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Sustainability at MxCC

Sustainability at MxCC. Where Are We and Where Are We Headed?. State of Connecticut Priorities Governor’s Goal. Governor Dannel Malloy has established the goal: “ T o make Connecticut the most energy-efficient state in the country.”

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Sustainability at MxCC

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  1. Sustainability at MxCC Where Are We and Where Are We Headed?

  2. State of Connecticut PrioritiesGovernor’s Goal Governor Dannel Malloy has established the goal: “To make Connecticut the most energy-efficient state in the country.” Connecticut is currently ranked number 8 behind California, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Rhode Island. Source: Current Status of the Energy Efficiency Programs and Issues in the 2012 IRP Jeff Schlegel, Energy Efficiency Board Consultant DEEP IRP Stakeholder Meeting September 19, 2011

  3. State of Connecticut PrioritiesLegislative Goals Public Act 11-80 requires the Governor to reduce the rate of energy consumption in all buildings owned and operated by the state as follows: • 10% by January 1, 2013 • 10% more by 2017 The Governor’s plan includes 25% from higher education buildings controlled by the Board of Regents. • DEEP Lead-By-Example Initiative Source: www.ct.gov/deep

  4. MxCC’s Strategic Plan Sustainability Priority We will work to achieve more sustainable practices as an institution, encourage sustainable initiatives at the college and in the community, and provide increased opportunities in sustainability education while encouraging good citizenship and global awareness.

  5. MxCC’s Strategic Plan Sustainability Priority – Action Steps • Educate students, staff, and the community in the importance of sustainable practices. • Seek ways to maximize the efficient use of resources, personnel, and facilities on campus to minimize waste and lower costs. • Improve recycling and seek ways to reduce use of natural resources. • Work to reduce the college’s carbon footprint. • Work with the community to promote improved transportation options. • Evaluate and explore the college’s land use to achieve maximum benefit for educational, environmental, and community use. • Develop new courses, curricula, and training programs supporting sustainable principles and incorporate ideas into existing offerings where possible. • Engage state and community groups to partner in developing sustainable initiatives to benefit local communities.

  6. MxCC Resource FactsGarbage We generate approximately 1200 cubic yards of garbage per year costing us about $9,000 annually. • (2) 5-yard dumpsters emptied twice a week • (1) 3-yard dumpster emptied once a week • This equals 242,400 gallons • Or approximately 100 tons of garbage • Main garbage contractor is CWPM, based in Plainville, CT Questions: • What’s in our garbage? How many recyclables? • What happens to our garbage? (trash-to-energy plant?) • Could we save by compacting? Inspecting?

  7. MxCC Resource FactsRecycling We currently recycle in separate limited containers: • Glass Bottles & Aluminum Cans • Plastic containers • Cardboard (special dumpster) • Paper (All types) - in offices only Most redeemable items picked-up by cleaning crew Other Items Picked-up by Special Request: • Office Furniture • Computers • Equipment

  8. MxCC Resource FactsPaper Use • We used over a million and a half pieces of paper last year (303 cases). • Costing $12,000; • Equal to 15,150 pounds (or 7½ tons) of paper; • Roughly equivalent to 130 trees; • With 30% of paper content being recycled (saving about 50 trees; otherwise it would have been 180). • We spent an additional $30,000 on printing & copying about 1.3million sides of paper (on leased copiers). Questions: • Can we reduce overall paper use? How? • Increase double-sided printing/copying? • Increase use of electronic resources, like Blackboard? • Can we increase recycled content of paper to 50% or more?

  9. MxCC Energy UseFacility Sources Electricity – CL&P • Based on state contract through system office • Includes energy from 25% renewable sources • Hot Water from separate electric water heaters, set at 120° Heat – Heating Oil – East River Oil Co. • Individually contracted by MxCC • Combined boiler/radiator/chiller system for three older buildings; separate Chapman system, original from 1992 • Older system updated in 1999 • Meriden heat included in rent Propane Gas - Science labs Bunsen burners Gasoline & Diesel – for college vehicles & power equipment

  10. MxCC Energy Use2010-11 Quantities & Costs

  11. MxCC Energy UseEnergy & College Budget Total 2011-12 College Budget: $21 million • Total Labor & Fringe: $12 million • Total Financial Aid: $4.3 million • Total Other Expenses: $4 million (non-capital) • Energy is about 2.4% of the total college budget • But it is 12.5% of our “Other Expenses” budget (Excluding Capital, Personnel, & Financial Aid costs) • Energy is the single largest other college expense

  12. Top College Expenses for 2010-2011 Excluding Personnel, Financial Aid, & Capital Infrastructure

  13. MxCC Energy UseHeating & Cooling The Heating & Cooling system is regulated by a central computer located in Steve Chester’s office, which allows individualized room temperature settings. Average Temperature Settings: (most rooms) Unoccupied mode = 60° (all rooms) Occupied Winter Heating = 71° Occupied Summer Cooling = 68° Question: How much can we adjust average temperature settings?? Potential savings could be substantial.

