Constructing a ‘greener’ Winthrop campus

By Catherine Zende
zendec@mytjnow.com

A smart car rolls in front of Owens Hall during classes to gain publicity for an event facilitated by Neil Chambers, author of “Urban Green: Architecture for the Future.” Photo by Devang Joshi • joshid@mytjnow.comFor some, it is difficult to ignore the “green movement” that has become popular in recent years. Buzz words like energy efficiency, sustainability, and “green” are being used in conversations around the nation as organizations seek new ways to work with the environment. 

And, Winthrop University is no exception.  

Neil Chambers, a green design advocate and author of “Urban Green: Architecture for the Future,” came to Winthrop University as part of his nationwide tour. 

The “green guru” spoke about his new book, his work as a “green architect” and problems people face as they deal with issues of energy efficiency and sustainability. 

The tour is about bringing “spirited dialogue about the future of the planet,” according to Chambers. To a classroom filled with environmental science, biology, interior design, and even English majors, Chambers discussed why building “green” is vital. “We have to change the way we think about building,” Chambers said.

However, “green” buildings are not enough, Chambers said. ““If the infrastructure isn’t changed, we can have all these [green] buildings and not stop the problem,” Chambers said.

One example of changing infrastructure relates to water usage. According to Chambers, “green” architecture rethinks the way water is used by changing the amount of potable water used. Potable water, or clean water, is used for everything in a household including the toilet. 

But Chambers asks if clean water is necessary for toilets. “The way we deal with water today is the same way we’ve used it for 2,000 years,” Chambers said. 

As for the debate over energy independence, Chambers has a clear answer. 

“We are already energy independent,” Chambers said. 

The discussion should not be about energy dependence, but rather about how to coexist with nature, Chambers said. 

One of the greatest human weaknesses is thinking we’re special, Chambers said. “We’re not the only species on this planet that are un-sustainable,” Chambers said. 

However, humans need to learn how to become a “keystone species,” Chambers said. 

If you’ve ever taken an art history class, you may remember that a keystone is the stone at the top of the arch that prevents the arch from collapsing. The same concept is used with species; a keystone species is a species that holds an ecological system together. 

According to Chambers, wolves and beavers are examples of keystone species because they maintain a balance in the ecosystem. However, Chambers is not suggesting everyone go back to living in the woods.     

Instead, he suggests that humans can find a way to coexist with nature by reaping the benefits of natural processes and having less of an impact on the environment. 

“Not going back into the woods, but building like beavers,” Chambers said.

Chambers’s inspiration to become involved with “green” architecture began when he was a child. 

“I grew up hunting salamanders and crawdads in the creek,” Chambers said. 

His love of nature is what inspired him to pursue “green” architecture and found Chambers Design, Inc., a design and consulting studio that focuses on green buildings, infrastructure and habitat restoration. 

His advice to students aspiring to make a difference is to “start locally and grow globally.” When Chambers was young, he also wondered how he could make a difference. He began by working for political campaigns. 

Even though he was the only one concerned about going “green,” he managed to make some headway by writing policies for candidates. 

“If you’re in a place where there is not a lot of ‘green’ going on, you’re in the right place because that’s where it needs it the most,” Chambers said.

While redoing infrastructure and building codes may seem like a daunting task, Chambers remains optimistic. 

“These ideas aren’t just possible, they’re super-possible,” Chambers said.