Wagner College Climate Action Plan: Goal of Carbon Neutral by 2050 March 2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to those at Wagner College that have worked to create a sustainable future and pledge to make the Campus climate neutral by 2050. The following are members of the Campus Sustainability Committee who have helped with the information contained in this Climate Action Plan: David Martin William Mea Stephen Preskill Brian Palestis Roger Wesby Celeste Gagnon Ruta Shah-Gordon Laura Barlament Danny Switzer Tim Shaffer Samantha Siegel Robert Soltmann Keila McCracken, Student Gary Giordano, Student Mark Carles, Student 2
Table of Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 3 II. COLLEGE GENERAL AND ENERGY PROFILE... 5 III. STRATEGIC PLAN... 7 IV. PROJECT TIMELINE PROGRESS... 8 V. COMPONENTS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN... 8 EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND OTHER EFFORTS... 8 A. EDUCATION: THE CURRICULUM... 9 B. EDUCATION: EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES... 9 C. RESEARCH: CLIMATE NEUTRALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY... 10 D. COMMUNITY OUTREACH... 10 E. OTHER EFFORTS... 11 VI. CAMPUS EMISSIONS... 11 VII. MITIGATION STRATEGIES... 12 A. SOLAR... 12 B. CHP... 13 C. HVAC AND CONTROLS UPGRADES... 13 D. LIGHTING... 13 E. BIKE FRIENDLY CAMPUS... 13 VIII. STRATEGIES ENERGY AND CARBON REDUCTION... 14 IX. FINANCING STRATEGIES... 15 X. CONCLUSION... 15 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
In 2011, Wagner College President Richard Guarasci, Ph.D signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), in support of eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions on campus. In 2013, Wagner College completed and reported to ACUPCC a Greenhouse Gas Inventory that provided an emissions breakdown of the College. Wagner College s Climate Action Plan is an outline that defines the College s plan to achieve climate neutrality through environmentally responsible methods and leadership. As specified in the ACUPCC, at least two of the seven recommended Tangible Actions must be implemented within two years of signing the commitment. Wagner College has executed two of the recommended Tangible Actions: Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent. This Policy has been submitted with this Plan. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution. Wagner College offers a free shuttle service: 1. Shuttle service stops on campus include: Main Campus Entrance Gazebo (by Lower Tier) and on the roadway between Parker Hall and the rear of Foundation Hall. 2. Shuttle service to and from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. In 2012-13, Wagner College finalized a comprehensive energy study through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority s (NYSERDA) FlexTech Program. R3 Energy Management Audit & Review LLC was the consultant that assisted with the completion of the FlexTech Report. This Report detailed existing conditions and recommendations for energy efficient and environmentally responsible projects that are to be completed on campus. The Climate Action Plan strategizes the ways in which Wagner is to target and reduce large emissions sources, identify ways to create a more sustainable campus, and set a timeline for completing projects and achieving climate neutrality. Below is the timeline Wagner College has set for the ACUPCC: 4
ACUPCC Requirement Timeline Implementation of ACUPCC January 15, 2012 Greenhouse Gas Inventory March15, 2013 Climate Action Plan March 15, 2014 Greenhouse Gas Annual Reporting 2013 - Ongoing Execute CAP 2014 - Ongoing Progress Report March 15, 2016 Achieve Carbon Neutrality 2050 II. COLLEGE GENERAL AND ENERGY PROFILE Founded in 1883, as the Lutheran Proseminary of Rochester, NY, Wagner College is a private, co-education, liberal arts college currently located in Staten Island, NY. The College relocated to its current location in 1918 through the efforts of the New York Ministerium, a Lutheran church organization in control of Wagner since 1888. The College has grown significantly from a starting class size of six students in 1883 to a student body of over 2,000 students from over thirty different states and ten different countries. The College has nationally recognized academic and theater programs. The Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts is an academic program that is enhanced by a rich array of internship and other professional and cultural opportunities readily available in New York City. It has been cited by the American Association of Colleges and Universities as a national case study exemplar. The theater program showcases the talents of Wagner s students in our Main Stage theater, the Main Hall auditorium, and our studio performance space, Stage One. Wagner College was the only college or university in New York State recognized by U.S. News & World Report (2013) for three or more high-impact programs: First-Year Experience, Learning Communities, and Service Learning. In the Princeton Review s Best 377 College (2013), Wagner is cited on the following lists: Class Discussions are Encouraged, Great Schools for Education Majors, Great Schools for Health Services Majors, and Best College Theater. College Energy Profile: Wagner College s fourteen buildings on their main campus consume energy in the form of electricity, natural gas, and No. 2 fuel oil. There are two natural-gas fired boilers located at the Power House supplying heat to the main hot water loop. This loop serves absorption chillers as well as the heating and domestic hot water loads 5
