Energy
Coalition on Climate Change (C3)
The SLU Coalition on Climate Change (C3) is a coalition founded on the idea that many groups on campus have a stake in the issue of climate change. The Coalition on Climate Change was founded in February of 2007 and has already been working with several other organizations on events concerning climate change. Through local action C3 hopes to raise awareness of climate change at SLU, help the university cut its greenhouse emissions, and coordinate events with groups from both the St. Lawrence and North Country community.
Past Initiatives:
Green Torch Relay:
A 200+mile ride from Canton, NY to Albany, happened on October 28th and raised awareness of climate change and the events going on this fall with the climate movement. The ride included 20 mile legs with a total of 25 riders participating (Paul Smith's, Clarkson, SUNY Canton, and SLU were involved) in this effort to bike across the state. In particular the goal of this ride was to show widespread support for the Focus the Nation (www.focusthenation.org) teach-ins that will be happening early next year at universities across New York State, and to hand deliver hundreds of invitations to state senators and representatives in Albany.
Current Initiatives:
C3's draft agenda, containing group member ideas/event proposals will be sent out and perhaps posted to this page within the week. Stay tuned for more details...
In the meantime, here is the biggest proposal slated for the Fall, which various C3 members will be working on starting July 1st, 2008:
The Green Torch Relay Round 2 (bike/run):
***BREAKING NEWS: (8/11/2008): The GTR2 has successfully gone global! ...and in its first days as a global group it has already seen some celebrity support as Michael Jordan (the retired basketball star from the Chicago Bulls) joined the Facebook group this past Friday. Celebrity outreach is ongoing over this week and will continue as the movement grows. In addition other continents are showing their networking skills as secondary and tertiary contacts join the group on Facebook. A central website is being considered currently as well...***
*******BREAKING NEWS: (7/22/08): The GTR2 has begun receiving contracts from potential sponsors. As the recipient of these early sponsorship contracts, I Nigel Fellman Greene, as the C3 President, would like to extend the opportunity for reviewing these documents to any C3 member who is interested. Collectively we can decide which sponsors make sense for the GTR2 and which don't fit with the event plan. This coming week I will likely make a decision on our first offer. My hope is to get some small SLU funding to cover some if not all of these contract costs, some of which may or may not ask for sponsored C3 members/GTR2 athletes to purchase a small amount of gear in order to carry out the contract fully. This may mean also showcasing a certain company's products/accessories/stickers outside of the GTR2 and taking pictures to prove that you are actively marketing their product. Other companies may sign quickly and not require us to make purchases at all, it all depends on the nature of the contracts. If you or any of your firends have any ideas for sponsors for the GTR2 or for C3 generally, please email me at nafell05@stlawu.edu . The good news is the instant we sign one big sponsor, we've got our foot in the door and more sponsors are likely to sign as well. I'll be sure to keep you posted as this exciting process continues!************
Early goals: Contact all interested parties/colleges by the middle of August, gauge interest levels: have all parties signed on to the idea and committed by the end of the second/third week of school: (best date for the relay, either the weekend before the 08 election—Nov. 1st or the previous weekend---Oct 25th) the goal: to create a push for clean energy candidates right before the elections and for real climate legislation to be passed
4 routes are proposed (know anyone along these routes?):
•SLU-Albany route (200+ miles) through the ADK park---same route as last year unless a more practical one is proposed
•Buffalo-Albany, Rochester-Albany or Syracuse-Albany (290 miles vs 227 miles vs 146 miles)
•New York City-Albany (160 miles)
•Binghamton-Albany or Ithaca-Albany(140 miles vs 175 miles)
oOnce there are enough interested parties along each route, they will all be put in touch with each other and their respective groups will plan their route in more detail
oThe ride may take two days for the longer routes (last year the SLU-Paul Smith’s-SUNY Canton-Clarkson crew rode 200+ miles in 14 hours over two days), the key is to have a fairly large group of riders converging on the capital at around the same time on Sunday (perhaps around 12 noon?) for a rally, perhaps a large letter delivery, banner hanging…etc.
oConsiderations to keep in mind: universities may ask about liability policies (we will need to have a substantive answer by the middle of September at latest), depending on the size of the ride local authorities/law enforcement might need to be contacted in advance, camping/lodging needs to be acquired for Saturday night, support vehicles should be kept to a minimum, necessary gear, food/water, sponsors, first aid…etc.
oPlease email/write me (Nigel Fellman Greene) if you have contacts that are connected within the cycling/running/environmental movement at various colleges/towns or cities along the proposed routes; feel free to contact your friends yourselves about this event or refer them to me and I can follow-up with them/ask other past members to be contact people…Thanks for your help!
