Drexel Recycles 99.75% of Construction Waste from Matheson Demolition
March 7, 2012

Matheson Hall may seem like a distant memory now that foundation work has begun on the new LeBow College of Business building, but nearly 12,000 tons of material from the old brick structure will live on through recycling. Keating Building Co., the construction contractor on the project, reports that a total of 11,921.12 tons of material were diverted from the Matheson Hall demolition for recycling, including 11,785 tons of concrete and masonry, 27.81 tons of wood, 13.65 tons of cardboard/paper, and 94.66 tons of metal. Only 29.50 tons of material were disposed as waste, bringing the total rate of recycling from the demolition to 99.75%.

In addition to the waste that was diverted for recycling, University Facilities reports that several large pieces of equipment were recovered for re-use, including the auditorium air handler, six VAV boxes for ventilation air distribution, two air compressors, five electrical panels with breakers, and two split DX air conditioning systems. Another 120,300 lbs of furniture were repurposed from Matheson, instead of ending up in a landfill.

Turner Construction has also diverted a significant amount of waste for recycling from the URBN Center project. Turner reports that a total of 342.26 tons of waste were recycled from the renovations at 35th and Market Streets and 34th and Filbert Streets from October through December 2011, including concrete, metal, wood, paper, and gypsum. Total waste was 535.51 tons, for a recycling rate of 65.13%.

Registration for the 2012 Tree Giveaway Is Now Open!
March 2, 2012

For a second year, Drexel University is partnering with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department to offer free trees for Philadelphia residents. Registration for this year’s Tree Giveaway is now open and lasts until March 16. To qualify for a free tree, you must own property in Philadelphia, have a yard with space to plant a tree, and agree to properly care for the tree. This year, the program is open to any Drexel employees, students, and alumni who meet the criteria. To register and learn more details about the program, visit the Tree Giveaway page.

Drexel Joins Elite Group of Green Power Purchasers

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Drexel University membership to the 2012 Green Power Leadership Club, an elite group of Green Power Partners who demonstrate exemplary environmental leadership. The minimum purchase requirements to be a member of the Green Power Leadership Club are 10 times greater than the purchase requirements for the Green Power Partnership. Drexel has previously been listed among the top 50 Green Power purchasers nationwide and the top 3 among colleges and universities due to its commitment in January 2011 to purchase 100% clean, renewable wind energy.

Drexel Engineers Develop Cement With 97% Smaller Carbon Dioxide and Energy Footprint
Febuary 20, 2012

Drexel University engineers have found a way to improve upon ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the glue that’s bonded much of the world’s construction since the late 1800s. In research recently published in Cement and Concrete Composites, the group served up a recipe for cement that is more energy efficient and cost effective to produce than masonry’s most prevalent bonding compound.

Drexel’s "green" variety is a form of alkali-activated cement that utilizes an industrial byproduct, called slag, and a common mineral, limestone, and does not require heating to produce. According to Dr. Michel W. Barsoum, A.W. Grosvenor professor in Drexel’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, this alternative production method and the ubiquity of the mix ingredients lessens the cost of materials for Drexel’s cement by about 40 percent versus Portland cement and reduces energy consumption and carbon dioxide production by 97 percent.

"Cement consumption is rapidly rising, especially in newly industrialized countries, and it’s already responsible for 5 percent of human-made carbon dioxide. This is a unique way to limit the environmental consequences of meeting demand,” Dr. Alex Moseson, one of the lead researchers on the project, said.

See Drexel’s press release for more details on this research.

Papadakis ISB and Recreation Center Receive 3 Green Globes for Sustainable Construction
January 18, 2012

Both the Constantine N. Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building and the Recreation Center have achieved 3 Green Globes from the Green Building Initiative, the second-highest rating under the Green Globes system and the highest rating achieved by any new construction project at Drexel University.

The Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (ISB), opened in September 2011, received a score of 84% (762 points out of 906 applicable) on the Green Globes rating scale after an on-site, third-party assessment was conducted in December 2011. The building, which boasts North America’s largest living biofilter wall, received its highest scores in the areas of Project Management; Emissions; and Indoor Environment. In addition to the biofilter wall of plants, which serves as a biological indoor air filter, the ISB also makes innovative use of natural light, rainwater filtration, and sustainable building materials.

The Recreation Center, opened in February 2010, also underwent a final on-site inspection in December 2011 and was awarded a score of 72% (664 points scored out of 917 applicable), with particularly high marks for Water and Indoor Environment. The building’s integral glass and metal panel façade, together with light scoops on the roof, provide enough light to eliminate the use of electric lights during the day in 87% of interior occupied space. A rainwater reuse system manages storm water and reduces the amount of potable water used for flushing toilets.

Drexel University is the first university in the country to commit to using Green Globes®, the Green Building Initiative’s™ (GBI) independent environmental impact monitoring system, comprehensively through university policy for all new construction and existing campus buildings. The GBI has previously awarded Drexel ratings of 2 Green Globes for the Millennium Residence Hall and Northside Dining Terrace.