Sustainable Facilities Initiatives
The University of Michigan Athletics department is at the forefront of sustainable facility practices, integrating cutting-edge Energy Efficiency Measures and eco-friendly features across its venues. Learn about the innovative initiatives implemented at each facility below by clicking the headers.
For more details, visit U-M Architecture, Engineering and Construction Sustainability Projects.
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Designed to meet energy efficiency and performance required by ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999, except glazing at suites and club areas
- Air handling units on an occupancy schedule allow lower winter set points and higher summer set points when unoccupied
- Individual controls for air handling units provide heating and cooling to specific areas
- Automatic sensors at lavatories control water flow
- Tempered water is provided to lavatories, minimizing hot water use
- Thermostat controls in each suite allow for individual temperature adjustments
- Low-flow toilet fixtures and waterless urinals are used
Other Sustainability Features
- Site sediment and erosion control designed to best management practices
- Stadium is located on bus routes
- No new parking provided on site
- No net increase in stormwater runoff
- ENERGY STAR roof on all new roof surfaces
- Reduced use of potable water through waterless urinals and low-flow fixtures
- Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants
- Use of regional and local materials where possible (e.g., brick)
- Ventilation meets ASHRAE 62-1999 indoor air quality requirements
- Use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials (e.g., adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpet)
- Building materials extracted/harvested and manufactured within 500 miles of the site
- Operable windows and lighting controls provided for perimeter spaces
- Compliance with ASHRAE Standard 55-1992 for thermal control
- Daylighting provided to interior spaces, reducing electrical lighting use
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Envelope inspections
- Clerestory glazing
- 18 percent more efficient thermal barrier than ASHRAE 90.1-2007 requirements
- Optimized occupancy schedules, HVAC zoning, and part-load HVAC efficiency
- Improved ventilation efficiencies
- Low air return
- Demand control ventilation
- Bi-polar ionization to improve indoor air quality and reduce outside air requirements
- Limited use of incandescent lighting and LED site lighting
Other Sustainability Features
- Adaptive reuse of existing space
- Passive solar glazing strategies
- Tall interior spaces and clerestory glazing optimize daylight harvesting
- Only low-VOC materials used in interior spaces
- 20 percent recycled and regional materials
- 75 percent construction waste diversion rate
- Indoor air quality plan for all construction activities
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Maximum insulation in foundation walls, exterior walls, under slab and roof assemblies
- Increased inspections (including infrared scans) during construction to identify missing insulation and gaps
- Energy-efficient windows/glazing for increased thermal performance
- External shading glazing for Hall of Fame curtain wall
- Translucent glazing adds daylight to the practice gym
- High-efficiency lighting with daylight sensors
- Occupancy sensors control lighting in offices, bathrooms, corridors, and conference rooms
- Demand control ventilation reduces mechanical loads in low-occupancy or empty spaces
- High-efficiency air-cooled chiller
- Increased thermostat deadbands
- Increased exhaust air energy recovery
- Automatic static pressure reset
Other Sustainability Features
- Erosion and sedimentation control plan during construction
- Constructed on a previously developed site instead of a greenfield site
- Located on public and U-M bus routes, encouraging transit use
- No new parking provided on site
- Water-conserving plumbing fixtures (low-flow shower heads, lavatories, waterless urinals)
- Energy-efficient transformers
- Use of select sustainable materials (e.g., steel structure, terrazzo flooring)
- Use of low-VOC materials (e.g., carpets, paints)
- Regional and local materials used where possible (e.g., limestone, brick)
» More information on William Davidson Player Development Center
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- LEED Gold Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
- Maximum insulation in foundation walls, exterior walls, under slab and roof assemblies
- Increased inspections (including infrared scans) to identify insulation and enclosure issues
- Energy-efficient windows/glazing for increased thermal performance
- High-efficiency lighting with daylight sensors
- Occupancy sensors control lighting
- Demand control ventilation for low-occupancy or empty spaces
- High-efficiency air-cooled chiller
- Increased thermostat deadbands
- Increased exhaust air energy recovery
- Automatic static pressure reset
Other Sustainability Features
- Erosion and sedimentation control plan during construction
- Reuse of existing Crisler Arena instead of new construction
- Located on public and U-M bus routes
- No new parking provided on-site
- Water-conserving plumbing fixtures (low-flow shower heads, lavatories, waterless urinals)
- Energy-efficient transformers
- Use of select sustainable materials (e.g., steel structure, terrazzo flooring)
- Use of low-VOC materials (e.g., carpets, paints)
- Regional and local materials used where possible (e.g., limestone, brick)
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Increased insulation in the existing roof, new exterior walls, and under new slabs
- Energy-efficient windows/glazing for better thermal performance
- High-efficiency lighting throughout
- Occupancy sensors control lighting during unoccupied times
- Demand control ventilation to reduce outside air conditioning during low occupancy
- Increased thermostat deadbands during unoccupied times
- Supply air ductwork sized for lower velocities to reduce fan energy
Other Sustainability Features
- Reuse of the existing arena, reducing demolition waste and construction impact
- Located on public and U-M bus routes
- No new parking provided on-site
- Erosion and sedimentation control plan during construction
- Energy-efficient transformers
- Use of low-VOC materials for pipe connections
- Monitoring outside air delivery for proper ventilation at low loads
- Air handling systems designed for occupant thermal comfort
- Refrigerant systems utilize HCFC with almost zero ozone depletion
- Use of low-VOC materials (e.g., carpets, paints)
- Regional and local materials used where possible
