (and possible expansion) of playing fields is an important concern to the Rice community.
Problem Area:
- The number of playing fields on the Rice University campus barely meets current needs and should not be diminished
Proposed Actions:
- Light some or all of the existing fields to extend the hours of daily use
- Increase the overall number of fields by converting seldom used parking lots into playing fields
- Create new fields at off-campus locations
III. Rice Food Service
Provision of nutritious, flavorful meals for thousands of students each day can and should represent a balance between efficiency and environmental sustainability. With modest efforts, Food Services can augment the pedagogy of environmental education on campus while simultaneously contributing to efficiency and sustainability.
Problem Areas:
- Providing a more environmentally sustainable food service
- Need to reduce waste both "upstream" through purchasing decisions and "downstream" through waste reduction and recycling
Proposed Actions:
- Use local food sources wherever feasible
- Offer in-season produce to enhance "freshness" of meals
- Buy organic produce to minimize fertilizer/pesticide traces in food
- Replace paper cups with reusable plastic mugs to eliminate related waste
- Use cloth napkins, currently available at family style dinners, at all meals in lieu of paper ones
- In designing new colleges and rennovating old ones, provide adequate kitchen space to house milk machines and other technologies that lessen the environmental impact of operations
- Use self-contained, engineered (sealed, low maintenance, odor removing) compost facilities to recycle kitchen wastes
IV. Grounds Maintenance & Composting
Grounds maintenance at Rice is a vital part of the functioning of the campus system, requiring energy inputs to maintain the campus in the desired state. This introduces both internal and external environmental impacts to the campus system.
Problem Areas:
- Energy consumption/cost (fuel, labor, and materials)
- Impact from waste generation (leaves and wood), collection (leaf blowers), and disposal (transportation and landfill)
- Chemical Use pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers
- High material transport fuel, emissions, vehicle maintenance
- Homogeneity of campus
- Use of high maintenance plant species adds to environmental impact
Proposed Actions:
- Increase use native or other low-maintenance species for landscaping whenever possible
- Increase diversity of plants on campus, and particularly diversify the age spectrum of trees
- Utilize composting to increase internal recycling of organic material, reduce waste output, and minimize reliance on off-campus resources
- Create a "Naturalist Guide" to Rice to increase the awareness and appreciation of the natural aspects of campus
V. "Natural" Wet Areas
A number of areas on campus retain rainwater for long periods of time, thus creating problems for pedestrians as well as an unattractive landscape. Through research and surveys of the Rice community, particularly problematic "wet" areas have been identified.
Problem Areas:
- Inaccessibility in certain parking lots and sidewalks
- Water-covered sidewalks
- Areas without drains or with ineffective storm sewer drains.
- Insufficient stormwater detention capacity
- Stagnant water promotes breeding of mosquitos
Proposed Actions:
- Implement subtle land contouring to enhance drainage and/or water retention
- Add drainage channels where sidewalks cause water retention and flooding
- Lower and/or replace ineffective drains
- Block litter from drains using natural vegetation
- Create parking garage detention areas
- Create wildscaped retention ponds
- Regrade and resurface certain paved areas
- Raise sidewalks in flood-prone areas
Click "here" to return to full report...