Come on down to our first meeting this fall! The meeting will be in the Winson Room on Monday September 1st, from 6:30-7:30pm. Later meetings in the year will be in another location but at the same time (6:30pm on Mondays). We'll be discussing what events we'd like to pursue this year and how the group should be run. It will be a fun, engaging, and hopefully inspiring meeting which should kick off our Climate Action 08-09 year at SLU! The proposal on the table right now looks to take the group in a new direction using a new set of strategies, both of which are flexible depending on the opinions and desires from within the coalition.
Feel free to join on C3's event page and RSVP through the Facebook group at this link:
The first fall C3 meeting page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16639464077
The C3 group page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2479000609
The North America GTR2 page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28250816201
South America: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64497115610
Africa: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21379297939
Europe: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63624695091
Asia: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28885302215
Australia: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22444997662
More info and videos to come on my YouTube channel soon! In the meantime pass that link on to your friends!
Time to start a movement!
Hope to see you there!
Nigel Fellman Greene '09
nafell05@stlawu.edu
President
Sister Bethany Fitzgerald
srbethany@cnymail.com
Advisor
Appendix - Energy
Model Programs:
Bates: An article about purchasing green power.
Bucknell: Bucknell purchases wind power to supplement their cogeneration plant fueled by natural gas, which was also replaced from an older coal burning plant. They purchase approximately half their energy through wind power, which amounts to 1 million kilowatt hours a year.
Colby: is planning to purchase all its energy from renewable, more environmentally friendly sources in Maine .
Connecticut College: - This is a link to Connecticut College’s Renewable Energy Policy . This policy was established by the student body, the administration and the board of trustees together.
Connecticut College: This link is to Conn. College’s proposal to create the energy conservation and efficiency fund or ECEF . The purpose of the ECEF is to provide the capital necessary to make improvements in energy efficiency and to run effective energy conservation efforts.
Connecticut College: Connecticut College’s “Light Bulb Exchange Program” . The document describes the light bulb program in which energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, CFLs, were inexpensively purchased and provided to students in exchange for incandescent light bulbs removed from use.
Middlebury College and Energy
- This link is about how Middlebury set a goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 8 percent below the 1990 level by 2012. It lists steps Middlebury has taken and some of the challenges, like keeping the momentum going. It tells some of the steps taken, like going to each dorm and changing lights and changing from diesel fuel to biodiesel.
Middlebury College and Energy
- This link talks about how Middlebury College changed from diesel fuel to biodiesel. It has a graph that shows the progress from 1990 to 2000. It also states some short term and long-term goals and tells about challenges to getting started and finding support.
SLU's Energy Success Stories:
- In 2003 the St Lawrence University Campus had a campus wide energy audit conducted by LKPB (Minnesota).
- The purchase of a Hybrid Toyota Prius.
- The purchase of 2 Hybrid Toyota Highlanders.
- Over the past few years SLU has spent over $800,000 on Steam line replacements in order to decrease heat loss.
- SLU has installed fluorescent lighting, motion sensors, water savers, variable speed air circulation and new energy management in many of our dorms, academic buildings and offices.
- Windows have been replaced in several buildings in order to conserve heat and energy.
- A few buildings have high efficiency boilers.
- St. Lawrence was one of the first colleges in the country to install a Co-Generation Unit. This unit produces electricity by using the steam that is made to heat campus and then running it through a steam turbine. Now, with the campus getting bigger we are considering increasing SLU's generation capacity.
Johnson Science Hall
St. Lawrence's newest building is on track to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification. Innovations in the building include maximized use of daylight, a biological filter system for water runoff, high effeciency windows, waterless urinals, and numerous other energy conserving design features.
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Energy
The Goal: To make energy conservation and energy efficiency a keystone for all activities at St. Lawrence. To significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and to promote the use of energy from renewable sources. To educate the University community so that all can fully participate in this endeavor.
The Problem: Activities to fulfill our educational mission have led to increased demand for energy on campus. Increased energy consumption has substantial economic as well as environmental costs. Energy produced from fossil fuels contributes to environmental pollution. Missed opportunities for conservation and efficiency waste money that could better be used for other purposes.
