Montclair State University Environmental Assessment: MOU SemiAnnual Report January 26, 2011

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1 Montclair State University Environmental Assessment: MOU SemiAnnual Report January 26, 2011 Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Andrew Bellina, PE Senior Policy Advisor Jose Pillich Michael Wanser Research Analysts

2 Accomplishments Reductions of 34,880 MTCO2e Memorandum of Understanding On June 17, 2008, Montclair State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pledging to become an environmental steward by implementing a number of green initiatives that would reduce its carbon footprint and further improve our planet s environment. This partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Montclair State University has resulted in reducing energy, water and solid waste production across campus operations. Reduction in Environmental Footprint In the last two years, Montclair State University has provided four updates documenting its green initiatives. The EPA has analyzed the submitted information and generated an environmental footprint for the organization. Due to the progressive green efforts of the organization, the university has managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 34,880 MTCO2e* and saved an estimated $4,000,000 in operating expenses. *Metric Ton Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Environmental Metrics Total Sector (MTCO2e) Energy Conservation 41.8 Alternative Energy 33,549.0 Solid Waste 1,159.5 Electronics 30.0 Transportation 27.0 Green Landscaping 72.7 Total (MTCO2e) 34,880.0 Primary Initiatives Secondary Initiatives Transportation Solid Waste Electronics Alternative Energy Energy Conservation Green Landscaping 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 MTCO2e Reduction MTCO2e Reduction Measurement and Continuous Improvements EPA uses these environmental conversion models to calculate metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents: Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies (GHG) Calculator converts GHG reductions into scenarios that can be easily communicated to the public. The EPA GHG Conversion Tool which converts standard metrics for electricity, green energy, fuel use, chemical use, water use, and sustainable materials management into MTCO2e. The EPA WARM Model which helps calculate GHG emission reductions from several different waste management practices, including source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting and landfilling. The EPA Pollution Prevention (P2) Cost Calculator that estimates cost savings associated with GHG reductions. Certain environmental data points cannot be converted to MTCO2e because scientific models do not currently exist. As methodologies improve, environmental assessments will be updated to include any new GHG reduction estimates. 2

3 Accomplishments Reductions of 34,880 MTCO2e Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies What does the reduction of 34,880 MTCO2e represent? The organization s effort is equivalent to any one of the following: Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 6,669 vehicles Carbon dioxide emissions from 3,923,510 gallons of gasoline Carbon dioxide emissions from 81,116 barrels of oil consumed Carbon dioxide emissions from the energy use of 2,969 homes for one year Carbon dioxide emissions from 1,453,333 propane tanks used for home barbeques Carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline carried by 466 tanker trucks Carbon dioxide emissions from burning 182 railcars worth of coal 3

4 Environmental Metrics MOU Signing Date 06/17/ /13/ /17/2009 6/17/ /20/2010 Total Conversion (MTCO2e) Cost Savings (Est.) Energy Conservation/Energy Star Total Savings (MTCO2e) $30,000 Miscellaneous Energy Conservation HVAC, Chiller & Electrical Bulb Replacement(energy saving) 663 LED s 663 LED s 41.8 $30,000 Gas Savings Alternative Energy Total Savings (MTCO2e) 5, , , , , ,549.0 $3,981,068 On-Site Solar 1,725 kwh 1,725 kwh 1,725 kwh 3,450 kwh 1,725 kwh 9.0 $1,068 On-Site Wind On-Site Geothermal On-Site Combined Heat and Power (4.3MW) 2.15MW 2.15MW 2.15MW 4.3MW 2.15MW 33,540.0 $3,980,000 Purchase of Green Energy/Green Power Water Conservation/WaterSense Total Savings (MTCO2e) 0.0 $0 Miscellaneous Water Conservation Low Flow/Hands Free Faucets Low Flow Toilets Low Flow Shower Heads Low Flow Urinals Waterless Urinals Solid Waste/Industrial Materials Reuse/ Green Products Total Savings (MTCO2e) ,159.5 $16,605 Mixed Recyclables (includes Wastewise) 61.5 tons 61.5 tons 83 tons 88 tons 88 tons 1,134.7 $15,280 Reduction/Green Products Re-Use/Purch of Materials with Recycled Content Use of Recycled Steel Used in Construction Recycled C & D Waste (Construction Waste) Coal Combustion Products Composting 25,000 lbs 20,000 lbs 8,914 lbs 6,158 lbs 6,158 lbs 24.8 $1,325 Green Landscaping Total Savings (MTCO2e) $0 Green Roofs Porous Pavement Grass Green Space Integrated Pest Control Management Re-use of Collected Stormwater On-Site Re-use of Compost 25,000 lbs 20,000 lbs 8,914 lbs 6,158 lbs 6,158 lbs

