Journal:  Green Buildings

The built environment consists not only of the physical spaces defined by a building's structure, but the indoor materials, furnishings, and the myriad of products used in the maintenance of the facility.  As building occupants we are consistently exposed to a variety of materials in our daily living - some we notice and others we don't.  The goal of this assignment is four-fold: 1) to begin to increase your awareness of your surroundings, especially concerning time spent inside buildings;  2) to locate and identify examples of green science buildings around the world, 3) to briefly describe the "green" features that impress you and 4) to describe how the built environment frames our activities and perceptions about daily living.
 

The Assignment

During the next three weeks maintain a journal that focuses its content on examples of green science buildings from around the world.  Use the internet to find examples; these may be buildings that serve colleges, public/private industries, governmental units or nongovernmental organizations.  Pay specific attention to what your senses and thoughts tell you about the spaces and characteristics that make it a "green" building.  Think critically about the design of the facility, and the degree to which the building represents an intentionality toward reducing environmental impacts of buildings.  After all this critical thought, do you agree that it is a good example of a green science building?  Explain why or why not.

Each journal entry must include the following features:

• Facility Name
• Facility Location (institution, city, state/province, country)
• URLs - both for building details, floorplans, designs and/or stories
  
• Brief description of at least 5 features that make the building a "green" building
  
• Brief description of your sense, impressions or feelings about what it would be like being in the space
• Other reference information on any materials that have made an impact on your perceptions of the space
• Manufacturer information
• Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information
• WWW or library resources
• The "Take Home Message" you wish to share about the building.  Is it a good example of a green science building? 
  

A journal entry may also include the following:

• Digital image(s) of the building
  
• Digital images of spaces in the building
• Digital images of specific materials that are unique to this building
• URL link to floorplans or .pdf of floorplans
• Map showing location of building
  

Submission criteria

• Word processed (MS Word or compatible processor)
• 12 point font
• 1 inch page margins
• Line spacing = double
• Electronic submission by 5 pm on Monday, January 23rd
• email as an attachment to: jackson@stolaf.edu
• copy into "Drop Box" folder on Brit L:\Classes\Interim2006\Chem124

Criteria Used to Evaluate the Journal

3.  Grammar and spelling

4.  Use of references (if any), including suitable citation format

Any professional citation format will be accepted as long as the author is consistent throughout the journal.  Some format examples include:  MLA, APA, Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), and the Proceedings of the National  Academy of Science (PNAS).  Note that any web site sources must also be cited in appropriate format!

5.  General quality of the observations, arguments, and assessments of the spaces included in the journal.

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