for five of the buildings on campus. Other buildings on campus have storage tanks or heat exchangers for DHW circulation. The seven remaining buildings not served by the boilers in the Power House, have boilers that serve the respective building. Six of the remaining buildings have boilers that have natural gas as the fuel input. Two of these buildings switched from fuel oil to natural gas in 2013. All other buildings have a fuel input of No. 2 fuel oil. Figure 1. Energy Consumption Profile of Wagner College by MMBTU Energy Souce Percentage (MMBTU) Electricity 23% Fuel Oil (No. 2) 26% Natural Gas 51% The above shows the campus is reliant on natural gas, and currently has the goal of switching the remaining oil consumption to natural gas, thus reducing the energy cost and carbon footprint of the campus. The College is moving forward with gas conversions for the Towers and the Library. At the Library, the boilers and burners will be replaced to new boilers with duel fuel burners. For the Towers, the College will change the burners to duel fuel burners as well. 6
Figure 2 (below) identifies and breaks out the percentages for the source of emissions on Wagner s campus. This chart is used to identify mitigation strategies. Figure 2. 2012 Emissions University Financed Travel 1% 2012 Emissions Direct Transportation 1% Study Abroad Travel 0% Commuting 33% On-Campus Stationary 34% Purchased Electricity 31% III. STRATEGIC PLAN Through mitigation strategies, Wagner College will reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions and commit to the wellness of our environment. Initiatives include: Establishing a campus-wide policy and enhancing programs that support campus sustainability and green efforts Providing opportunities and educational programs for students, staff, and faculty through community service Eliminating the consumption of fuel oil that contributes harmful greenhouse gas emissions to the environment Producing renewable energy through a combined heat and power (CHP) system and solar energy 7
Energy conservation and efficiency IV. PROJECT TIMELINE PROGRESS As specified in the ACUPCC, the College has already fulfilled the following of the commitment: terms Within 2 months of their Implementation start date, signatories are committed to submitting information on the institutional structure for developing their climate action plans, including designating the institutional liaison. COMPLETED. Within 1 year, signatories are committed to reporting the results of their GHG emissions inventories; COMPLETED. And two tangible actions that will be implemented before the end of year 2 COMPLETED. Wagner College is committed to 2 of the tangible actions recommend by ACUPCC: 1. Campus Construction: Planning for new Construction as LEED Silver certified COMPLETED 2. Public Transportation: College offer free shuttle service to the nearest transportation center and around campus COMPLETED V. COMPONENTS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND OTHER EFFORTS Wagner College has students, staff and faculty who are committed to making our campus more sustainable. This section of the CAP describes how the College plans to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum, and other educational experiences. Actions to expand research, community outreach and/or other efforts toward the achievement of environmental health are also addressed. It is within the scope of The Wagner College Strategic Plan to Develop a Compelling and Contemporary Campus for the 21st Century/to Achieve Sustainability and Accessibility. The College s senior leadership is committed to insuring the success, growth and sustainability of the institution. 8
A. EDUCATION: THE CURRICULUM Environmental issues are arguably among the most pressing facing humanity. Wagner College has a strong Biological Sciences Department. Academic Programs include: BS Biopsychology BS Microbiology Environmental Studies Minor MS Microbiology BS Biology Environmental studies is by its very nature interdisciplinary. Courses in the minor address the biological, physical, and social aspects of ecology and environment. All of the courses taught emphasize the interconnection of the various facets of life that comprise ecosystems. In 2013, Wagner College undergraduates gave three platform presentations and 12 poster presentations of their empirical research at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference. One Wagner student submitted a completed scientific paper for consideration for an excellence award. All around, sustainability is a concept instilled in the college s curriculum regardless of topic of study. The idea of a sustainable future is of high importance and the path to how we can help achieve that future is at the forefront of Wagner s educational platform. B. EDUCATION: EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Wagner College has a Sustainability Committee that is comprised on faculty, staff and students that meet to discuss the ongoing sustainable measures on campus. Topics include sustainable organizational support for teaching, learning, research and campus activities. There are a number of extra-curricular activities that the campus takes part in, including: Green Floor: Green Floor is a robust recycling plan for all of the campus residents. For the plan, the Committee holds regular meetings and discussions on recycling, green initiatives occurring throughout the world and saving our planet. 9