  14. Connecticut Regulations About Temperature Frequently Asked Questions • Q: Are there any regulations regarding temperatures in buildings? • A: The only temperature regulations are CT General Statute (CGS) Sec. 19a-109, which states that “When any building or part thereof is occupied as a home or place of residence or as an office or a place of business..., a temperature of less than sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit in such building or part thereof shall, for the purpose of this section, be deemed injurious to the health of the occupants...”. • There are no regulations pertaining to elevated building temperatures. Source: Connecticut Department of Public Health Indoor Environment Quality Unit (web site)

  15. Basic Common Sense Heating & Cooling Principle It should never be the case that we are too hot in the winter or too cold in the summer.

  16. MxCC Energy UseTransportation - Commuting Total Estimated Annual Commuter Miles: 6 million (give or take a couple million) = 267,000 gallons of gasoline (@22.5 mpg national average) = 1 million dollars (@ $3.75 per gallon 2011 CT average) Based on: • 116 full-time employees • 137 part-time employees (including student workers) • 225 part-time lecturers (credit & non-credit) • 1500 FTE credit students • 1500 part-time non-credit students • 700 parking spots • 20 mile average round-trip commuting distance • 250 working days f/t employees • 160 days of regular classes

  17. MxCC’s Carbon FootprintA Very Rough Estimate 3,300 - 3,730 tons of CO2 annually = 27 per 1000 sq. ft. BASED ON: • 845 tons for facility energy use (pretty accurate) = 23% • 2,885 for commuting 6 million miles (pretty rough) = 77% • building square footage /number of employees Excludes several factors in more sophisticated systems like Clean Air – Cool Planet, which we plan on using. Sources: The Carbon Neutral Company Carbon Calculator Cool Climate Network Carbon Calculator

  18. MxCC Carbon FootprintComparison

  19. Colleges & UniversitiesAverage Gross Emissions by Carnegie Class MxCC - 27 Source: American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment

  20. Colleges & UniversitiesAverage Gross Emissions Per FTE’s

  21. Energy Efficiency Steps We’ve Already Taken • Upgraded Heating Cooling System – 1999 • Installed Efficient Fluorescent Lighting – 2008 • Installed Auto Light Dimmers/Motion Sensors – 2008 • Installed More Efficient Parking Lot Lighting but . . . haven’t measured potential savings. • Initiated process of having an Energy Audit – 2012 (Sustainability Team)

  22. MxCC’s Energy Audit First Step: Free basic evaluation by William Leahy, Executive Director Institute for Sustainable Energy, ECSU And his grad students Mark Busa

  23. MxCC Energy & Sustainability Benchmarking & Action Plan • Benchmarking allows us to see exactly where we are and determine where we want to go. • Benchmarking also allows us to measure what we accomplish. • Which is why we don’t want to take any action yet! • We plan to use the Clean Air - Cool Planet program as a primary benchmarking tool. • It’s the most widely used tool in higher education.

  24. American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment • 647 current signatories nationally • Including the following Connecticut Institutions: • Manchester Community College • Norwalk Community College • CCSU • ECSU • SCSU • WCSU • University of Connecticut • Wesleyan University • Connecticut College • Trinity College • Fairfield University

  25. Text of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment We, the undersigned presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities, are deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of global warming and its potential for large-scale, adverse health, social, economic and ecological effects. We recognize the scientific consensus that global warming is real and is largely being caused by humans. We further recognize the need to reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases by 80% by mid-century at the latest, in order to avert the worst impacts of global warming and to reestablish the more stable climatic conditions that have made human progress over the last 10,000 years possible . . .

  26. First Steps Of ACUPCC Commitment • Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. • Within two months of signing this document, create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the plan. • Within one year of signing this document, complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting, and air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter. • Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral, which will include: • A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible. • Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality. • Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students. • Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality. • Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions.

  27. The Sustainability Team

  28. Sustainability TeamA Few Activities and Initiatives • Developed sustainability priority for Strategic Plan • Proposed new course in Sustainable Living • Successfully advocated for hiring fulltime faculty member in Environmental Science. • Advocated for improved recycling – new single-stream, classroom bins & cleaning contract to begin next year. • Implemented (3) sustainable landscape projects, including a community garden. • Organized annual Earth Week activities, including teaching-across-the-curriculum events. • Partnered with community groups such as Jonah Center for Earth & Art, Moving Planet, Rockwell Foundation. • Arranged One World House visit & Moving Planet events. • Organized today’s Professional Day.

  29. And . . . Sustainable Energy Resource Guide A new “Sustainable Energy Resource Guide” has been developed and added to the Library’s Web Site: http://mxcc.commnet.libguides.com/energy Joy Hansen

  30. Sustainability and Collective Commitment We’re all in this together.

  31. And now, your turn … Though we’ve got a lot more ideas we’re thinking about and working on, we’d like to hear from you. Please discuss the three questions at each table. Thank you.

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