5 Environmental Metrics MOU Signing Date 06/17/ /13/ /17/2009 6/17/ /20/2010 Total Conversion (MTCO2e) Cost Savings (Est.) Moisture Sensing Sprinklers Number of Trees 190 trees 190 trees 190 trees 190 trees 190 trees 47.9 Acres of Trees Reflective Roof Electronics/EPEAT Total Savings (MTCO2e) $531 Recycling of Electronics Re-Use/Donation of Used Computers 2,800 total 30.0 $531 Toner/Use of Recycled Ink Battery Recycling Purchase of EPEAT Products Mass Transit Total Savings (MTCO2e) 0.0 $0 Miles Avoided Transportation Total Savings (MTCO2e) $3,908 Hybrid Vehicles Electric Vehicles $3,908 Alternate Fuel Vehicles (ULSDF) Biodiesel Vehicles Clean Construction Vehicles Smartway Transporters Bike Racks LEED Projects Total Savings (MTCO2e) 0.0 $0 2 bldgs 2 bldgs 2 bldgs 2 bldgs 2 bldgs Silver - 10% Gold -17% Platinum -17% Misc. - Further Clarification NOX (includes vehicles) MTCO2e Savings Total (MTCO2e) 5, , , , , ,880.0 $4,032,112 Energy $30,000 Alternative Energy 5, , , , , ,549.0 $3,981,068 Solid Waste ,159.5 $16,605 Green Landscaping $0 Electronics $531 Transportation $3,908 5

6 Montclair State University Additional Green MOU Accomplishments and Cost Savings 2010 New Initiatives Food Waste Recycling On December 1, 2010, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) notified Montclair State University (MSU) that the school was one of only four recipients of a competitive grant from the Food Waste Recycling Demonstration Grant Program. With a full-time Equivalent Campus Population of 16,374 (students, faculty and staff), the grant would expand the food waste program from a current composting capacity of two tons per year to twenty-one tons. Based on the EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM), MSU estimates Incremental GHG Emissions (MTCO2e =-20). The existing aerobic in-vessel digester, which was taken out of service for cleaning and maintenance, is now back in operation. MSU will continue to utilize this unit, which is servicing one food service area, composting 2.1 tons/year (MTCO2e =-2). The school expects that spring 2011 will show a dramatic increase of composted materials with the new larger composting unit, per the NJDEP grant. Solar Energy The MSU New Jersey School of Conservation has been awarded a $2.65 Million contract from the NJ Board of Public Utilities to install a solar power system at the school in Stokes State Forest. The system is expected to generate power for the entire facility, to produce solar renewable energy credits for resale and to create data for research and training purposes. Energy Cogeneration MSU is presently circulating a RFQ/P, under the terms of the NJ Economic Stimulus Act, to solicit vendor proposals to design/finance/construct/operate the new combined heat and power plant (CHP). This new plant will replace the existing cogeneration plant with new state-of-the art technology, which will be significantly more environmentally friendly than the existing plant. The University has submitted a grant application, in support of this project, to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Site Selection For new projects, the University selects areas that are presently impervious surfaces, being either asphalt parking lots or buildings that have exceeded their useful life (versus placing new buildings in green space/pervious surfaces). Currently two new buildings are in the design phase and are being designed and constructed to LEED Silver standards. These are the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences (CELS) and New School of Business Building. General MSU has continued to promote transportation interconnectivity with the surrounding community by encouraging the use of local mass transportation, through the two NJ Transit train stations located on campus and the various bus lines that service the campus. Recent roadway re-construction and general campus improvement projects have incorporated a bikeway and bicycle parking racks. The fall 2010 semester showed a rather significant increase in the presence of bicycles on campus because of these improvements. These projects also reduced the quantity of impervious surface materials, which has reduced our storm water runoff. MSU is also undertaking a storm water plan revision with the goal of further reducing its storm water runoff. 6