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Community and Campus Sustainability Presented to Department of Energy

Community and Campus Sustainability Presented to Department of Energy Facilities Information Management System / RE Workshop. Thomas Piechota, Ph.D., P.E Associate Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Outline.

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Community and Campus Sustainability Presented to Department of Energy

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  1. Community and Campus Sustainability Presented to Department of Energy Facilities Information Management System / RE Workshop Thomas Piechota, Ph.D., P.E Associate Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

  2. Outline • Background and Drivers • National Perspective • UNLV Efforts

  3. Defining Sustainability

  4. Drivers • Climate Change • Aging infrastructure • $1.7 trillion • Growth of intermountain west • Doubling of population in next 20 years • Infrastructure Challenges • Depletion of natural resources

  5. What is Sustainability? Economic Environmental—Economic Energy Efficiency Incentives for green buildings Economic-Social Ethical business practices Fair trade Worker’s rights People, Profit, Planet Environment Social (Equity) Sustainability Environmental—Social Environmental justice Stewards of the environment Adapted from the 2002 University of Michigan Sustainability Assessment

  6. Sustainability Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission, 1987)

  7. Principles of Sustainability • Life Cycle Analysis • Systems Thinking • Resilience

  8. Outline • Background and Drivers • National Perspective • UNLV Efforts

  9. Why is this Important? Campuses use a lot resources (e.g., energy, water, waste) Students Need to break down silos Rating Systems

  10. Solar Decathlon (http://www.solardecathlon.org/ ) (Net Zero Energy Home) Efficiency Reliability Marketability

  11. Sustainability and Higher Education Outreach Research Curriculum Campus

  12. American Colleges and Universities President’s Climate Commitment Inventory of greenhouse gas emissions Climate neutral plan Integration of sustainability into curriculum Reporting of progress

  13. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

  14. Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) Education and Research Operations Planning, Administration, & Engagement Innovation

  15. How STARSWorks Self Reporting Points awarded according to reported activities Final Score is weighted plus Innovation

  16. Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) Score Needed > 85 > 65 > 45 > 23 Currently 276 institutions registered Of these, 56 have completed reporting Rating system at a glance:

  17. Outline • Background and Drivers • National Perspective • UNLV Efforts

  18. STARS– UNLV at a Glance • Education & Research 47% • Operation: 34% • Planning: 58% • Innovation: + 4 Overall 50% SILVER RATING!

  19. New Education Efforts • Solar and Renewable Energy Minor http://environmental.unlv.edu/solar/ • Undergraduate education (sustainability in the Gen Ed Core, 1st year experience) • Sustainability as a campus-wide “theme” • Internships

  20. UNLVUrban Sustainability Initiative (USI) Mission To reach out and collaborate with faculty, students, community groups, and national/international leaders in finding solutions for the quality of life challenges confronting the Las Vegas metropolitan area, Nevada, the Southwest, the nation, and world.

  21. Research Efforts • $99 million in clean energy research over last 10 years • Interdisciplinary Research Teams • Water Resources • Transportation • Health and Built Environment

  22. Nevada Infrastructure for Climate Change Science, Education, and Outreach(nvclimatechange.org)

  23. CampusRecycling Efforts • Xeriscape Environments • LEED Certified Facilities Campus Sustainability Efforts

  24. Campus Sustainability Efforts • President’s Climate Commitment • Sustainability and Energy/Water Efficiency Policy (VP for Finance and Business) • 2010 Association of Physical Plant Administrators Award for Excellence • Sustainability Council • Sustainability Interns (e.g., STARS) • Awareness events (e.g., Focus the Nation, Earthhour)

  25. Campus Sustainability Practices • Rebel Recycling • Food waste • Trayless dining • Composting • Green purchasing • Green athletic events • Advanced energy management • Water conservation

  26. LEED Certified Buildings Greenspun Hall Science and Engineering Building

  27. UNLV Utilities – Energy Use

  28. UNLV Utilities – Water Use

  29. Campus Facts • $1.83 million dollars in energy savings in 2008 • $11 million dollars saved in utility costs since 2001 • 697 tons of material recycled in 2009 • UNLV now diverts more of its waste stream than it landfills! • 212,402 ft2 of turf removed in 2009 • 25% of the UNLV Foundation investment portfolio indexed on Dow Jones Sustainability Index

  30. Conferences • Inaugural Sustainability Summit (Nov 2007) • National Clean Energy Summit (Aug 2008, 2009, 2010) • Brookings Institute Roundtable (Oct 2008) • Sustainability and Climate Change Education Conference (Mar 2009) • North American Energy Roundtable (Mar 2009) • EarthHour (Mar 2009, 2010) • Clean Energy Forum (September 2010) • North American Energy-Water Nexus Roundtable (April 2011)

  31. Community Partners • City of Las Vegas • Las Vegas Springs Preserve • Regional Transportation Commission • NV Energy • Southern Nevada Water Authority • Clark County

  32. Outreach – USI Websitehttp://urban21.unlv.edu

  33. QUESTIONS

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