Finding Common Ground for Sustainability: Working With EHS & Facilities Staff AASHE Conference November 10-11, 2008 Richard A. Miller, Esq. Director of Environmental Policy

University of Connecticut Established in 1881 Over 4,000 Acres at Main Campus in Storrs (Mansfield) No. 1 Public University in New England (U.S. News & World Report) Campus Sustainability Leader (SEI, 2008 Green Campus Report Card) Law & Medical/Dental Schools in Hartford area Five Regional Campuses Enrollment of 28,000 74% of students at Storrs live on-campus Member of AASHE, NECSC, C2E2

Office of Environmental Policy Environmental Compliance & Sustainability Staff Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Director Environmental Policy Env Compliance Analyst (Air & Misc.) Env Compl Analyst (Construction & Misc.) Env Compliance Analyst (Water& Misc.) Administrative Coordinator Sustainability Coordinator & OEP Student Interns Assoc VP Admin & Operations Facilities Operations Assoc VP Architectural & Engineering Services Planning & Construction Management Assoc VP Public & Env Safety EH&S

EHS/Facilities Feasibility studies  project timelines  procedures & work orders Internally-focused, provide training Bottom line/technically-oriented Priorities  assure reliability, control costs, manage risks Top down management and decision-making Regulators and NGOs as traditional adversaries Skeptical about faculty/student involvement

Sustainability Professionals Policies  initiatives  action plans Externally-focused, conduct community outreach Big picture idealists & generalists, less operational experience Priorities  environmental leadership, literacy/awareness & “triple bottom line” of sustainability Inclusive decision-making, planning by collaboration, stakeholder consensus Align with faculty/students as champions and change agents Partner with regulators and NGOs

Perspectives & Priorities OEP Develops Fuel Efficiency Guidelines EHS Policy Bans Electric Carts OEP promotes sustainable energy: Biodiesel from waste cooking Oil EHS documents oil storage problems

Perspectives on Low Impact Design Gant Plaza Green Roof UConn Rain Gardens Facilities sees: Long-term maintenance responsibilities Increased liability Unproven technologies Sustainability goals: Restore natural hydrology Reduce runoff, mitigate E&S Improve water quality

Strategies for Common Ground Ensure inclusion and shared leadership roles Pursue opportunities for collaboration with mutual benefit Recognize and reward sustainability efforts Find compliance-based drivers for sustainability projects Get buy-in at AVP/Director levels (top-down orgs) Involve EHS/Facilities in transition from sustainability initiatives to operational compliance with green laws & regulations

President Hogan Signs Pledge for Carbon-Neutral Campus – March 25, 2008 UConn President Mike Hogan signs the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment as DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy and Vice  Provost Greg Anderson observe students, faculty and staff attend PCC signing ceremony at Wilbur Cross North Reading Room 

Environmental Policy Advisory Council Recycling Workgroup Energy Workgroup Environmental Literacy Workgroup Transportation Workgroup Sustainable Development Inclusion and Shared Leadership Roles Climate Action Task Force

Collaborate for Mutual Benefit Move-Out: managing regulated wastes Aesthetics and water quality improvement Labor-saving CFL retrofits

CFLs: Charter Oak Apts. Success $tory IncandescentCFLSavings Bulb Life Hour1000 hrs8000 hrsBulbs last 8x longer Days Bulbs Last based on 8 hrs per day usage Bulbs last 875 days longer Times Changed Per Year Annual Labor Time 20 minutes per bulb hours of labor saved Annual Labor Cost Savings $22 hour labor cost $66,552$8,319$58,233 CFLs Save Energy & Labor Costs! 9-12 bulbs per apartment Half of work orders were to replace light bulbs 2007  3108 bulbs replaced with CFLs saving $58K/yr in labor costs Plus $46K/yr in energy costs saved and 280 TPY of CO2 avoided

Recognize & Reward Efforts Former President Austin welcomes UConn Environmental Leadership Award recipients and finalists during an Earth Day breakfast banquet in their honor. Chief Operating Officer Barry Feldman presents 2007 Environmental Leadership Award to Facilities Staff and Waste Hauler/Contractors

Find Compliance Drivers TMDL requires Low Impact Design projects Solid waste & CAFO regulations drive Ag Waste Compost Facility Regulators order demand-side water conservation measures

Sustainability Becoming Compliance CT Laws & Regulations: –Green Building –Green Cleaning –Fleet vehicle fuel efficiency –Energy Star purchasing –GHG emissions reductions –Renewable portfolio standards –Recycling