In the summer of 2002 the Organic Laboratory in Trumbower was renovated. A new Phoenix system was installed for the 18 fume hoods to control the amount of air being discharged to the atmosphere while maintaining the required OSHA air flow across the sash opening resulting in an annual energy savings of $17,000 per year.
Starting in 2002 with the Trumbower Building the College has replaced the 34 W SS fluorescent bulbs with the new Eco-Logic T-8 lamps and has replaced the standard magnetic ballasts with the new electronic ballasts. Material costs totaled $13,654 and were installed using in-house labor. This has resulted in a 31.9% reduction in energy usage for lighting in the building. There was an approximate 5% increase in light levels with a better quality of light (CRI increased from 65 to 75). Lamp life is 20% longer, contains 66% less mercury and meets EPA guidelines for non-hazardous waste. There are now 646 fewer ballasts (49%) to maintain.
In 2003 the College replaced the 34 W SS fluorescent bulbs with the new Eco-Logic T-8 lamps and has replaced the standard magnetic ballasts with the new electronic ballasts in the Shankweiler Building. Material costs totaled $9,606 and were installed using in-house labor. This has resulted in a 31.3% reduction in energy usage for lighting in the building. There are now 403 fewer ballasts (44%) to maintain.
In the spring of 2003 the College finished installing a new Central Chilled Water Plant. This has resulted in the shut down of 6 building chillers with a projected decrease in the total electrical usage on campus by 11.8%.
In the summer and fall of 2003 the College replaced the 34 W SS fluorescent bulbs with the new Eco-Logic T-8 lamps and has replaced the standard magnetic ballasts with the new electronic ballasts in the Center for the Arts Building. Material costs totaled $12,998 and was installed using in-house labor. This resulted in a 29.1% reduction in energy usage for lighting in the building. There are 9 fewer ballasts (1%) to maintain.
In the spring/summer of 2006 the College will replace the 34 W SS fluorescent bulbs with the new Eco-Logic T-8 lamps and will replace the standard magnetic ballasts with the new electronic ballasts in the Trexler Library. Material costs will be approximately $14,500 and installation with in-house labor. This will resulted in a 24.97% reduction in energy usage for lighting in the building. There will be 102 fewer ballasts (13.2%) to maintain.
Even though the campus has grown, water conservation measures and an aggressive program to repair leaks, the College has decreased water consumption by 30.2% in the last five years.
Only low-flow showerheads are installed in College resident halls.
Nearly all toilets on campus use reduced-flow plumbing that reduces their water consumption by more than 50%.
Fields where irrigation systems have been installed are only watered once a week if there has been less that one inch of rainfall.
In May 1996, Susan Mancino, Operations Coordinator for the City of Allentown Bureau of Recycling reviewed Muhlenberg College’s waste management/recycling program. She writes, “…steps have been taken to encourage maximum recycling…in-house construction of container enclosures was a low cost, aesthetically pleasing alternative to high-priced commercial models” and that “other institutions from around the country would benefit by visiting Muhlenberg prior to implementing their own recycling program.”
Cleaning products are purchased in concentrated form and mixed with water at time of use. These are Green Seal products. This minimizes the amount of packaging that is introduced into the waste stream.
The two underground fuel tanks left on campus were replaced within the last ten years with double wall tanks and installed leak monitoring systems.
Recycled paper products, such as copier paper, toilet paper and hand towels, are used routinely on campus.
Muhlenberg College routinely recycles office paper, cardboard, cans and bottles.
Whenever possible, foods are purchased in bulk packaging, which reduces the amount of packaging and the amount of refuse generated.
Napkins are unbleached and made from recycled paper.
China and flatware are used whenever possible in the main dinning room to avoid the use of disposables.
Through the use of micro scaling, inventory control and chemical substitutions, hazardous substances use has been reduced by approximately one-third in the laboratories. The use of formaldehyde and mercury has been substantially reduced.
A campus-wide environmental regulatory compliance audit was conducted in 2002. The Campus Safety Committee is working on a compliance program. The College is substantially compliant with all federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
Automated chemical treatment systems have been installed for both the new central chilled water plant and the main campus boilers. This will more precisely control the amount of chemicals used without over treating the equipment thereby using fewer chemicals.
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