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Whether designing a new building to green standards, or renovating existing buildings to become more efficient and eco-effective, green-building efforts can have a positive impact fiscally and environmentally for years to come.

New construction guidelines include an energy modeling process that helps with decisions regarding energy efficient building materials.

The Butler Hancock addition and renovation project, completed in 2010 was awarded Gold Certification by the US Green Buildings Council. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Local and regional materials are used when building and renovating.

Low VOC (volatile organic chemicals) used in finishes.

Materials are recycled during construction.

Building automation sets backs thermostats when building are not occupied.

Low Moisture Carpet Cleaning uses the SmartCare program by R.E. Whittaker Company, which extends carpet life cycles while being safe for the user, safe for the carpet and safe for the environment. Whittaker's program is based on superior, scientifically proven interim maintenance using low-moisture CRYSTAL DRY ® encapsulation technology and cylindrical brush pile-lifting agitation.

Buildings across campus are supplied with EcoSoft™ Green Seal™ universal towels and tissue. It’s 100 percent recycled and exceeds EPA guidelines for post-consumer wastepaper content. Tissue is Green Seal™ certified and contains up to 49 percent post-consumer wastepaper. Towels are Green Seal™ certified and contains up to 73 percent post-consumer wastepaper. Both are made with de-inking and bleaching processes free of chlorine and other harmful chemicals.

Â鶹´«Ã½ Custodial Services uses Spartan's Green Solutions, a line of environmentally preferred cleaning products that directly contribute to a cleaner, safer and healthier environment. They have no persistent, bioaccumulative, or toxic chemicals or ozone depleting compounds; no or low volatile organic compound content (VOC); no hazardous waste characteristics; and no phosphates or phosphonates, no carcinogens, mutagens or teratogens.