RecycleMania Program: Wagner College has signed up for the RecycleMania program. The Committee will aim to implement the following on campus: o Update students, faculty, and staff on your standings in the competition through mass e-mails. Include recycling facts/statistics. o Use volunteers to publicize RecycleMania while picking up recyclables at the College sports games o Conduct promotional tabling, hosting recycling-related activities, interactive displays, and prize raffles in the main hall lobbies. C. RESEARCH: CLIMATE NEUTRALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY Wagner College has an Environmental Studies minor curriculum. The College proactively assists students in this Minor to utilize important environmental websites as research guides for their courses. These include: Encyclopedia of the Earth http://www.eoearth.org/ Encyclopedia of Earth is an electronic reference about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. Envirofacts [EPA] http://www.epa.gov/enviro/ A federated search engine for over 20 of the EPA's environmental databases. Data available includes maps with related reports from all EPA agencies. Envirolink http://www.envirolink.org/ Envirolink is a non-profit, grassroots online community that connects hundreds of organizations and volunteers around the world. United Nations Environment Programme http://www.unep.org/ The mission of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. D. COMMUNITY OUTREACH Wagner is committed to promoting awareness and actions on campus and with the community. The College has completed the following in regards to community outreach: Sports Teams: In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Wagner Athletic Teams went out in the Staten Island community and cleaned out 10
basements full of mud, cleaned out homes of moldy furniture and appliances, and cleaned up open fields that were covered with debris, logs and litter. Compost: There is a new community initiative, which Wagner is a member that is interested in having a community garden in several locations throughout the community and develop a compost site for these gardens. Wagner is considering the options of hosting both the compost site and community gardens. Partnerships: o The Civic Innovations: Port Richmond Partnership is an extension of Wagner s Civic Innovations initiative. The College s goals for this initiative are to: Assist with economic development Address environmental issues Address educational issues Assist with improved health care. o Over the last decade Wagner has had the opportunity to develop deep and sustaining relationships with a number of organizations including Project Hospitality, Staten Island University Hospital, and a number of public schools. E. OTHER EFFORTS Solar Call Boxes: The College currently has 24 "blue light" emergency call boxes that are solar powered. The facilities staff is investigating the option of turning all of the street lamps on campus into solar powered lamps. Planting Trees: Over the last five years, the College has planted nearly 100 new trees on the campus grounds. This effort will continue on a yearly basis. VI. CAMPUS EMISSIONS In 2012, roughly 65% (10,190 tons of CO2e) of Wagner College s total emissions (15,761 tons of CO2e) were attributed to energy consumed by campus facilities, with purchased electricity and stationary combustion respectively comprising 29% and 36% of total emissions. Figure 3, below, summarizes each emission associated with facilities energy consumption from 2012. 11
Figure 3. Emissions by Type MTCO2e 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Emissions by Type VII. MITIGATION STRATEGIES The following section outlines how Wagner College intends to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. To reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions from the ACUPCC Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Wagner College will continue its efforts to identify, document and implement cost-effective energy conservation measures that maximize the energy efficiency of all existing facilities. The College completed a NYSERDA FlexTech Study that identified and documented existing energy conditions on campus with detailed analysis on savings projections to implement energy efficient upgrades. The following measures are to be incorporated to be Wagner s Mitigation Strategy: A. SOLAR Solar energy harnesses the power of the sun into useful energy that can be utilized by the population. The goal is an installation of solar photovoltaic panels to generate renewable energy on campus. Two of the buildings on campus, the Student Union and the Spiro Sports Center were both evaluated for solar PV arrays that may be implemented at a future date. Each building will have three arrays and will be approximately 96 kw each. This renewable green energy will reduce the carbon emissions on the College which saving the College in electricity costs. The green energy option is an attractive alternative to the typical use of fossil fuels to create electricity. 12
