Ted Renner Is Making WIU "Green".

Ted Renner is the Deputy Director of the Physical Plant in charge of facility planning and construction. During Mr. Renner’s time at WIU he has had a major role in building the Multicultural center. What exactly is the Deputy Directors job? “My job is to manage multiple budgets, decide priorities, establish design standards, make sure that the University administration is aware of any problems (or potential problems) schedule and coordinate projects and/ or maintenance repairs with the campus and the trades working at the Physical Plant.” Renner said about the job.
He also is very knowledgeable about everything that needs to be fixed around the campus. He talked briefly about knowing what exactly needs help at all times of the year; “We are always planning ahead to fix something. For example, we have a database of campus roofs. I can very quickly tell you which roofs are in need of replacement, which roofs are in good shape, the status of the warranty, etc. This allows us to plan for replacement. We have the same type of priority list with electrical high voltage feeders, transformers, switchgear, etc, again, allowing to plan for replacement before something becomes a problem at an inconvenient time.” Renner said about keeping the campus in good shape. He is a part of the team that makes sure everything is always in good shape around the campus. His knowledge of maintenance needed around the campus is great for WIU.
Renner has always been interested in building since he was a child he said from the time he was little he could “look at a set of prints and see things in my head very clearly. I enjoy taking a space and renewing it. I love to re-build things. I very much enjoy seeing a building being constructed from the ground up. True, there are problems associated with new construction because, unless you are building tract homes, everything is a prototype.” Someone with his talent makes him the person right for the job.
This talent helped him build and develop the Multicultural Center. Renner also thinks about the environment while he is thinking about building. He is LEED accredited, which means he uses energy efficient and keeps “green” in his mind when building certain areas. That is important in today’s society where many times construction zones give off hazardous gas into the air.
I asked Mr. Renner to touch briefly on his impact on the environment with building “I am well versed in the process of designing and building in such a way that it has minimal impact to the environment. During the construction of the Multicultural Center, more that 50% of the waste generated was diverted from the land fill. Concrete was taken and crushed to be re-used as gravel. Steel was recycled instead of being thrown away. Much of the wood in the building is certified from the Forrest Stewardship Council, which means it is grown and harvested with minimal impact to the environment. Many of these types of construction are so simple and easy to follow that we are adopting them here at the Physical Plant for normal day to day use. We are using low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint across campus on a regular basis. We are putting in items that will last longer with less energy use such as induction lighting. Some of the induction lights we have installed cost slightly more than typical lights, and will last for 20+ years, ADs opposed to the 2 years we get from standard lights.” That was an eye opening discovery in the building phases around WIU. He is able to recycle certain building supplies which makes WIU one of the most environmentally friendly campuses.
He also talked about designing the multicultural center, and Dr. Goldfarbs ideas for this to be a green project. He also talked about how these things that people deem “green” aren’t really green at all they are just efficient “Dr.Goldfarb stepped up and decided that it needed to be a LEED Silver building. That was when we really had to focus on the green aspects. It’s not as hard or as challenging as you think. People would contact me and say that they wanted a tour so they could see all the green things. That's just it: there are no "green things." It’s not as if we are doing something magic, it’s just a different way of doing what we have already been doing, and paying more attention to where things come from for the project, and where they go when they are no longer needed. Essentially just better stewardship of the things we already have.” Renner said.
Going on throughout the rest of his tenure, he intends on designing more buildings with the environment in mind.