Sustainability in Campus Operations at Three Higher Education Institutions in Tompkins County, New York Nick Goldsmith TAITEM Engineering, PC AASHE Conference October 10, 2011

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

About Tompkins County Higher Ed Institutions: Cornell University Ithaca College Tompkins Cortland Community College

About Tompkins County Sustainability a large focus Emissions reduction goals: 80% by % by 2020 HE sector represents 31% of the county’s carbon footprint… …and 47% of the 2020 reductions

Institutional Overview CU = Cornell University IC = Ithaca College TC3 = Tompkins Cortland Community College

Emissions Data CU = Cornell University IC = Ithaca College TC3 = Tompkins Cortland Community College

Emissions Breakdown Cornell University - 236,000 tons Ithaca College - 37,000 tonsTC3 - 6,000 tons Scope 1 = On-site combustion Scope 2 = Purchased electricity Scope 3 = Commuting, Air travel

TC3 emissions TC3 - 6,000 tons  50%+ of emissions from commuting alone

Emissions Breakdown Cornell University - 236,000 tons Ithaca College - 37,000 tonsTC3 - 6,000 tons Scope 1 = On-site combustion Scope 2 = Purchased electricity Scope 3 = Commuting, Air travel

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

Emissions Breakdown Cornell University - 236,000 tons Ithaca College - 37,000 tonsTC3 - 6,000 tons Scope 1 = On-site combustion Scope 2 = Purchased electricity Scope 3 = Commuting, Air travel

Cornell Emissions 59% of emissions from on-site combustion Cornell produces about 80% of its electricity Cornell University - 236,000 tons

Solutions Those are the problems… What are the solutions? Case studies show three very different examples One size does NOT fit all

Tompkins Cortland Community College Working with what they have Sustainability budget of ~$2000 No dedicated sustainability employees

TC3 - Waste Management 2009: introduced 12 recycling stations Educational campaign Student activism

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.)

Ithaca College Sustainability is a priority Good at publicizing efforts Example: green buildings

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

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

Features and Savings Passive solar principles Super-insulated walls Green roof Geothermal heating Advanced HVAC and lighting controls Low-flow fixtures, Dual-flush toilets

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

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

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

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

Benefits to CHP & District Energy Environmental Reduced CU carbon footprint by over 20%

Benefits to CHP & District Energy Environmental Reduced CU carbon footprint by over 20% Reduced CU carbon footprint by over 20%!!

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

Benefits to CHP/District Energy Financial Justified financially in 2005, before ACUPCC Lower life-cycle costs Traded fuel costs for a mortgage payment

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

Thanks for watching! Nick Goldsmith Phone: x133 TAITEM Engineering, PC Technology As If The Earth Mattered