Mitigating climate warming is going to require a dramatic decrease in carbon emission from the transportation sector, through a combination of driving less, using public transportation, and, eventually, switching to electric cars powered by a renewable grid.

There are many urban centers with outstanding public transportation options, but let’s face it— It’s often more difficult to find alternatives to driving in smaller towns and suburbs.

Brunswick, Maine (home to Bowdoin College) is no different than most small towns (population 25,000).  Transportation is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions, and the physical dislocation of residential areas, shopping centers, supermarkets, and hospitals makes it difficult to avoid automobile use.  And roads around here are definitely not bike friendly!

This is starting to change as a result of collaborations across institutions from the local to federal levels.

The town just added a new program called Brunswick Explorer, with a fleet of hybrid electric buses that are wheelchair and bike accessible.  The route takes the buses from major residential areas (especially those serving the elderly) to our local supermarkets, hospitals, and shopping malls.

With the extension of the Amtrak Downeaster from Portland to Brunswick in 2012, folks will also be able to travel to Portland and Boston easily by train, especially during rush hour and winter when travel by roads is either a hassle or dangerous.

The Explorer and Downeaster are certainly no silver bullets, but they accomplish a few important goals:

• The Explorer allows people in much of downtown Brunswick the opportunity to forego driving for simple, routine tasks, especially during winter when walking and biking are treacherous.
• The hybrid fleet and high-occupancy vehicles will help reduce emissions.
• Reliable bus service makes it easier for families (who are able) to downsize from two vehicles to one vehicle, with the added benefit/incentive of saving on gas, repairs, taxes, registration, and inspections.
• At a cost of $1 per ride or $2 for an all-day pass, the Explorer buses provide an important social service to the elderly and other citizens who may not be able to afford cars.
• It builds transportation resilience in the community, especially for low-income citizens who may find it increasingly expensive to get around the next time gas prices spike.
• The Downeaster provides a redundant transportation network, which makes long-distance travel easy when there are unexpected travel delays due to weather, construction, or accidents.  It also has the potential to take many cars off the road for the sizable population that commutes daily between Portland and Brunswick.
• The Explorer bus program provides a model of community collaboration that may be exportable to other towns.
• Perhaps most importantly, they help break the mindset and habits of routine personal vehicle use.

These are small steps, indeed, but they have the ingredients to be successful:  alternatives to personal vehicle use that are both cheap and convenient, with substantial community buy in.

___

Photo courtesy of Bowdoin College

AASHE is showcasing the new American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) 2009 report, which highlights climate leadership in higher education.

The Report includes highlights from 2009; a list of innovative ways schools are applying their Climate Action Plans to areas such as curriculum, transportation, renewable energy, and partnerships within and outside the campus gates; a description of the impact the Commitment has had on the reduction of carbon emissions; information on the Climate Action Plans that have been submitted; a list of resources available to signatory institutions; and the ACUPCC budget. The ACUPCC, launched in early 2007, is currently comprised of 677 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia – representing nearly six million students and about one third of the US higher education student population.

Link to story

Link to the ACUPCC report (pdf)

_____

More information:  AASHE bulletin 3/29/10

One of the challenges of climate literacy is helping folks visualize fossil fuel emissions and their impacts.

Last year, Bowdoin College completed its emissions inventory and climate action plan.  We discovered that the campus emits a total of 24,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents each year.   So how much is that really?

One student decided to help illustrate this by creating an art installation, cordoning off a 27-ft x 27-ft x 27-ft cube in the student center with red ribbon.

Now imagine 24,000 of these cubes emanating from a college campus each year.   That helps show the magnitude of the challenge.

_____

Photo courtesy of Bowdoin College

This week’s showcase features Beloit College, Central College, and Iowa State University.  LEED Platinum is not easy to achieve, and it’s even more impressive with projects this large.

1. Beloit College’s Science Center gets LEED Platinum Nod

“The success of our new science center reflects the phenomenal collaboration of creative architects, talented engineers, professional construction firms and the finest faculty and staff who were, and are, committed to the best outcome for our students,” said Beloit College president Scott Bierman. “We are, of course, thrilled to have gotten LEED platinum status; but even more important is that we have a building that works terrifically well­—as well as any I have ever seen—as an integrated set of learning spaces.”

