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UM FLAT

The Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology

The Living Demonstration

The UM FLAT is an experiential live-in resource (house) for UM students to demonstrate the practicality of sustainable living.  In a time of rising energy costs, ‘conservation of energy’ is the most effective means of demonstrating appropriate development at UM and Missoula.  By experimenting with and educating others about the social, ethical, and environmental benefits of appropriate technology, the UM FLAT will help to establish the University of Montana as a model for exhibiting efficient building practices.  The ultimate goal of the UM FLAT is to encourage the development of efficient and affordable homes for a sustainable society.  By retro-fitting an existing home the utility of the UM FLAT demonstration resources could be easily applied to the Missoula community. 

EVST 204

FLAT as a resource

  • Co-directors:  3 live-in co-directors who manage the home and oversee the operations of the residence/facilities.
  • Course Curriculum:  UM courses can visit the UM FLAT to hold classes,  use FLAT resources, or develop their own curriculum.
  • Project-oriented facility:  The house will evolve with the interests of the students who participate in the evolution of the UM FLAT.
  • Work Study:  The home will provide opportunities for students to gain valuable experience working on sustainability projects, administration, and get paid for their work.
  • Volunteers: Volunteering is a great way to get involved with what is going on at the UM FLAT!
  • Library: The home will be a great resource for literature pertaining to sustainability.
  • Appropriate Technology Projects: Does your project lend itself to the FLAT?  If so, work by yourself or with the crew to enhance the resources at the home.
  • Workshops: The home will be a resource for hosting sustainability workshops.
  • Tours: Self-guided and guided, this home will be a great resource to teach others about how to live lightly on the Earth.

Building Components:

Examples may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Superinsulation
  • Natural Light (passive heat, light shelves, solar tubes)
  • Gray water system
  • Solar energy
  • Efficient appliances
  • Thermal mass
  • Native landscaping
  • Solar Curtains
  • Wind energy
  • Passive solar greenhouse
  • Alternative building structures
  • Pedal Power
  • Sustainable gardening
whole site2
             
                          UM FLAT site 

Design

Using two existing homes and land held by the University of Montana on 5th Avenue, students, faculty and staff at the University of Montana and the College of Technology will research and review potential sustainability directed changes to the homes, landscaping and land use. The aim of the project is to proceed in several phases:

Phase 1- Monitoring and Design (August 2008-March 2009): COT/UM students will monitor current energy and resource use by existing residential renters to set a baseline of resource use prior to remodeling and adaptation of the homes/land. Students, supervised by a EVST graduate assistant and participating faculty will also select and design the changes to be made to the residences/landscape over fall term 2008, winter session, and into spring term 2009.

Energy Analysis IR imaging2 IR imaging

 

Phase 2- Garage Remodel (March 2009-August 2009): Actual work to alter the garage to incorporate sustainable technologies and practices will begin in the Spring of 2009 with a completion date of mid-August 2009 allowing students from UM/COT to participate under staff and faculty supervision to remodel the home. COT carpentry, building and energy tech students will participate as well as EVST and other interested graduate and undergraduate students in the actual work. The EVST graduate assistant will coordinate student involvement and act as liaison with the involved programs. It is anticipated that the open lot will be prepared for gardening and gardening will begin on the open plot in the Spring/summer of 09, allowing harvest of some organic food in fall 09. An application and review process for student residency will be run out of EVST in March-May 2009, selecting appropriate students for residency in the home.

Phase 3- Occupancy and adaptation (August 2009 ongoing): Students will occupy the premises, be responsible for upkeep of the home (with plumbing, electrical and structural repair/maintenance services from Facilities Services) and monitor the resource use of the facility. An annual public open house each fall will showcase the sustainability practices used on the site and share those with the campus and Missoula community (organized by EVST). Other changes may be made to the home or grounds based on student research and learning and ongoing monitoring will occur to document the impact of these changes.

Execution of the Plan:

Research Teams:  With University/COT support of volunteers and interns, the UM FLAT project will be divided up into specific project teams to research and develop specific components of the proposal and future building plans.  Strategic plans will be developed with specific, achievable, and measurable goals for each project team. Potential team support can be recruited with support from the Sustainable Campus Committee, ASUM, COT, EVST, and other interested participants. These teams could also be comprised of community interests who have knowledge that is specifically applicable to the enhancement of the project.

  • Project Team: Finance, marketing, operational issues
  • Design Team: Building design, materials, LEED certification
  • Program Team: Collaboration, outreach, communications

Priority Projects:     Great way to get involved!

  • Grant Writers (general and specific)
  • Energy Audit  (COT)
  • Outreach (connect with Missoula)
  • Superinsulation (the nuts and bolts of energy conservation)
  • Website development (create and maintain online material)
  • Lifecycle Building (study of project materials ‘cradle to grave’)
  • Solar Study (identify types of systems to be implemented)
  • Greywater system (develop appropriate system for FLAT space)
  • Geothermal heat/cooling system (Russ)
  • Landscape Architecture (Gardening and use of outdoor space)

*   Open to other project ideas

Conclusion

The motivation for the establishment of the UM FLAT is to enhance the development of sustainable solutions within the UM academic community, sharing those solutions more broadly, recruitment of students and reducing university use of resources.  The UM FLAT will demonstrate the practicality of efficient building technologies.

Student Living:
This UM FLAT is essentially a house or dorm that demonstrates and promotes sustainable living.  Students wishing to live in the UM FLAT must apply to the University where their applications will be reviewed by the current co-directors and board of the UM FLAT to determine who will make the most dynamic contribution to the mission and objectives of the FLAT. 

Teaching Resource:
The development and construction of the FLAT will provide a tremendous opportunity for interested students, faculty, and local businesses to become involved. To promote the success of a live-in demonstration home at UM it is vital for student involvement in all aspects of the planning, administration, and evaluation of the process. The process of planning, construction, and operations for the UM FLAT should be viewed as opportunities to challenge students to develop workable solutions that can be applied to life outside of the classroom. Once the construction of the house is complete, the FLAT will provide a wealth of experiential opportunities for everyone involved.  The rewarding benefits include residential demonstration of sustainable living practices, opportunities for faculty using the UM FLAT as a teaching resource, a student and faculty research forum for projects related to sustainable living, and workshops to involve the expertise and participation of the Missoula community. 

Derek Kanwischer

EVST Graduate student



Len Broberg

EVST Academic advisor