Vanderbilt received a Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for The Commons as one of 14 award winners recognized statewide for their positive impact on the state’s natural resources.
Black + Gold = Green
When it comes to sustainability, Vanderbilt is rewriting the equation. Read the full story in the Vanderbilt View.
Electronics Recycling Event a Huge Success
The Vanderbilt-sponsored Electronics Recycling Event filled 25 tractor trailers with electronics for recycling, with more than 1,000 people dropping off items during the community recycling event.
Vanderbilt Takes First Steps at "Greening" Commencement
Vanderbilt evaluated Commencement and related activities to see where "greener" practices could be adopted.
Vanderbilt Plant Operations Targets Water Conservation in New Initiatives
In 2007, Vanderbilt's Plant Operations Department installed 300+ water-conserving devices throughout campus. New urinals, new toilets, and new faucets that are now visible in select areas of campus are all aimed at water conservation. Almost 5 million gallons of water have been conserved annually due to these efforts. Below is a report detailing the project and the environmental benefits of the appliances.
WATER SAVINGS FROM LOW-FLOW TOILET INSTALLATION
Q: How much water does a standard toilet use?
A: Traditional toilets use 3.5 gallons of water per flush, while low flow versions use 1.6 gallons per flush. The Department of Energy assumes that toilets installed in a typical commercial setting are flushed 30 times per day for 260 days per year (www.eere.energy.gov).
Plant Operations installed 121 low flow toilets in 2007.
For the 121 toilets replaced, the traditional model would have consumed:
3.5 gals/flush x 30 flushes/day x 260 days/year = 27,300 gallons of water each
Annual water usage = 121 toilets x 27,300 gals of water each = 3,303,300 gals of water
Q: How much water does a Low Flow Toilet use?
A: The Low Flow replacements consume:
1.6 gals/flush x 30 flushes/day x 260 days/year = 12,480 gallons of water each
Annual water usage = 121 toilets x 12,480 gallons of water each = 1,510,080 gals of water
ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS FROM LOW-FLOW TOILETS:
1.8 million gallons (a 46% savings)
WATER SAVINGS FROM LOW-FLOW FAUCET INSTALLATION
Q: How much water does a traditional faucet use?
A: Traditional faucets use 2.2 gallons of water per minute while low flow versions use 0.5 gals per minute. (www.kohler.com) The Department of Energy assumes that faucets are used for 1 minute, 30 times per day, 260 days per year in a typical commercial installation (www.eere.energy.gov).
Plant Operations installed 109 low flow faucets in 2007.
For the 109 faucets replaced, the traditional model would have consumed:
2.2 gal/min x 1 minute/use x 30 uses/day x 260 days/year = 17,160 gallons of water each
Annual water usage = 109 x 17160 gals/faucet each = 1,870,440 gallons per water
Q: How much water does a Low Flow Faucet use?
A: The Low Flow replacements consume:
0.5 gal/min x 1 minute/use x 30 uses/day x 260 days/year = 3,900 gallons of water each
Annual water usage = 109 x 3900 gals/faucet each = 425,100 gallons per water
ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS FROM LOW-FLOW FAUCETS:
1.45 million gallons (a 77% savings)
WATER SAVINGS FROM WATERLESS URINAL INSTALLATION
Q: How much water does a traditional urinal use?
A: A traditional urinal installed in a typical commercial setting uses 40,000 gallons of water per year (www.kohler.com).
Plant Operations has replaced 42 urinals throughout campus with waterless versions.
ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS FROM WATERLESS URINALS:
42 X 40,000 gal/urinal = 1.7 million gallons
Q: How does a waterless urinal work?
A: Waterless urinals resemble conventional fixtures, and easily replace them. They install to the regular waste lines, but eliminate the flush water supply lines. Flush valves are eliminated as well; there are no handles to touch, no sensors, no moving parts! The urinal bowl surfaces are urine repellent; urine is 99% liquid and its drainage is affected without flush water. Daily cleaning procedures are practically the same as for flushed urinals.
The waterless urinal is a really smart application of simple chemistry and physics. The specific gravity of the urine is greater than the specific gravity of the chemical that is in the trap of the urinal, making the urine more dense, or heavier, than the chemical. This makes the urine sink through the chemical, similar to what happens if you mix oil and water; the oil floats to the top. Thus, the chemical floats to the top of the mix and keeps the trap sealed, preventing the release of sewer smell into the building. The urine is then gravity fed into the sewer system.
For a video on how it works: http://www.waterless.com/video.php
TOTAL ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS FROM TOILET, FAUCET, AND URINAL REPLACEMENTS:
1,800,000 gals + 1,450,000 gals + 1,700,000 gals =
4.95 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER ANNUALLY
Source of usage assumptions and flow rates: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/eep_faucets.html
See a video on how a waterless urinal works
Waterless urinals in
The Commons Center --------->
