RPI Sustainability Charrette April 17-18, 2009 Team Pollution

1. RPI Sustainability CharretteApril 17-18, 2009Team Pollution Mike Allard, Ahu Aydogan, Kandall Baldwin, Anna Dyson, Kevin Luczak, Lisa Muscanell, Nat Springer, Jason Vollen

2. Overview 1. Visual Indicators of Residence Hall Water Consumption 2. Utilization of Cogeneration 3. Local DC Grid Powered by Renewable Energy Sources 4. Greening ResLife 5. Sustainability Programming 6. RPI Center for Human Physiology and Energy Capture 7. Green Bank

3. 1. Indicators for Water Usage in Showers • Colored Visual / Verbal indicators / cues that measures and expresses amount of water being used in gallons, energy being used for hot water, time in the shower • Immediate return from direct behavioral changes • Could potentially increase awareness of impact of everyday behavior amongst student population • Cost of innovation and implementation could be high • May need to be driven by outside entrepreneur • Possible system could be developed to put quota on amount of water per student per use; charges would go to sustainability fund via ID card • Goal: Each student living in RPI residences is limited to a 20 minute shower to reduce water consumption without paying

4. 2. Cogeneration with Boilers • Plans for utilizing cogeneration on campus were made in 1990, but were turned down to cost-effectiveness • Cogeneration can still be used in many locations on campus • The heat released from the inefficiency of systems, such as the boiler system, introduces opportunity to directly apply it or to convert it to energy, electricity or direct application

5. 3. RPI shift to energy self-sufficiency: pros • Economic Benefit to RPI as local power generator • Tax and Stimulus Incentives and reduce initial cost to provide fast ROI • Takes Troy off National Grid lowers residents costs • Less transmission losses through • Test bed case gives RPI International Recognition • We already research wind, solar, and grid • Offsets high carbon footprint further leveraging local / regional carbon credits • Its free to form a university / local gov’t committee to explore feasibility and provide cost feedback analysis • Low-tech compared to other grid technologies • Promotes large scale significant change

6. 3. RPI shift to energy self-sufficiency: cons • Long term planning required • Local gov’t buy-in required • Original investment ROI is difficult to predict due to changes in energy costs • Requires new infrastructure which may be disruptive to RPI/Troy

7. 4. Greening Residence Life • Working off of current ResLife Program • RA / RD in dormitories provide sustainability programs • RA / RD / LA receive sustainability training in August / January as part of their other training in safety, peer mentoring, CPR training etc. • Positions offer students certification in LEED or equivalent – highly recommended for position • Serve as direct advisers for Eco-Hall Challenge • “Green Rules” implemented in dorms (i.e. water reduction and heat conservation) • Goal: Incorporate education, awareness, and lifestyle changes into residence life experience

8. 5. Sustainability Programming - ResLife In junction with ResLife LA / Social programming already implemented • Organized group field trips to local sustainable companies (ieEcovative), cogeneration plants at landfills, farmers markets • Panel session incorporating guests from ESW, Ecologic, SSTF, Sustainability and Design course students, Professors researching sustainably, environmental educator (analagous to health educator on campus) • LEED certification (incorporate into PD1-PD3 classes) • Eco-Hall sessions to brainstorm implementation ideas for competitive learning and making informed lifestyle decisions • Promoting awareness of on campus resources, clubs, initiatives, centers, websites through social networking • Utilize resources from environmental educator in the Sustainability Office • Goal: to increase and improve sustainability as part of a lifestyle living at RPI

9. 4. & 5. Greening Residence Life: Impacts Environmental Ease of energy cutbacks in dormitories has been shown through EcoHall Challenge to make a difference Economical Less energy consumption directly relates to lesser costs Cultural Behavioral Changes RPI would be first in country to have LEED certification offered for all first year students in residence halls and a unique RA / RD / LA program

10. Greening ResLife Sustainability at Rensselaer, SSTF

11. Project 6: Capturing Human Energy Research Initiative • Focus on technologies that capture energy from human motion, movement, exercise, and athletics • Partner with Mueller Center to test and showcase ideas and innovations • Also potential carbon footprint reduction of campus exercise facilities

12. Stakeholders • Potential departmental research • Mechanical, electrical, PDI group, cognitive science, physics • Athletics/Mueller Center • Private investors/product development

13. Potential Energy Gains • Mueller Center Energy Use • Between 900 and 1500 KWH/day • Human energy use per machine • 150 watts/hour average person (100 – 500 wH/range)

14. Impact and Implementation • Short-term: purchase existing technology for energy reduction • Long-term: New green technological research focus at RPI • Implimentation • Survey departments for current research tied to this area of focus • Use sustainabilty center • To generate student/faculty interest • Work with Mueller center for implimentation

15. Project 7: Green Bank • Inflow • Student Sustainabilty Fee • Alumni Donations • Energy efficiency 'credits' for on-campus improvements • Capital re-investment program • Outflow • Sustainability Projects • Sustainability Center/Professional

16. Flow diagram

17. Stakeholders • Students • Alumni and Alumni Outreach • Financial Operations • Sustanability Center/Coordinator • Green capital project leaders

18. Student Sustainability Fee • $5/semester = $60,000 year • $50/semester = $600,000 year • Stakeholders • Students • Campus community • Impact • Short-term way to raise funds for green projects • Cost-benefit analysis of different size fees • Positive environmental and social impact

19. Implementation • Require as part of enrollment • Invest specifically in visible capital projects for student body • Costs • Student backlash for tuition hike/mantitory fee • Payback • Community visibility/self-involvment in green projects and culture • Consistent flow of funds for green projects

20. Green Endowment • Alumni can 'tag' funds for sustainable projects • Stakeholders • Endowment administrators • Alumni Relations • Alumni • Impact: All positives on triple-bottom-line • Implementation: • Market in alumni communications • Cost: minimal • Payback: large

21. Energy Efficiency/Green Capital Investment “Credits” • Savings (rents) from energy-efficiency improvements and capital projects flow back into fund • Impact: • Create incentive for sustainable practices if 'double-dividend' is promised for reinvestment of savings • Accounting for economic sustainablity of green campus projects

22. Implementation • Develop framework for separate accounting of sustainable projects • Develop plan for expected payback • Costs: • Cannot spend savings to reduce tuition, increase salaries, general endowment, etc. • Payback • Multiplier effect on sustainability projects • Institutionalize framework of assessing triple-bottom line in campus projects

23. Outflow: Sustainable Projects • Bank can 'lend' money for sustainablity projects • Accept proposals from campus clubs, individual departments, operations, etc. • Spent in large capital projects with intention of expanding long-term bank endowment • Work in concert with sustainability center to make sure funds are really going toward sustainable projects

24. Implementation • Create link between financial operations and sustainability center/coordinator • Develop framework for proposal submission, metrics, and acceptance • Costs: Administrative costs for set-up, maintenance • Payback • Short-term: small fund from sustainabilty fee • Medium-term: energy efficiency improvements • Long-term: large capital projects