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Exploring the history of sustainability efforts at NC State University, detailing campus growth, sustainability commitments, and actions towards climate neutrality. Learn about campus-wide collaboration for a sustainable future.
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WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? “……development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” • Our Common Future/Brundtland Report, UNWCED WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
SUSTAINABILITY IS ABOUT BALANCE Triple bottom line: • People matter • Economy matters • Environment matters
SUSTAINABLE DREAM WORLD Renewable energy Strong workforce Clean water Balanced population Economically diverse Mobility Zero waste Wise water use Healthy citizens Stable society Clean air Safe communities Community participation Energy efficient Educated citizens Livable wages & prosperity
NC STATE AS A SMALL CITY 32,872 - Students 2,040 - Faculty 6,000 - Staff Population • Charlotte - 630,478 • Raleigh - 356,321 • Greensboro - 255,000 • Winston-Salem - 222,655 • Durham - 209,009 • Fayetteville - 203,000 • Cary - 112,414 • High Point - 100,342 • Wilmington - 99,623 • Greenville - 75,482 • Asheville - 72,789 • Jacksonville - 69,688 • Gastonia - 68,541 • Concord - 56,241 • Rocky Mount - 55,519 • Chapel Hill - 51,478 • Burlington - 44,935 • Wilson - 44,518 • NC State – 40,912
GROWTH • Increased total full time student enrollment by 4.8% (baseline 2001-02) • Student enrollment predicted to grow 25% over next decade We must meet growth and sustainability challenges for the long-term
HISTORY OF SUSTAINABILITY ON CAMPUS • 1999 – Univ. Council approved the Commitment to Environmental Sustainability - Guiding Principles - First Sustainability Officer appointed to oversee sustainability • 2000 - Environmental Sustainability Task Force issued 5 recommendations • 2001 – Created Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling • 2003 – Established Campus Environmental Sustainability Team (CEST) to accomplish goals of Task Force - Created Office of Energy Management - CEST recommended environmental assessment • 2006 – Released campus environmental assessment • 2008 – Chancellor signed ACUPCC and declared Year of Energy - Created University Sustainability Office • 2009 – CEST became Administrative Advisory Council
AMERICAN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS CLIMATE COMMITMENT • Addresses global warming through a commitment to work towards climate neutrality • Co-organized by AASHE, ecoAmerica and Second Nature • 657 signatories nation-wide • NC State signed the ACUPCC in 2008
REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACUPCC • Within two months of signing this document, create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the plan • Within one year complete a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and update the inventory every other year thereafter • Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral • Initiate two or more tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being developed • Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available Source- http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/html/commitment.php
NC STATE UNIVERSITY’S TANGIBLE ACTIONS • U.S Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Standard or equivalent • U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Partner • Provide access to public transportation
WHAT IS A GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY? For the purposes of the ACUPCC, a GHG inventory quantifies your campus carbon “paw print” in terms of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year (MTeCO2/yr)
WHAT IS A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN? • A comprehensive plan including a target date and interim milestones for how NC State will reach climate neutrality • Will include the following sections: • Introduction • Campus Emissions • Mitigation Strategies • Educational, Research and Community Outreach Efforts • Financing • Tracking Progress
CEST MISSION AND VISION(Adopted Spring 2009) • Who we areThe Campus Environmental Sustainability Team (CEST) is a visionary, action-oriented group dedicated to learning about and advancing campus sustainability. • MissionOur mission is to create and implement multifaceted strategies across sustainability components that result in NC State as an environmentally, socially and economically balanced university. • VisionCEST catalyzes campus wide collaboration and shared responsibility to transform NC State into a sustainable community.
CEST WORKING GROUPS • Academics and Research • Buildings • Energy and Water • Materials and Purchasing • Land Use • Transportation • Waste Reduction and Recycling www.ncsu.edu/sustainability/cest.php
CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM ChancellorAppoint Co-Sustainability Officers Approve CEST recommendations Executive OfficersReview & forward CEST recommendations Co-Sustainability Officersfor Operations & Academics/ResearchCo-chair CESTPresent CEST recommendations for endorsement Campus Environmental Sustainability TeamAdministrative Advisory CommitteeSet direction through strategic planningProvide monitoring & accountability for adhering to strategic plan and commitments CEST Working GroupsDevelop & implement strategic & tactical planning Sustainability OfficeCEST/Working Group supportAccountability/metrics/reportingCommunication & outreachEvents/Earth Week Academics/Research Buildings Energy & Water Land Use Materials & Purchasing Transportation Waste Reduction & Recycling
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIC PLAN Climate Action Plan Energy & Water Land Use Buildings Materials & Purchasing Transportation Academics & Research Waste Reduction & Recycling
Condensate & Rainwater Recovery Buildings Maintenance & Ops • Technicians’ innovation • Campus focus – energy & environment • Project criteria • Source of water • Economical method to collect and store the water • Use for the water near the collection source • Prioritize work effort • Amount of water that could be collected or saved • Life-cycle cost • Campus awareness
WATER USE 44% reduction/sq ft (2001-02 baseline)
Water Efficient Practices • Expand building metering • Housekeeping processes • 90% less water, 95% less cleaning solution • Recycled water in car wash • Recycle 75% water used • Trayless dining • Window & power washing
Condensate & Rainwater Recovery • 10 projects • 5 months • Cost: ~ $264,000 • Savings: > 10 million gallons of water • ~ 6 year payback
Inaugural LED University Why? • Pioneers of new tech • Sustainability commitment • Test, showcase, report • Energy savings • Reduced maintenance • Better quality of light (visibility & safety) • Retrofit • Right thing to do!
Energy Use North Carolina law: 20% - 30% energy reduction in state buildings
WE Recycle – Game Day Program • Cans/bottles • University avg/day: 0.5 tons • 2009 = 40% Increase • 45,620 pounds (~23 tons) in 2008
Lonnie Poole Golf Course • Designed as teaching/research facility & natural area • Restored to better use • Buffers • 3,000 plants (95% native) • Wetland areas, reestablish vegetation • Gray water for irrigation • Audubon certification http://www.lonniepoolegolfcourse.com/
UPCOMING EVENTS • Oct. 16th– S.E.E. NC State Podcast - w/John Bell of Widespread Panic • Oct. 30th – S.E.E. NC State Podcast - w/Anup Engineer, creator of PackPulse • Nov. 13th– NC State Recycles Day – e-waste Recycling at Reynolds • April 16th – Earth Day Concert on Lee Field • April 22nd– Earth Day on the Brickyard
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED? • Join a CEST Working Group • Submit a Project Idea or Suggestion • Join our Listserv • Join our Facebook group www.ncsu.edu/sustainability www.ncsu.edu/sustainability/climate_impact.php
CONTACT INFORMATION David Dean (919) 513-0177 Outreach & Communications Coordinator david_dean@ncsu.edu University Sustainability Office & Office of Energy Management Join a CEST Working Group, email Tracy Dixon: tracy_dixon@ncsu.edu www.ncsu.edu/sustainability/cest.php Climate Impact: www.ncsu.edu/sustainability/climate_impact.php S.E.E. NC State Podcast: www.tinyurl.com/seencstatepodcast Friend us: www.facebook.com/ncstatesustainability