February 2008

1. February 2008 Sustaining the Green

2. Context

3. ESF Vision A better world through environmental discovery Strategic Planning Goals: Enrich academic excellence in both undergraduate and graduate education Provide an outstanding student experience Be the “go-to” institution with a strong and visible reputation Become financially secure and independent Strategically build and enhance partnerships and collaborative relationships Respond to the needs of society Invest in ESF’s human resources and physical infrastructure

4. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus New Programs • Bioprocess Science • Renewable Energy • Recreation Resource and Protected Area Management • Sustainable Construction Management • Urban Environmental Science Enrich academic excellence in both undergraduate and graduate education Develop minors that incorporate sustainability Examine opportunities for renewable energy major and graduate programs.

5. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus Provide an outstanding student experience Enhance service/activity based learning opportunities to engage students in the analysis and operations of our sustainability projects.

6. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus Be the “go-to” institution with a strong and visible reputation President’s Climate Commitment of Carbon neutral by 2015 is aggressive. Be viewed as a institution committed to sustainability (STARS score) Communications, including enhanced sustainability web presence – branded “Sustaining the Green”, to let people know what we are doing. Outreach to the community and beyond with international sustainability conferences and campus speakers.

7. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus Become financially secure and independent Rapidly rising energy costs threaten financial security and represent significant business risk. Sustainable energy projects (energy supply and conservation/efficiency) are economically viable, and significantly reduce the College’s financial risk exposure. Enhanced focus on “green” purchasing, recycling, green infrastructure and practices will also strengthen the College’s financial position.

8. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus Strategically build and enhance partnerships and collaborative relationships Opportunities to enhance partnerships with design, engineering, service and other biomass/energy businesses. On campus projects (e.g. Gridlogix) to demonstrate vendor technologies, and meet our energy information/technology needs. Off campus projects to demonstrate ESF research and technology. Solvay Waste Bed Reclamation

9. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus Engineers without Borders in Honduras, 2008 Respond to the needs of society Student service – sustainability in the community. Center for Community Design and Research

10. Vision 2020 Sustainability Focus Invest in ESF’s human resources and physical infrastructure Funding for sustainability projects Resources – engaging student resources, develop funding from a share of energy savings Green projects that reduce resource use

11. We have more to do! Task: develop a sustainability plan consistent with the vision and priorities! • Campus energy use per square foot has grown since 1989-90, this compares with SUNY system goal of 37% reduction by 2010. • ESF’s carbon footprint was 10,948 tons (CO2) in 2007. • Need to Improve sustainability rating using the AASHE STARS as framework. • Significant increases in prices and costs of steam, and other purchased energy. • Do our existing policies and procedures incorporate sustainability? • Where/how we travel, purchase, construct, operate? • Consider alternatives to existing practices to save energy? • Do we track research or courses in sustainability?

12. Facility Energy Use: 2006-7 Greenhouse Gas (CO2) (major sources) Electric 4506 tons Steam 3847 tons Natural Gas 690 tons Propane 318 tons Fuel Oil 539 tons Transportation 1057 tons Total 10,948 tons

13. Sustainability Plan Plan designed to deliver 50% reduction in CO2 emissions, and to manage ESF forest properties to offset remaining CO2 emissions ESF is Committed to a Carbon Neutral Campus by 2015! Develop Sustainability Plan for ESF Draft December 2008 consistent with Strategic Plan Final with input from stakeholders by April 2009 Related activities: Completed 2007 GHG report - September 2008 Completed sustainability rating – January 2009

14. Gateway building – LEED Platinum New “zero net energy” showcase building for campus. Design includes biomass combined heat and power, PV, green roof, passive solar and rain gardens.

15. Photovoltaic & Wind Moon Library Photovoltaic Project – Install 50 kW photovoltaic array on Moon Library roof to provide a significant visual display opportunity and double campus PV. Adirondack Photovoltaic Project – Install 50 kW total photovoltaic arrays to demonstrate solar electric power in visible remote Adirondack settings (AEC and Ranger School). Urban Wind Project – Install 5 vertical turbines (50 kW total capacity) on Illick Hall to demonstrate building based urban wind systems.

