Sustainability in Campus Operations at Three Higher Education Institutions in Tompkins County, New...
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Sustainability in Campus Operations at Three Higher Education Institutions in Tompkins County, New York Nick Goldsmith TAITEM Engineering, PC AASHE Conference
Sustainability in Campus Operations at Three Higher Education
Institutions in Tompkins County, New York Nick Goldsmith TAITEM
Engineering, PC AASHE Conference October 10, 2011
Slide 2
Main Argument Campuses are microcosms of society, so
sustainability solutions can be applied across many sectors AND
Tompkins County institutions are finding solutions THEREFORE
Specific actions from these schools could be implemented on a
broader scale
Slide 3
About Tompkins County Higher Ed Institutions: Cornell
University Ithaca College Tompkins Cortland Community College
Slide 4
About Tompkins County Sustainability a large focus Emissions
reduction goals: 80% by 2050 20% by 2020 HE sector represents 31%
of the countys carbon footprint and 47% of the 2020 reductions
Slide 5
Institutional Overview CU = Cornell University IC = Ithaca
College TC3 = Tompkins Cortland Community College
Slide 6
Emissions Data CU = Cornell University IC = Ithaca College TC3
= Tompkins Cortland Community College
Ithaca College emissions > 50% from purchased electricity A
lot of buildings a lot of electricity usage Scope 1 (on-site
combustion) = 28%, dominated by natural gas use Ithaca College -
37,000 tons
Cornell Emissions 59% of emissions from on-site combustion
Cornell produces about 80% of its electricity Cornell University -
236,000 tons
Slide 13
Solutions Those are the problems What are the solutions? Case
studies show three very different examples One size does NOT fit
all
http://soundbiteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/one-size.jpg
Slide 14
Tompkins Cortland Community College Working with what they have
Sustainability budget of ~$2000 No dedicated sustainability
employees
http://www.cortlandstandard.net/articles/07192011n.html
TC3 - Waste Management Composting program Trash more than
doubled 08-09 Policy change Waste diversion rate Looking forward
All weights in U.S. Short Tons (2000 lbs.)
Slide 17
Ithaca College Sustainability is a priority Good at publicizing
efforts Example: green buildings
http://www.international.utas.edu.au/static/exchange/images/ithaca4.jpg
Slide 18
Green Buildings on Campuses LEED is popular on campuses Popular
green building certification 2007: 10% of all LEED projects were on
campuses 75% of ACUPCC signatories have agreed to build new
construction to LEED Silver standard Includes all three Tompkins
County institutions
Slide 19
Park Center was first LEED Platinum undergraduate business
facility in the world Many applicant architects Stern Publicity
Goals of new business school Improve enrollment Improve student
quality Beyond operational improvement - smart strategic move
Ithaca College - Green Buildings
Slide 20
Features and Savings Passive solar principles Super-insulated
walls Green roof Geothermal heating Advanced HVAC and lighting
controls Low-flow fixtures, Dual-flush toilets
Slide 21
IC - LEED Costs Cost premium was absolutely worth it with
energy savings Lowest electricity consumption per square foot on
campus Back of envelope calculation: incremental cost of Williams
center is paid back in 17 years
Slide 22
Cornell University Different scale 2007: ~ $4.4 billion
endowment (17th highest in the nation) 2009: completed $82 million
upgrade of power plant 2010: received $80 million gift dedicated to
sustainability research and collaboration
http://thetauepsilon.org/images/history/Cornell_University_West_Campus_Sign.JPG
Slide 23
Cornell University CHP Plant What is combined heat and power
(CHP)? $82M upgrade added two natural gas-fired combustion turbines
coupled with heat recovery steam generators 37 MW capacity Provides
80% of annual CU electricity needs Provides 90% of heating
needs
Slide 24
District Energy Steam for heating distributed via district
energy system to 150 buildings Widely used in Europe (of course)
Gaining popularity in U.S., especially on campuses > 60% of the
~550 DE systems in U.S. are on campuses
Slide 25
Benefits to CHP & District Energy Environmental Reduced CU
carbon footprint by over 20%
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/8096521.jpg
Slide 26
Benefits to CHP & District Energy Environmental Reduced CU
carbon footprint by over 20% Reduced CU carbon footprint by over
20%!! http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/8096521.jpg
Slide 27
Benefits to CHP & District Energy Environmental Reduced CU
carbon footprint by over 20% Reduced CU carbon footprint by over
20%!! NOx and SO2 emission down 55% Allowed Cornell to stop burning
coal http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/8096521.jpg
Slide 28
Benefits to CHP/District Energy Financial Justified financially
in 2005, before ACUPCC Lower life-cycle costs Traded fuel costs for
a mortgage payment
Slide 29
Conclusion These case studies are examples of how schools can
use the limited resources available to them to pursue solutions
that make sense to their specific situation. CHP/District Energy
Fuel switching: coal to anything Green Building Policies Waste
management
Slide 30
Thanks for watching! Nick Goldsmith Email:
[email protected]@taitem.com Phone: 607.277.1118 x133
TAITEM Engineering, PC Technology As If The Earth Mattered