Arizona Western College
AWC Science and Agriculture Building Campus Category
Community colleges and other two-year institutions
Contact Information
Joann Linville
Vice President for Learning Services
Administration
Education and Research
Arizona Western College (AWC) along with its partner institution, Northern Arizona University Yuma Branch Campus has developed one of the strongest Environmental Science programs in the state of Arizona. Faculty from both institutions work closely to provide a quality educational program that allows students to complete this “2+2” program by completing the A.S. degree in Environmental Sciences at AWC and then seamlessly complete coursework for the B. S. degree in Environmental Science with NAU through shared facilities on the Yuma campus. The emphasis for the program is to prepare students for careers in environmental consulting, natural resource management, science education, or further graduate education.
Faculty from both programs have been successful in receiving grant funds for research and education through National Science Foundation and other grant projects. During the 08-09 academic year grant projects included monitoring environmental fuels data for BLM, developing and beta testing lab modules for solar radiation and fuel cells, restoration of trees for West Wetlands habitat, and a project for the Cocopah North Reservation Restoration area to promote native plant and tree species, improve water quality and control erosion. These projects provide opportunity for faculty to continue environmental research and provide invaluable opportunities for students to participate in sustainability projects.
During the 08-09 academic year, AWC conducted its 2nd annual Sustainability Fair which was an event highlighting campus educational and community technology resources to promote a sustainable environment. Over 200 local elementary and middle school students attended the fair as well as participation from campus students and the community.
An 08-09 College-wide Objective approved by the AWC District Governing Board was to “Develop a model to partner with segments of the power industry to educate students in engineering subjects in the area of solar power, wind power, geothermal power, biodiesel and other “green energy” sources and techniques.” Board leadership in this endeavor resulted in development of a model for solar energy curricula and programs that will begin to be implemented in 09-10.
Campus-wide recycling projects, development of a recycling task force, and student sustainability projects through club activities are all part of the Colleges' commitment to sustainability. This commitment has been further articulated in a 09-10 College-wide Objective to “Develop a district-wide waste reduction plan which reduces waste production at its source, improves document efficiency, incorporates recycling programs, and implements best practices for reducing disposal and resource costs.”
Campus Operations
With the passage of a district wide construction bond in November of 2004, one of the first items to be discussed was the issue of sustainability and the use of “green” materials in the seven new buildings and/or complexes.
Rather than following the current trend of pursuit of Leed certification for our new facilities it was decided to invest 10-15% of available construction dollars that would be required by the Leed Certification documentation and verification process into actual sustainable and green building processes including:
A 105.6 kW DC solar array which is static mounted on our Agriculture and Science facility. This array provides direct cost savings to the college but, and more importantly, provides web based, real time data that is being used to develop a solar/alternative energy curriculum for not only our college but also our K-12 and University partners. This project, according to the US Department of Energy, is second only to MIT in scope and size for an educational based solar research tool. This solar array was the product of partnership with our local electrical energy provider.
Our two largest buildings, the Agriculture/Science and College Community Center are sheathed in a durable, easy to maintain brushed aluminum siding. This siding while designed and selected for it’s sustainability, also provides energy savings through it’s heat reflectivity and built in dead air pocket between itself and the buildings’ actual envelope that provides an additional R-19 insulation factor as well as providing for air movement within the space that will lengthen the products already substantial life expectancy. This innovative siding concept has already been recognized for its environmental and sustainable properties with a First Place award in Metal Mag’s annual architectural wall panel competition as detailed in the publications’ May, 2009 issue.
Facility window glazing utilizes the latest technologies to provide interior heat reduction while also providing for a maximum amount of natural lighting within the spaces. Automatic thermostat controlled window shades provide additional energy conservation during the deserts’ extreme afternoon heat and sunlight.
Sustainable features within the facilities include a carpeting standard that utilizes only water based cleaning without the harsh chemicals generally required in a commercial or public facility and a lifetime guaranteed seamless epoxy resin flooring product that includes an antimicrobial product in its top layer and requires only moping with water to maintain. Restrooms utilize waterless urinals that provide a water savings of 680,000 gallons per year, standardized ceramic tile allows for cleaning by only two persons with the utilization of a high pressure, non-material deteriorating machine. The restrooms also feature touchless fixtures and roll-towel dispensers. Areas of the facilities that do not require carpet or other noise and/or static abatement materials utilize simple polished concrete floors with a new to the marketplace sealer that requires only semi-annual buffing. Lighting fixtures along with lighting and HVAC controls utilize occupancy sensors and automatic setback functions that together provide an extremely energy efficient environment and were the result of an additional partnership with our local electrical utility.
Administration and Finance
The college has adopted a landscaping strategy for all of its sites that encompass native desert components whose inherent low water and maintenance properties provide energy and cost savings while showcasing the facilities to their best advantage. These strategies include groundcover, vegetation and inherent shade areas that are vital in our extreme environmental locations.This not only allowed additional sustainable materials and systems to be utilized but has also provided an additional benefit in the current fiscal constraints in that our new facilities provide an easier environment to clean and maintain as well as actual, verifiable cost savings to the college.Additional district and campus initiatives that support both sustainability and green education include an on going recycling program and the addition of a unique partnership with our food service provider to include their recyclable food waste products which combined with our landscaping and turf composting will supply fertilizer to be used in our educational greenhouse complex as well as on our campus landscaping. All district custodial cleaning products utilize a pre-mix dispensing system to provide facilities that are clean and sanitary while ensuring that the minimum amount of chemical products are used.
The efforts of the College and the facilities in place have already garnered the attention of additional potential investors in our alternative energy program and interest in public-private partnerships for delivery of sustainability education.