B. CHP A Cogeneration (CHP) is a system that simultaneously generates electricity and useful heat. It is a sustainable form of power generation. The goal is an installation of CHP to serve the Campus. A CHP application could provide utilizable waste heat at a temperature high enough for the requisite gradient across a heat exchanger. A 769 kw CHP unit was found to fit the criteria Wagner College could utilize on campus. Given the high temperature requirement for heat to pre-heat boiler feedwater, two cooling system circuits would be installed with the system. There will be an exhaust heat recovery engine associated with the system. As the CHP will reduce the electricity purchased by the Wagner College, an energy savings in kwh is expected. Projections show that Wagner will have to purchase 47% less in electricity due to the CHP system alone. C. HVAC AND CONTROLS UPGRADES There are three absorption chillers driven by the main hot water loop. Two are located on the roof of on Hall and are identical units while the third is located in a different building and is a larger unit that serves Spiro Hall and Megerle Science. The goal is to replace existing chillers, boilers, pump motors and fan motors with higher efficiency equipment, implement demand controlled ventilation, and convert boilers from oil to natural gas. There also will be an installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) on pump and fan motors Overall, the HVAC and controls upgrades will reduce Wagner College s electricity consumption by approximately 3%. D. LIGHTING The goal is an overall Campus upgrade to lighting systems through fixture replacement, occupancy sensors and control by schedule. Existing fixtures are inefficient and by upgrading these fixtures to lower wattage fixtures with longer lifetime hours, Wagner College will reduce its overall lighting consumption by 19%. E. BIKE FRIENDLY CAMPUS The first bike rack on Campus was installed on the side of the Library facing the Union. This idea was an outgrowth of a class on Campus: The students were given some grant money and chose to put it toward this purpose. The students also coordinated with the surrounding community to implement: Bay Street Bicycles and South Shore Signs helped put the rack it is in place. Wagner College will have a goal 13
to work to increase the number of racks on campus to promote a bike friendly campus. VIII. STRATEGIES ENERGY AND CARBON REDUCTION By implementing these mitigation strategies and converting from oil to natural gas, Wagner will see a yearly carbon reduction. Below is a 10-year estimate for carbon reduction on campus. Figure 4. 10-Year Carbon Reduction Carbon Reduction: 10 - Year Projection 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Figure 5, below shows the same 10-year carbon reduction (dark green, bottom line) as compared to the projected carbon emissions if the above mitigation strategies were not implemented. As mechanical equipment ages, they become less efficient. 14
Figure 5. 10-Year Carbon Emissions with and without Mitigation Strategies Carbon Emissions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 IX. FINANCING STRATEGIES X. CONCLUSION The College is in the process of receiving and reviewing energy initiatives funding proposals from leasing and equipment provider companies for various projects for energy measures including: CHP and Lighting. There are various federal, state, and /or utility grants and incentives that can be applicable towards the measures cited in the Mitigation Strategies. Wagner College is proud to be part of the ACUPCC Signatories that aim to achieve the highest standards of environmental and sustainable progress for their community and campus. Faculty, staff, and students stride to meet the standards in this CAP, but progress will be a continuing effort for years to come. The goal for the College is continuously have awareness of the environment, and how each individual person has an impact. On campus events, and surveys will strengthen this awareness and campus greening efforts. In conclusion to note: the College has a program called Learning Communities, from freshman year a student is enrolled in a series of classes called a learning community: they implement field work and real world experience. These experiences help students grow on a personal and ecological level. Students learn a sense of place, study, awareness, and realization of their surroundings. Some of the classes may even be located in the future in a LEED Silver Building where optimal indoor air quality, energy reductions, and sustainable efforts such as recycling and 15
daylighting will be taking place. Wagner College will continue to have their campus blend into an environment that will be surrounded with educational outreach, carbon target emissions reductions, and sustainable partnerships. Wagner College affirms its commitment to the principles of the ACUPCC and looks forward to achieving the goals herein set forth in this CAP. 16