2.  Central receives platinum LEED rating for new building

“This special recognition from the USGBC brings great joy to the whole Central College community and reflects continuing success of our pursuit of a sustainable future as a long-term goal adopted by Central’s board of trustees,” said Central College President David Roe. “The achievement was made possible through the concerted efforts of the professionals on Central’s staff led by Mike Lubberden and a large team of amazing corporate partners including Weitz Corporation as our general contractor, RDG Planning and Design, MEP and Associates, and Pella Corporation.”

3. ISU’s King Pavilion first education building in Iowa to earn LEED Platinum certification

This week’s showcase includes Worcester Polytechnic University, the Ohio university system, and Unity College.

(1)  WPI’s East Hall Recognized as a Green ‘Teaching Tool’

This is a model for how green construction should be done—use it as a classroom:

EducationDesignShowcase.com has awarded Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s (WPI) East Hall the “Judge’s Choice” honor in its “Building as a Teaching Tool” category. East Hall’s design-and-construction process and sustainable features were recognized as “educational opportunities” for the campus community. As a nominee in the “Building as a Teaching Tool” category, East Hall was judged according to the mindfulness of construction materials, energy, and environment; its design as a learning laboratory; student and community involvement; integration into the coursework; and innovation and creativeness.

(2) University System of Ohio Aims to Make State a Green Workforce Leader

Another great example of public-private-university partnerships to promote green jobs and sustainability:

Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today formally announced the establishment of an advisory panel to position Ohio as a national green workforce leader. The Ohio Green Pathways Advisory Panel is charged with developing a comprehensive understanding of green workforce demand, building and expanding relationships with green industry leaders, and identifying strategies to create and expand new green opportunities in Ohio.

“Ohio is already ranked in the top five for clean energy job creation, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly production jobs, and is first in the nation for renewable and advanced energy manufacturing,” said Fingerhut, citing a recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts. “The Advisory Panel will ensure that the University System of Ohio advances the state’s economy by leading the way in green education and training programs.”

….”Environmental sustainability will be the primary driver of the new economy,” said Keith Dimoff, executive director of the Ohio Environmental Council. “Ohio Green Pathways will position Ohio to provide business with the skilled workforce necessary to harness the power of this evolving force.”

(3)  Finally, a home that gives more than it takes

There is a lot of green building going on around the world, but few projects actually lead all the way to carbon neutrality.  Here’s one example from Unity College (Maine, USA) of a house that generates more energy than it uses.   These kinds of buildings are what the new business as usual model should look like:

Unity House, as it’s called, recently received an LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest achievable green building designation. The house also achieved what Bensonwood architect Randall Walter calls a Net Positive effect, which means the house actually gives energy back to the grid. This is done in part with the use of solar panels.

“On a sunny day, the house is building up a credit, to use at night,” Walter said.

These credits add up, saving money and energy, Walter said.

The home uses a combination of photovoltaic solar panels for generating electricity and a separate solar hot water system, along with some tight and high-tech insulation.

….From Oct. 5, 2008 to Oct. 5, 2009, energy use data shows Unity House produced 6,441 kilowatt hours of electricity while using only 6,430 kwh. The data shows that the cumulative months of overcast conditions and unseasonably cold temperatures in the first three seasons of 2009, considerably dampened solar collection, yet the home’s heat and power production and retention still performed well.

_____

For more information:  AASHE Bulletin 12/14/09

This week, it’s the University of Oklahoma and Florida Gulf Coast University:

(1) Regulators approve ‘OU Spirit’ wind farm plan

This will be one of the largest wind power projects among universities—44 turbines generating 101 Megawatts.  Eventually, the university hopes to supply all of its electricity by wind.  This is exactly what needs to happen throughout the Great Plains.  Hopefully OU will serve as a model for all other states and  schools in the region.  Maybe we won’t need the Pickens Plan if enough people get on board.

(2) Florida College To Create Green Research Center

Another great example of public, private, and university partners coming together to spur technology, education, and green jobs.

As part of its goal to become a center for renewable energy and green technology research and education, Florida Gulf Coast University has joined the John D. Backe Foundation in a collaborative venture to create Florida Gulf Coast University Innovation Hub, a 1.2 million square-foot, state-of-the-art research and development area.

One of the primary goals of the initiative is to attract businesses and universities with an interest in renewable energy, and spur growth in green jobs, all of which are good for the region, the state and its residents. As more people realize the value of green initiatives and the vital importance of renewable energy, initiatives like the I-Hub and the work that will be conducted at FGCU will play an exciting role in the future growth and prosperity of the region and the state.

_____

For more information:  AASHE Bulletin 12/7/09

The showcase this week:  Eastern Illinois University and the University of California, Merced.

