As the University of Baltimore goes green, it's leading the way in better building. Given the University's urban setting, revamping existing structures is often the smartest choice. In the coming months, you'll see major and minor changes throughout campus buildings. With each step, UB will become a more energy-efficient campus.
Daylight Harvesting and Green Roofing
Two of UB's most notable additions will be over your head—or up on the roof, to be precise. New skylights will be installed on the roof of the University gym to "harvest" daylight through photovoltaic solar panels. Not only will the skylights cut down on the need for artificial light, but the solar panels will convert captured daylight to electrical energy.
Additionally, the roof of the current John and Frances Angelos Law Center is now green—visibly green. This colorful change is more than a fashion statement. Plant life on the roof's panels have transformed it into a structure that reflects sunlight and heat, reduces the energy used to cool the building, reduces storm water runoff, and produces oxygen rather than greenhouse gases.
A Green Law Center
New construction also reflects the University's commitment to green building. The new John and Frances Angelos Law Center, scheduled for completion in 2013, follows the design principles of the U.S. Green Building Council. The council has used these principles to develop the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The new law center will meet—and perhaps surpass—criteria for LEED Silver certification, a statewide goal for publicly funded buildings in Maryland. The even more stringent LEED Gold certification is well within reach.