Michigan State University’s
pasture-based dairy facility
at the
Kellogg Biological Station near Battle Creek continues to be a
model for agricultural innovation. On a dairy farm that already
robotically milks 120 Holstein cows, the facility’s barn has now been
silver-level LEED-certified—the first agriculture facility to earn
the honor in the United States.
“We are a branch of MSU and we care about the environment—we try to
do what is right,” says Phil Barry, assistant director of facilities
and operations at
KBS.
A few of the environmentally friendly features include a recycled
concrete driveway and temperature-sensing devices for taking advantage
of natural ventilation. The design even got LEED kudos for installing
showers (to encourage employees to bike or walk to work) and offering
preferred parking to visitors with energy-efficient vehicles.
“We wanted to show how to construct an environmentally friendly facility that is in accordance with
Michigan Department of Agriculture,” says Barry.
So far, they have put on a good show. Universities from across the
U.S. and one in Toronto have approached KBS about instituting some of
their ideas. And that was the exact purpose of the $3.5 million grant
given to KBS for the facility by the
W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Barry says.
On top of being a pioneering agricultural model, the project is also keeping Michiganders employed.
“When the dust cleared, we hired 19 different contractors,” says
Barry. Between 100 and 120 workers had a job for at least some portion
of the process, he says, which began in July 2009.
Source: Phil Barry, MSU Kellogg Biological Station
Writer: Andy Balaskovitz
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