(1) Honeywell and EIU Bring the Heat with Biomass-Fueled Plant

This is an impressive scaling of biomass energy.  It sounds like it’s about two times the size of the biomass gasification plant at Middlebury.  By displacing 10,000 tons of coal, this will go a long way in helping EIU move towards carbon neutrality (provided that the fuelwood forests are replanted).  However, not everyone is going to be able to do this; otherwise, we’ll end up deforesting all of North America!

Honeywell today announced a $79 million renewable energy and building retrofit program with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill. The program, which combines energy-efficient facility upgrades with one of the largest biomass-fueled heating plants on a university campus, will help EIU address deferred maintenance, improve its infrastructure, and save approximately $140 million in energy and operating costs over the next two decades.

EIU will finance the improvements and use the savings, guaranteed by Honeywell through a 20-year performance contract, to pay for the work. As a result, the program will not place a burden on the university’s budget or require additional taxpayer dollars or student fees.

The upgrades will impact all facilities on the 320-acre campus, and significantly curb the university’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, they will reduce electricity consumption by an estimated 6.2 million kilowatt-hours per year — enough energy to power more than 580 homes annually. Carbon dioxide emissions will also decrease by nearly 20,000 metric tons each year. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 3,600 cars from the road.

The focal point of the program is the construction of a new steam plant on the southeast corner of campus that will be driven by two large biomass gasifiers, the first application of this technology in the region. The plant will use wood chips sourced from the local logging industry to generate steam and heat buildings on campus. And it will replace the university’s aging steam plant, which is inconveniently located in the center of campus, consumes more than 10,000 tons of coal per year and requires constant maintenance.

(2) UC Merced Unveils New Solar Power System

This is another ambitious effort.  Hopefully opportunities like this will become commonplace in the next five years as solar panel costs continue to decline.

The University of California, Merced announced today (Nov. 10) the completion of a 1 megawatt solar power system at the campus, marking the university’s inaugural effort to produce clean, renewable energy as the first American research university of the 21st century.

“We are here today to celebrate a remarkable milestone,” said Mary Miller, vice chancellor for administration. “The solar array project exemplifies UC Merced’s founding vision to become an international model for sustainable development and environmental stewardship.”

The system is located on 8.5 acres southeast of the Science & Engineering Building. It consists of 4,900 solar panels that follow the sun’s movement during the day. The system will supply two-thirds of the campus’ electricity on summer days and 20 percent of the campus’ annual electricity needs.

The solar array will provide UC Merced with an abundant source of clean, renewable power. According to conversion formulas provided by The Climate Registry, the system is expected to remove more than 45 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 30 years. That is equivalent to the emissions displaced from removing more than 3,600 cars from California’s roads.

____

For more information: AASHE bulletin 11/30/09

Let’s take a look at interesting ideas at the University of Tennessee, the Kresge Foundation, and the University of Notre Dame.

1. UT Launches Center for the Study of Social Justice

This is another example of what needs to happen in higher education—multiple programs coming together to help students learn how to tackle major social problems interdisciplinarily.

With the goal of shedding light on society’s most pressing social issues, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has formed the Center for the Study of Social Justice.  One thing missing is an environmental frame of analysis.

Based in UT’s Department of Sociology, the center provides a framework for scholars of sociology, psychology, education, social work, law, geography, political science and philosophy, among others, to collaborate on research and share insights about the conflicts, complexities and contradictions related to social justice.

“The world is changing and evolving at such a rapid pace, and our society’s problems become increasingly complex. We must inquire from an academic perspective about the state of humanity, as it relates to inequalities and the societal changes affecting all aspects of social, political, cultural and political life in our world.

2. The Kresge Foundation Donates $1.8 Million to Uncf in Support of ‘Green Building’ at Minority-Serving Institutions

The media release emphasizes the benefits of funding MSIs with small endowments and budget constraints.  But the benefit of this program goes beyond that—engaging groups not traditionally affiliated with sustainability.

UNCF–the United Negro College Fund–the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, announced today that it has received a $1.8 million grant from The Kresge Foundation in support of the Building Green at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Initiative. This initiative is the inaugural project of the Facilities and Infrastructure Enhancement Program (FIEP) of the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building (ICB). The program will focus on facilitating the green transformation of UNCF member institutions and that of other minority-serving institutions.

