Southern Illinois University Sustainability Action Plan Benjamin Newton, PhD candidate Environmental Resources and Policy [email protected] Kris Schachel,

Southern Illinois University Sustainability Action Plan

Benjamin Newton, PhD candidate Environmental Resources and Policy

[email protected]

Kris Schachel, Sustainability [email protected]

Grassroots Students Engagement

• History of Green Fund• Green Fund Projects 2009- current• Sustainability Council• Climate Assessment 2010-2011 • Sustainability Action Plan 2011

- Interdisciplinary Environmental Resources and Policy, Plant Biology, Speech Communication, and Agriculture

• Sustainability Coordinator July 2012

History of Green Fund

Fall 2007 - Students launched Project EcoDawgs to help the University establish a funding mechanism for furthering sustainability efforts. EcoDawgs’ goals were to enact a Green Fee and form a Sustainability Council to oversee it.

Spring 2008 – In Undergraduate Student Government elections, overwhelming 73% of voting students passed the Green Fee proposal in campus wide referendum.

July 2008 – Then-Chancellor Sam Goldman appointed the first SIU Sustainability Council to make campus-wide recommendations concerning sustainability and allocate revenue generated by the Green Fee.

May 7, 2009 – The SIU Board of Trustees unanimously passed the $10 per semester student Green Fee. The fee went into effect Fall 2009.

Green Fund Projects

Sustainability Council 2012Students:• Makayla Bonney, Chair – graduate student in Geography• Alison Crim – undergraduate in Geography• Eric Wilber – J.D. Law student

Faculty:• Matt Therrell – Geography & Environmental Resources• Craig Anz – Architecture• Steve Belletire – Art & Design

Staff:• Justin Harrell – Engineer at Physical Plant Service• Chef Bill Connors – Food Service Chef and University Housing• Corne Prozesky – Associate Director at Recreational Sports &

Services

SIU Climate Assessment 2001-2010https://sites.google.com/a/siu.edu/siuclimate/

• 80% of GHG emissions are from buildings

• On campus 3 MW coal plant 40% of emissions, but generates 14% of annual energy

• 50, 000 tons of coal per year

• Purchased electricity 40% of GHG emissions, 86% of annual energy

• Natural Gas between 2-4% of GHG emissions

SIU Climate Assessment-Travel• 2010 Faculty, staff, and student

commuting and financed travel annual GHG emissions average of 8%

• 8622 travel destinations

• Great Circle Mapper www.gcmap.com and Google Maps

• Faculty/staff by automobile 2,054,708 miles

• 70% of overall emissions is from air travel 6,700,374 miles

SIU Climate Assessment- Solid WasteAverage 5000 tons per year

No methane recovery at Southern Illinois Landfill

Solid Waste Offsets from Compost and Recycling

Sustainability Action Plan Strategies

1.Energy Efficiency Feasibility Study 120,000 MW2.Clean and Renewable Energy Sources3. Reduction in Transportation Emissions4. Reduce Business Travel5. Improve Grounds Operations6. Solid Waste Offsets from Composts and Recycling FY 2010- FY 2012 22% increase in tons recycled7. Increased Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

• Task 1 Plant Services and Operations have reduced electricity use by 14% since 2001– Motion sensors/energy strips– Maximum natural light– Move to LED

• Task 2 Four new facilities, LEED standards?• Task 3 Improve building envelopes• Task 4 Measure efficiency of current green roof• Task 5 Improved monitoring through energy

dashboard

Renewable Energy Sources• Task 6- Photovoltaics currently 28 kW • Task 7- 1.6 MW Wind turbine feasibility study

Reductions in Transportation Emissions

• Task 8- Ride share program (in student center)• Task 9- Carpooling and efficient car parking• Task 10- Bike lanes and rental program• Task 11- Telecommuting• Task 12- Online courses

Reduce Business Travel Emissions

• Task 13- Track business travel mileage

• Task 14- Student project to determine travel destinations served by Amtrak

• Task 15- Hybrid or biodiesel fleet

• Task 16- Carpooling and rideshare

• Task 17- Online meetings

Improving Grounds Operations

• Task 18- Rain barrels potential for irrigation• Task 19- Permeable pavement • Task 20- Green star certification for grounds crew• Task 21- Increase native plants on campus, reduce

mowing• Task 22- Integrated pest management strategies• Task 23- Spot fertilize• Task 24- Buffer strips to improve water quality

Solid Waste Offsets from Composting and Recycling

• Task 25- 22% increase in solid waste recycled FY 2010-FY 2012

• Task 26- Amount of food waste vermicomposted

Increased Involvement of Interdisciplinary groups

• Task 27- Annual commuter survey• Task 28- Annual paper used by department• Task 29- Incorporating all tasks above into

curriculum• Task 30- Sustainability Network

1. Proximity

2. Student, faculty, and staff population

3. Existence of coal fired power plant on campus

4. Innovative alternatives

University of Illinois at ChicagoUIC- seven climate action plan strategies

• 1. Energy Efficiency and Conservation• 2. Clean and Renewable Energy

Sources• 3. Improved transportation options• 4. Improved Grounds Operations• 5. Recycling and reduced waste

streams• 6. Employment strategies• 7. Education, Research, and Public

Engagement

UIC increased emissions in 2010 to due to purchasing electricity on the wholesale market, away from energy provider with more nuclear power

Cornell University• 2010 received first annual

climate leadership award

• “No coal pledge”

• Reduced GHG emissions by 25% since 2009, combined heat and power plant

• Coal replaced with natural gas

Ball State University

• In February of 2009, transition to phase out four coal fired boilers to geothermal fields.

• The geothermal system is the largest in the United States, 4100 boreholes and two energy stations.

• Eliminate 85,000 tons of carbon dioxide • Electricity demand for the geothermal system will

still result in approximately half of the boiler emissions.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Abbott's natural gas capacity can provide almost enough steam to meet campus demand by itself- Since 2008 reduced emissions 11%- Reduction in building energy use 40% by 2025 - Eliminate coal combustion by 2017

Portland State - Solid waste is 41% of all emissions- Currently 30% recycled, aiming for 90% diversion by 2030- 100% of electricity from renewable sources in 2010- EcoWiki (sustainability action hub) and sustainability pledge- Goal carbon neutral by 2040

• Coal conversion to natural gas– Reduction in CO2e???– Bottom up life cycle analysis

of shale gas

• Geothermal- large investment $$$

• Recycling diversion rates

• Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard 25% by 2025– 1.6 MW wind turbine 4%– Photovoltaic systems

• Sustainability Council and Student Network