Greening the WM Campus

Transcription

1 Greening the WM Campus SUSTAINABILITY Living and working so as to minimize our long-term impact on the environment Why should we care? Sustainable approaches can conserve energy and resources save money and jobs, increase efficiency and reduce waste help us work more efficiently and live healthier lives reduce our carbon footprint and help save the planet

2 The President s Committee on Sustainability (COS) What is it? COS is a committee of committed students, faculty, staff, and administrators volunteering and serving together to green WM COS taps into the expertise and passion of the College COS now involves more than 120 volunteers from throughout the College How did it start? COS was designed as a response to the President s policy on sustainability and the student commitment to the Green Fee What is its purpose? to meet the College s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

3 How is it organized? Co-Chairs Lynda Butler, LAW Dennis Taylor, VIMS John Swaddle Biology Bob Dillman Facilities Rowan Lockwood Geology

4 Committee on Sustainability COS began in October 2008 Early successes Energy meters in Randolph Complex Light sensors in SWEM Recycling funding Solar cell project Stormwater project

5 STAC: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goal: To develop a comprehensive and useful model of W&M greenhouse gas emissions as a guide for decision making Achievements Developed campus greenhouse gas model Undergraduate student gathering and analyzing data to 1990 Designed and implemented a survey tool to quantify commuter and work travel contributions to greenhouse gas emissions Introduced 100% recycled paper for printing and copying, saving 90 tons of CO 2 release per year

6 STAC: Stormwater Management Goal: To develop a comprehensive model of stormwater quality and quantity at W&M in support of campus design and planning Achievements Focus on the main Williamsburg campus (amount and quality of water flowing into Matoaka) Remote recording equipment already installed Working with Geology and ENSP classes to collect data on nutrient and contaminant sources Developing a GIS based model of impervious surfaces, digital elevation, stormwater management devices, and sources of nutrients and contaminants. Greening of open space at VIMS Re vegetation of old building sites using native plants Greening and stabilizing the campus shoreline

7 FOPS: Physical Plant, Energy, and Waste Management Goal: To evaluate current plant infrastructure, energy use and waste management and reduce energy use, increase recycling and reuse and improve efficiency Achievements Recycling: Funded increased recycling ($16K), redesigned dining hall recycling Energy Installing light sensors in Swem, electric meters in Randolph and began a solar cell pilot project on Small Hall rooftop Water Replacing toilets requiring repair with low flow Replacing residence hall shower heads with low flow Installing low flow aerators on sink faucets Eliminating single pass cooling units in research labs to lower energy consumption

8 FOPS: Landscape Goal: Evaluate landscape, forestry, and other natural vegetation plans to improve soil and water conservation, storm water management, nutrient management, habitat protection, and watershed protection Achievements sponsored presentation by Steve Benz (Sasaki Associates), LEED professional and expert in sustainable site design developing a list of native plants for future campus plantings funded a storm water quality monitoring project sponsoring presentation by Dr. Anand Persad (Davey Tree Expert Company) on tree physiology

9 FOPS: Transportation Goal: Assess the impact of current transportation systems on sustainability goals and evaluate alternative systems and the impact of behavioral incentives on users Achievements Zip cars evaluated and found cost prohibitive at W&M Transportation audit in progress Carpooling resources exist as a subscription based website and are available to anyone with computer

10 PEDS: Academic Programs Goal: Assess the impact of academic programs on campus sustainability and explore how the intellectual capital and expertise of the academic programs can be tapped to promote the Sustainability Policy Achievements Implemented curricular audit Developed a list of tips on how to teach and learn sustainably in the classroom. Developed sustainability syllabus bullets for faculty use Proposal with IT to promote sustainability in the classroom Developing sustainability presentation for faculty and staff orientation Charles Center to shift their grant submissions to electronic format instead of paper

11 PEDS: Student Life Goal: To assess residence life to determine its impact on sustainability and promote behavioral change Achievements Compiled database of current initiatives relating to sustainability in the residence halls, student activities, athletics, recreational sports, etc. Developing orientation materials and Tribe Guide sustainability page to be sent (electronically) to admitted students the summer before they arrive at W&M. Developed Green Fees proposal to post signage in the residence halls encouraging water conservation, energy conservation, and recycling.

12 PEDS: Food Services Goal: Monitor and improve sustainable practices in dining services and develop programs to educate dining services staff about sustainability Achievements Improved efficiency of recycling in food services Developing priorities for food purchasing Developed sustainable menu for commencement dinner 2009 Aramark to hire 2 3 paid sustainability interns Secured pledge from Aramark to increase purchasing of sustainably produced foods to 10 15% for next year Aramark to go trayless at the Sadler Center starting next fall Green Fee proposal to start pilot program for reusable take out containers in dining halls ENSP to offer ENSP 250 course on food sustainability in spring 2010

13 PEDS: Continuing Education and Outreach Goal: To promote non traditional education programs, maintain the COS website and evaluate the role of staff in promoting campus sustainability Achievements Developed COS website, including database of facilities initiatives, sustainability tips, news articles, links, etc. Presented recycling orientation to HACE members Successful Green Fee proposal to establish Eco Ambassador program Developing sustainability brochure to be distributed to all staff with orientation packet Developing sustainability booth at Benefits Fair

14 Green Fees 2008/2009 In the current academic year, the Green Fee generated $208,845

15 GREEN FEE PROJECTS Fall 2008 SPRING 2009 Energy Meters in Randolph Complex Light Sensors in SWEM Library Campus Recycling Solar Cell Project on Small Hall Stormwater Management Research Tyler Hall HVAC Upgrade Washington Hall HVAC Upgrade Swem Library Towel Dispensers VIMS: Lighting in Hargis Library Eco House Energy Monitoring Reduce Your Use Athon Campus Kitchen Green Containers Eco Ambassador Program Green Roof Feasibility Study GreenBoard Reusable Takeout Pilot Study VIMS: Green Team Motion Sensors Waste Receptacle Pilot Study Student Life Signage

16 2009 Summer Research Grants Judi Sclafani and Tyler Koontz: Research on alternative cost options and possible obstacles to a self sustaining campus wide recycling program. Advisors: Rowan Lockwood (Geology) and Sandra Prior (Facilities Management) Margaret Challand: Research on water quality in the College stormwater management system. The goal of the project is to quantify water quality issues and identify problem areas as an to aid campus planning and mitigation efforts. Advisor: Randy Chambers (Biology/Environmental Studies) Connor Horne: Research in collaboration with Dining Services to develop a program for sustainable food procurement emphasizing increased reliance on locally produced foods, and sustainably grown agricultural products. Advisors: Eric Engstrom (Biology) and Larry Smith (Dining Services)

17 Looking Ahead In COS COS leverages Green Fee $ to operate more efficiently Washington Hall HVAC project will save $7,600/year and has a payback on investment of 3 years COS leverages support from other campus, local and regional organizations to expand our impact SEAC, Aramark, Back Porch Energy, CCAN, Real Food, VIMS Green Team Aramark will fund 3 student interns ($20,000 in kind contribution) Real Food is collaborating to increase our use of locally produced foods COS stimulates the integration of teaching, research and service throughout the W&M community Students are working with staff and faculty to establish Eco House as an experiment in sustainable living Eco Ambassadors will pair students and staff to green departments and units across the College

18 Looking Ahead In COS Our future agenda includes development of a green procurement guide, analysis of greenhouse gas data, evaluation of our recycling program, and continued greening of food services Sustaining the COS effort Build from community involvement Improve communication and outreach Strengthen the administrative structure