16. Conservation and Efficiency • Reduce purchased Electricity and Steam by 30% through energy conservation and efficiency. • Implement an energy audit with NYPA 2009. • Key measure: lighting, HVAC, controls, heat recovery. • Annual Savings: 567 MWH Electricity (5%), 16 MLBS Steam (28%) • Cost $ 3.7 million (financed by NYPA based on savings) • Behavioral changes: goal 10% reduction in 2009. • Adjust temperature settings (new policy) and campaign to reduce energy use. • Reduce energy use, turn off computers, lights, etc… • Enhanced sustainability web presence. • Develop performance contract in 2010 RFQ/RFP to augment NYPA efforts and develop guaranteed savings for additional and efficiency and demand response measures.

17. Pilot Pellet Plant Biomass Pellet Plant and Infrastructure – The development of a pilot scale commercial grade pellet plant offers several benefits. First the plant will provide much needed pilot scale research and testing of pellets made from various biomass fuels (wood, grasses, agricultural products, and combinations). Next the plant will allow a community scale demonstration of locally produced biomass as an energy source.

18. Combined Heat and Power Biomass Combined Heat and Power Demonstrations – Traditional electric generation is approximately 35 percent efficient. A combined heat and power system has the potential to double that efficiency. In addition, a biomass system can reduce carbon emissions to virtually zero. Implement 200 kW on the main campus and 50 kW at the Ranger School. Fuel Cell/Combined Heat and Power System –Implement 400 kW Fuel Cell/CHP. This system, combined with ESF’s other renewable energy systems and conservation efforts should allow the campus to produce virtually all of its baseline energy needs. Automatic Drier/Feeder Module Gas Production Module Power Generation Module

19. Efficient Wood Heat Biomass and Efficiency Adirondack Campuses and Heiberg Forest – The focus will be to significantly reduce energy use through aggressive conservation projects, and to generate at least 50 percent of the remaining energy requirements with New York grown woody biomass.

20. Sustainability Plan • Transportation • Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. • Develop Green Energy Cooperative 2009 • 10% reduction in travel (plane & car) emissions by 2010 • CuseCar car sharing program • Green Buildings • LEED Gold+ for new housing and academic buildings, with sustainable energy focus. • Food • Increase use of local foods, recycling, composting. • Water • Reduced water use and waste water produced. • Strategies are under development

21. Campus Grounds Achieve Green Campus Distinction Reduce Maintained Turfgrass Areas by 2010 Create a Landscape That Teaches Change Maintenance Practices Address Stormwater Issues Promote Multimodal Transportation

22. Campus Grounds Potential Strategies • Maintenance Practices • Use of litterfall as mulch • Reduce or eliminate pesticide use through IPM or organic maint. program • Utilize student service courses for plant bed maintenance • Reduce trips to off-campus storage by increasing on campus facilities • Reduce mown area • Convert alternative fuel machines • Reduce snow removal to key areas only • Training to reduce/direct winter salt use • Stormwater • Convert existing buildings to green roofs where structurally feasible • Implement bioretention facilities • Implement water harvesting facilities (cisterns) • New buildings and major renovations to consider light/greywater recycling • Reduce pavement widths to minimize impervious surfaces • Increased use of porous pavement systems

23. Vegetative Carbon Sequestration • Plantings, lots of plantings • Convert to native and non-aggressive exotic plantings • Remove invasive species • Provide Research Demonstration plots (i.e. Willow) • Spaces dedicated to teaching needs (alleviating field trip demands) • Convert turfgrass areas

24. Greenway with Pervious Pavement Implement Transportation Demand Management Strategies (TDM) Increase bike parking facilities CuseCar

25. Planned CO2 Emission Reductions

26. Planned CO2 Emission Reductions

27. Sustainability Plan Budget We have secured $28.3 million in NYS funding and are leveraging that to secure economic stimulus funds, NYSERDA incentives and NYPA financing to implement the plan. PV and Wind $ 1.95 million NYPA Energy Audit $ 3.70 million Efficiency Improvements $ .80 million Pilot Pellet Plant $ 1.85 million Combined Heat and Power $ 4.90 million Biomass Heat $ .50 million Green Energy Cooperative $ .25 million Vegetative Carbon Sequestration $ .90 million Greenway/Pervious Pavement $ .95 million Carbon Sequestration Modeling $ .50 million Total New Projects $16.30 million Gateway Building $28.30 million Total $44.60 million