North campus goes green

During the day, occupants of one UNM Health Sciences Center building might not need to turn on the light after it is renovated.

A three-month renovation of a 50-year-old building at 915 Vassar will incorporate a "green," environmentally friendly design meant to be more cost and energy efficient.

"It is something we're starting to do, but we actually do not have a concrete example," said Mary Kenney, director of facility planning for north campus. "We've been focusing on large buildings when we need to introduce this concept on all of our remodeling."

Three years ago, Kenney initiated plans for the design and has since partnered with Sandia National Laboratories to implement it.

"It sets a benchmark for us on how we do construction and remodeling," she said.

The renovation will include installing recycled materials, rain gutters directed to retention ponds, skylights and interior sidelights, use of natural products, low-flow bathroom fixtures and a drought-tolerant landscape.

Kenney said this is one of the first initiatives at UNM that pushes sustainability.

She said when the issue was first looked at, it focused on bigger projects such as the UNM Hospital expansion, but they have tried to narrow it down.

"What we haven't done is apply the bread and butter to our everyday renovation projects," she said.

The target completion date is Oct. 1.

Rick Henrard, facilities planner, said the difficulty level rises when green renovations are done to existing buildings compared with building from the ground up.

"Even if it was not the whole building, I think it is a philosophy," Kenney said. "As we look at each renovation, we need to evaluate what we can do to enhance sustainability to be responsive to our environment."

Construction costs are estimated at $400,000.

Using energy-efficient and recycled materials increased costs, but Henrard said in reality it runs more efficiently, uses less electricity and is not as costly to maintain.

"If we can afford to spend that extra dollar, it is better for us in the long range even though it would cost us more at first," he said.

Facility planning has been working to add the same features to the education building and the Children's Hospital.

The Research Incubator Building at facility planning is already designed on sustainability principles, Kenney said.

"This has been going on for a while, and I think we've been getting better and more knowledgeable about what we've been learning," she said.

All leftover materials were to be recycled, but Henrard said only extra pieces of metal will be recycled.

"We were optimistic in thinking we can do that with this building," he said. "In the future we hope we can recycle any excess (materials)."

According to a news release, green buildings also show a higher level of employee productivity.

Neuropsychology, Information Solutions and Clinical Contracting will occupy the 3,200-square foot building when completed.