“This is an exciting development for the future of our campus,” said Aparna Dial, Senior Director, Sustainability and Strategic Services, Facilities Operations and Development. “By establishing an Ohio State-centric set of sustainability standards, we will build and operate better performing facilities and a more sustainable physical environment while driving advancement toward the university’s sustainability goals.”
Stakeholders from across the university were consulted in the development of this new policy which went out for...
It’s one of the most iconic and majestic places on Ohio State’s campus. Whether it’s studying, taking pictures or exercising, students, faculty, staff and visitors flock to Mirror Lake, but the lake is more than just a place for Buckeyes to gather. It’s playing a key role in advancing the university’s sustainability efforts.
In addition to adding 250-300 new plants around Mirror Lake in autumn 2020, Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Landscape Services is using coffee grounds instead of artificial fertilizer in plant beds surrounding the lake.
As an FOD groundskeeper, Ed McGowan has been landscaping for 16...
The Ohio State University will seek Board of Trustees approval this week for construction of the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center located within the West Campus Innovation District. The building is centered on finding innovative solutions for energy reduction and will allow researchers to develop, demonstrate and deploy innovations in sustainable building design and performance.
“Ohio State is uniquely positioned to bring together researchers from a variety of backgrounds who are committed to a more sustainable future,” said Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson. “This facility will advance the great work already happening at...
Facilities Operations and Development’s (FOD) sustainability team earned top honors in autumn 2020 by winning the Campus Race to Zero Waste’s (formerly RecycleMania) 2020 case study competition in the Education and Awareness category.
The team was praised for its sustainability and zero waste certification training for facilities operations workers, including custodial, maintenance, landscaping and housekeeping staff.
“All of the credit goes to the staff for their hard work, cooperation and support, which resulted in making significant progress toward Ohio State’s sustainability goals ,” said Molly Kathleen, zero waste coordinator.
Cooling-to-Heating Transition - It's that time of year again, when the university transitions from cooling to heating. Facilities Operations and Development maintenance personnel are beginning to shut down certain cooling systems and perform the proper maintenance to bring heating systems online. This changeover can lead to customer inquiries about buildings being too hot or too cold.
We are working to ensure a seamless changeover. Ventilation systems will not be impacted as we progress through the transition, but weather changes may cause unanticipated fluctuations to interior temperature. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate...
Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) continues to promote and encourage sustainability practices in campus laboratory and office spaces. Tony Gillund, FOD sustainability office project manager, says the Green Buckeye Certification program (GBC) has evolved during the years. The program, created in 2011, initially recognized offices that incorporated sustainable practices into their university spaces, processes, and community.
In 2015, the program expanded to include laboratory spaces, and Gillund was involved in the effort.
“I take pride in watching the program develop and in educating more participants who are interested in learning how to reduce their environmental footprint,” Gillund said....
Finding silver linings during a pandemic is not always easy, but Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) found a way to create positive results despite the challenges created by COVID-19.
In April, May and June, FOD adjusted service levels in buildings based on need. With fewer people on campus and most staff asked to telework, buildings were not in full use. FOD partnered with Ohio State Energy Partners and ENGIE Buckeye Operations to roll out three phases of energy reduction measures in more than 100 academic and research buildings.
As part the of energy reduction measures, FOD made climate-control...
In September 2017, Cannon Drive began to blossom into the version of what we see today. The project, designed to straighten and elevate the roadway, created a certified flood levy, opened 12 acres of developable land and created new green space along the Olentangy River.
Last month, the green space got a facelift thanks to 25 newly planted trees in conjunction with Earth Day and the university’s Sesquicentennial.
“We planted 25 trees on each Ohio State campus, totaling 150 in honor of this year’s Sesquicentennial,” said University Landscape Architect Steve Volkmann.
Drip, drip, drip … If you stay quiet and listen closely, you can hear it. Water always finds a way and now Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development has embraced a unique way to track it.
“They listen to the water mains using acoustic methods,” said Brenda VanCleave, water engineer for FOD’s sustainability office. “They can pinpoint where there’s a leak within three meters of that leak.”
As part of ongoing leak detection surveys, FOD has partnered with a third-party crew that mounts their equipment onto fire hydrants and listen to the water main between the hydrants to...
While World Water Day comes just once a year, Brenda VanCleave doesn’t limit her water conservation to a single day. Instead, the Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) water resource engineer finds ways to integrate her morale responsibility into her favorite hobby.
“My garden at my house is my getaway,” VanCleave said.
VanCleave has been tending to her garden for the past 15 years and finds that it’s the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors.
“I have a rain barrel that can feed the garden,” VanCleave said, with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and water conservation....