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Complies with ASHRAE Standards 90.1-2007
- Replaced existing single-pane windows with high-performance glazing
- High-efficiency mechanical units
Other Sustainability Features
- Renovated an existing building instead of building new
- Best management practices to control sedimentation and erosion during construction
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Designed to meet energy efficiency and performance required by ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004
- Occupancy sensors control lighting
- Automatic controls for exterior lighting
- High-efficiency hot water heaters
- Boilers on a reset schedule based on outside air temperature
- Roof top units on occupancy schedules allow temperature setbacks
- Thermostats in each room for individual control
- Automatic sensors control lavatory water flow
- Tempered water in lavatories to reduce hot water use
Other Sustainability Features
- Site sediment and erosion control to best management practices
- Project located within 1/4 mile of two bus lines
- Bicycle racks and showers provided for occupants
- No new parking provided
- Limited site disturbance
- Provide vegetated open space equal to or greater than the building footprint
- Post-development stormwater does not exceed pre-development runoff
- Stormwater management promotes infiltration and treats 90% of average annual rainfall
- Maximized water efficiency with low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals
- Use of building products with recycled content (e.g., structural steel, carpet, athletic flooring)
- Use of building materials sourced and manufactured within 500 miles (e.g., brick, structural steel)
- Use of wood-based materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
- Indoor air quality management plan for construction and pre-occupancy phases
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Design site sediment and erosion control to best management practices
- Project located within 1/4 mile of two bus lines
- Bicycle racks and showers provided for occupants
- No new parking provided
- Limit site disturbance
- Provide vegetated open space at least equal to the building footprint
- Post-development stormwater does not exceed pre-development discharge
- Stormwater management promotes infiltration and treats 90% of average annual rainfall
- Maximize water efficiency within buildings with low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals
- Use building products with recycled content
- Use building materials sourced within 500 miles (e.g., brick, structural steel)
- Use wood-based materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
- Indoor air quality management plan during construction and pre-occupancy
Fun fact: The Weisfeld Center is the first facility on U-M's campus to utilize geothermal technology, with seven geothermal wells and six heat pumps providing heating and cooling at an estimated 30% energy savings.
Other Sustainability Features
- Situated on a previously developed site
- No threatened or endangered species affected
- Located on public bus routes
- Bike racks and shower facilities encourage alternative transportation
- Existing parking modified but not increased
- Stormwater management incorporates a bioswale
- High SRI roofing material reduces heat island effect
- All plumbing fixtures are low-flow with dual-flush toilets
- At least 50% of construction waste diverted from disposal
- Regional/recycled-content materials and certified wood used where possible
- Use of low-VOC materials (carpets, paints)
- Grating mats and filtered exhaust systems improve indoor air quality
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Uses moisture meters and a variable frequency drive pump station for precise water application
- Increased naturalized areas by 20 acres in 2012
- Reduced waste during football game day parking by recycling 50% in the 2012 season
- Composted all organic matter from the golf course and soccer grounds
- Partner in the Washtenaw County Community Partners for Clean Streams Program
- Certified in the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP)
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Founded with environmental foresight, continuing a tradition of sustainability and environmental focus
- Recognized by Audubon International, MTESP, and Guardian Green Site for stewardship
- Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, meeting standards in environmental planning, wildlife management, outreach, chemical reduction, water conservation, and water quality
- MTESP-certified, implementing practices to reduce pollution, limit energy use, and protect waterways
- Uses moisture meters and variable frequency drive pumps for precise water application
- Implemented biodiesel fuel in maintenance equipment
- First golf course operation to become a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) Program member
- Member of Community Partners for Clean Streams Program
- Recycled 57.9% of waste in FY 2012
- Received the Excellence in Water Quality Protection Award
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- Designed to be 30% better than Michigan Energy Code ASHRAE 90.1-2007
- Employed energy conservation measures beyond required insulation and glazing performance
- Optimized occupancy schedules, HVAC zoning, and part-load efficiency
- Improved ventilation efficiencies
- Heat recovery
- Demand control ventilation
- Very limited incandescent lighting
- Energy-efficient LED site lighting
- Occupancy sensors for daylight harvesting
- Heat pump recovers waste heat from chilling the cold hydrotherapy pool to heat the warm hydrotherapy pool
Other Sustainability Features
- Only low-VOC materials used in interior spaces
- 20% recycled and regional materials
- 75% construction waste diversion rate
- Indoor air quality plan for all construction activities
- 20% reduction in potable water demand
- Reuse of a previously developed site
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Energy Efficiency Measures
- High-performing thermal envelope to reduce heating and cooling demand
- Balanced fenestration for optimal light transmittance and thermal performance
- Energy recovery enthalpy wheel to preheat supply air
- Heat pumps to balance loads between hot and cold therapy pools
- Occupancy sensors for lights and mechanical equipment
- High-efficiency mechanical equipment
Other Sustainability Features
- Best management practices and erosion/sedimentation control measures during construction
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce estimated annual water usage by 31.7%
- Building materials with high recycled content, sourced locally when possible
- Very low amount of VOCs used in building components