Opportunities for St. Lawrence University:
The time to develop an energy strategy based on renewable energy is now. Developing relationships with providers and reconfiguring our energy infrastructure takes time and has the greatest potential for success if done incrementally. Saving energy is the responsibility of individuals as well as the institution and St. Lawrence should foster energy savings in both.
- Energy efficiency projects, even those that represent great financial savings to the University, will not happen rapidly if the funds for these must compete with other capital requests. A special revolving dedicated fund should be established for energy efficiency projects.
- Energy education should begin with incoming students and be an on-going process. Education must extend to all members of the community, not just students.
- Students should be provided with free or low-cost CFL bulbs every year. The use of incandescent light bulbs on campus should be phased out in 2009.
- The most energy-efficient transportation fleet that can meet the University’s needs should be purchased.
- Cogeneration of electricity should be expanded.
- By 2008 the University should purchase or produce at least 15% of its electricity from renewable sources.
- By 2008 the University should adopt an energy-efficient appliance procurement policy requiring the purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
- By 2012 our energy consumption per square foot should be reduced by 30%
- In anticipation of Rollout 2008, Information Technology should develop a comprehensive energy conservation strategy for the procurement and configuration of computers, monitors and peripheral devices.
- By 2010 lighting in all common areas should be controlled by motion detectors.
- By leasing CEE-rated washing machines for residence halls and theme cottages, the University can save hundreds of dollars per washer on electricity and water costs. (Installation of these washers was completed in November 2007)
Energy Education
Putting Energy into Conservation…
An energy education campaign was conducted on campus throughout the fall and winter of 2004-2005.
Beginning with a kick-off event in September, the campaign followed up on an energy audit of the campus conducted in 2003 & 2004.
In addition to making the campus community aware of the benefits of saving energy, the campaign also aimed to encourage energy-saving habits, such as turning off lights in unused areas; turning off computers at the end of the work/study day; unplugging unused appliances; replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and walking, rather than driving, to locations on and near campus. It was sponsored by the Conservation Council and endorsed by Thelmo, the Environmental Action Organization, the Outing Club, the division of administrative operations and the chaplain’s office.
Members of the campus community were asked to sign a pledge card, indicating a commitment to those activities. Students in the Environmental Action Organization staffed a table in the Student Center where people could sign the energy pledge, and throughout the semester the community received information about energy-saving behaviors. The campaign concluded with an Energy Day, March 2, that included energy exhibits in the student center, special presentations in SLU classes by Ann Heidenreich , Executive Director of Community Energy Services and Scott Shipley, Technical Director of Community Energy Services, and the inaugural visit to the North Country of the Energy Hog!
St. Lawrence’s Energy Education Campaign was conducted with assistance from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) North Country Energy $mart Communities Program and Community Energy Services, Inc., of Hermon, N.Y. Those organizations also provided assistance for the 2003 energy audit.
Renewable Energy
The signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment by President Daniel F. Sullivan in March of 2007 commits St. Lawrence to ‘climate neutrality.' The ACUPCC defines climate neutrality as ‘zero net greenhouse gas emissions'. Thanks to the hard work of a few students, St. Lawrence University has a good estimate of our greenhouse gas emissions. We know that around 49% of the carbon emissions come from heating, 36% from electricity and 13% from transportation.
The University's ultimate goal is to generate our own power from renewable sources. What does using a renewable source mean? Will we buy a hydro plant, form a cooperative wind farm or install solar panels? We don't know. However, there are three things we can be sure of: one, we must utilize a mixture of technologies to generate our own power; two, we must put equal resources into conservation and efficiency of energy use as we put into development of renewable power generation and three, we will never be able to be climate neutral without offsetting some of our greenhouse gas emissions.
If renewable power generation is in the future, where are we today? We are planning our switch to renewable power generation and while we do so we have begun to purchase renewable energy. Understanding the importance of using electricity generated from renewable sources the University selected a new electricity supplier in the summer of 2007. Juice Inc is a company with a more holistic approach to selling electricity. Juice will not only help St. Lawrence buy renewable power they will also help us monitor our greenhouse gas emissions.
We have purchased 2,475 MWh, of renewable electricity or 15% of the University's total electricity usage. This power generated by wind turbines is equivalent to running half of the Student Center and half of the Johnson Hall of Science with renewable sources. In signing the ACUPCC we agreed to purchase 15% of our electricity from renewable sources by September of 2008 and now we can proudly say we have met this goal.