The Building Green at MSIs Initiative will build knowledge and capacity through a series of Building Green Learning Institutes, Technical Assistance Workshops and $20,000 mini-grants to help MSIs incorporate principles of sustainable design and energy efficiency into their building projects and overcome barriers that often include small endowments and low in-house expertise in green building practices.

“Environmental sustainability and green building are two of the nation’s most important 21st century imperatives, and minority-serving institutions want and need to become as green as possible as fast as possible,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO. “But MSIs work within strained budgets even in the best of economic times, and in tough economic times, it is difficult for MSIs to make the necessary investments. We believe that this Initiative will help them find the way toward affordable sustainability, and we are grateful to The Kresge Foundation for making it possible.” The Building Green at MSIs Initiative will impact more than 400 colleges and universities by highlighting the importance of building green and the measures under-resourced schools can take to reap the benefits of green building and adopt energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable practices. This funding paves the way for a future comprehensive green initiative for MSIs that includes components related to sustainable campus design and construction and curriculum enhancement.

3. Notre Dame green your dorm room

Most of the ideas in this project are not new to people, but seeing them all together in an interactive visual is useful for showing that, collectively, individual actions can help reduce energy.

_____

For more information:

• AASHE bulletin 11/23/09

This week’s showcase includes Furman University and Emory University…

(1) [Furman] Trustees Adopt Sustainability Master Plan; Campus to be Carbon Neutral by 2026

To date, more than 650 schools have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but few have embedded their climate action plans in a comprehensive sustainability strategy.  Furman University is one of those schools:

“From the outset, we determined that any effort in this area ought to be much more comprehensive than simply planning to reduce carbon emissions,” said Furman president David Shi.  “Instead, it needed to encompass a long-range sustainability master plan for the university, which would include not only those activities relevant to its carbon and ecological footprints but also the much broader scope of the university’s mission and function, including the curriculum, co-curriculum, and projects and partnerships in the greater Greenville community.”

Shi said the creation of the sustainability master plan took eighteen months and had been a university-wide effort, involving over a hundred students, professors, staff members, trustees, alumni, and community leaders.  It was both important and gratifying that it receive the approval of the Board of Trustees.  “It will take nothing less than a full commitment from the entire university if we are to achieve the challenging initiatives laid out in this plan,” he said.

Dr. Anthony Cortese, president of Second Nature and a co-organizer of the ACUPCC, praised the university’s efforts in creating and adopting a sustainability master plan.

“Furman’s action today is yet another example of its outstanding leadership in producing the knowledge and educated graduates to help society deal with the greatest challenge in human history — how to create a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable world for all current and future generations,” he said.  “Furman is a model for all of higher education and, through the work of David Shi as a leader of the ACUPCC, has been instrumental in engaging colleges and universities regionally and nationally to work in synergy toward this goal.”

(2) Emory University achieves first green dining certification

Many schools have turned to dining as a way to become more sustainable. Emory’s plan is ambitious:

Emory has identified sustainability as a core value and has committed to purchasing 75% of its food from local or sustainable sources by 2015, as well as diverting 65 percent of overall waste and 95 percent of food waste from landfills by 2015.

“We are proud to be the first university to receive certification from the Green Foodservice Alliance for our dining waste recycling and composting efforts,” said Emory’s Director of Sustainability, Ciannat Howett. “Emory is committed to educating our students, faculty and staff about the social and environmental implications of their daily choices. This certification helps raise that awareness and advance all of the other sustainability practices on campus.”

_____

For more information:

• AASHE bulletin 11/16/09

When I taught at Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota), I watched from across the river as St. Olaf College constructed a new science center.  It is not just another college building; it’s the largest academic facility in the U.S. to receive LEED’s highest rating of platinum.

This past summer, I was back in Minnesota and toured it firsthand.   It’s a great building—very functional but visually stunning.  Congratulations, Oles.  You deserve a lot of credit for setting the bar high.

The real value of this building, in my opinion, is whether St. Olaf can use it as proof of concept for all future construction rather than it becoming the token green building on campus.  That’s when green design becomes a game changer in campus sustainability.

Excerpts:

St. Olaf College’s Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences has earned platinum certification — the highest rating attainable — from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The nearly 200,000-square-foot, $63 million building is the largest and most complex academic facility in the nation to earn the prestigious platinum rating.

“Actions speak louder than words,” says St. Olaf President David R. Anderson ’74. “The LEED Platinum designation for Regents Hall demonstrates, once again, St. Olaf’s leadership among American colleges and universities in sustainability practices.”

_____

Photo credit:  Photo courtesy of St. Olaf College