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President Hogan Signs Pledge for Carbon- Neutral Campus – March 25, 2008 UConn President Mike Hogan signs the American College & University Presidents’

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Presentation on theme: "President Hogan Signs Pledge for Carbon- Neutral Campus – March 25, 2008 UConn President Mike Hogan signs the American College & University Presidents’"— Presentation transcript:

1 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. 100+ students, faculty and staff attend PCC signing ceremony at Wilbur Cross North Reading Room 

2 UConn’s Commitment… 1.Develop a Climate Action Plan for carbon neutrality by 2050 with interim targets & milestones (due by May 2010) 2.Create structure to guide development & implementation 3.Complete GHG inventory and update annually 4.Integrate sustainability into curriculum – education, research and outreach 5.Make progress reports and GHG inventories publicly available OUR WORLD, OUR PEOPLE, OUR FUTURE: THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT ACADEMIC PLAN 2008 - 2013

3 Immediate Steps To Reduce GHGs Steps UConn has begun to take (at least 2 of 7 needed): 1.Establish LEED Silver building standard 2.Adopt Energy Star appliance purchasing written policy 3.Encourage and provide access to public transportation 4.Participate in Recyclemania (waste minimization category) and adopt 3 waste reduction measures Other steps UConn could consider: 1.UConn Foundation – support climate & sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where endowment is invested 2.Offset GHGs from air travel 3.Buy/produce 15% of electricity from renewable resources

4 Climate Action Task Force Recycling Workgroup Energy Workgroup Environmental Literacy Workgroup Transportation Workgroup Sustainable Development Environmental Policy Advisory Council Proposed Institutional Structure

5 Criteria for Evaluating GHG Mitigation Strategies & Action Plans 1. Potential to avoid or reduce GHG emissions 2. Flexibility to achieve ongoing GHG reductions 3. Cost benefit – ROI and financial impact 4. Potential for positive or negative social and environmental side-effects 5. Relationship to other mitigation strategies and opportunity for synergies 6. Potential to be scaled upward if successful 7. Potential to involve students and faculty

6 Potential Workgroup Chairs Energy Workgroup Energy efficiency retrofits & installations –Lighting, HVAC, computers, appliances, windows, bldg envelope, fume hoods Utility infrastructure improvements –Cogen, T&D, steam, water, sewer, sub-metering Renewable energy use –wind, geothermal, solar (electric & thermal), fuel cells, biofuels in boilers, chillers and generators Conservation –Outreach for behavioral change, temperature set points, class/semester scheduling

7 Potential Workgroup Chairs (cont’d) Transportation Workgroup Mass Transit / Carpooling / Air Travel –Incentives for mass transit and carpooling, air travel policies and carbon offsets, increased shuttle bus use Alternative Fuels / Fuel Efficiency –Biodiesel, hybrids, electric plug-ins, hydrogen, smart idling policy, stronger fuel-efficient vehicle purchasing standards Alternative Modes of Transportation –Campus bicycling plan (trail network, signage, striping), storage racks, bike loaner program, pedestrian core

8 Potential Workgroup Chairs (cont’d) Environmental Literacy Workgroup Academic Programs – Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability –New courses (majors/minors?), Focus The Nation “teach- in,” campus as “living laboratory” for sustainability research, lecture series, focused SURF grants, FYE Student Life Education & Outreach –EcoHusky events, EcoHouse Learning/Living Community, EcoGarden club, orientation sessions, inter-dorm competitions (EcoMadness), green bag luncheons, speaker series, career panels, literacy / art contests

9 Potential Workgroup Chairs (cont’d) Sustainable Development Workgroup Responsible Growth & Management –Forest and open space preservation, natural resource protection, pedestrian community, low impact design features, rainwater harvesting, sustainable landscaping, Integrated Pest Management Green Building –Ensure conformity with UConn’s LEED Silver Policy (focus on LEED Energy & Atmosphere credits)

10 Potential Workgroup Chairs (cont’d) Recycling Workgroup Recycling –Containers, carts and infrastructure, janitorial training, Athletics / event recycling, collection enhancements, education & outreach, ResLife Move-Out program, electronics & batteries, Sneaker Recycling Waste Reduction / Minimization –Composting and agricultural practices, food waste, surplus store, green chemistry, expansion of Recyclemania

11 PCC / Climate Action Plan Format • Campus Emissions – emissions trajectory under business as usual and under the plan; graph illustrating the contribution from each emission source • Mitigation Strategies – sections describing how the institution will neutralize emissions from each source • Educational, Research, Community Outreach Efforts – plans to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and educational experience for all students; should include subsections on education, research and community outreach • Financing – how to fund mitigation strategies, action items • Tracking Progress – toward goals set out in the plan Workgroups CATF / Administration Driven By 

12 Funding Climate Action Plan Development & Implementation Determine Budgetary Needs –Ask workgroup chairs to assess –Research peer institutions Consider Options –Reinvest portion of energy cost savings (from installations and retrofits) – revolving loan fund –Graduate/Research Assistantships; Honors Program undergraduate internships –Budget allocations – Operating budget, Capital / DM, Academic Plan –State and utility company financial incentives

13 PCC vs. P.A. 08-98 PCC Applies only to Storrs campus Carbon neutrality by 2050 Interim targets and milestones to be determined Baseline GHG inventory due by May 2009 CAP due by May 2010 Education, research & outreach goals and action plans required component Annual progress reports to AASHE P.A. 08-98 Mandatory state targets apply collectively to all agencies (and UConn campuses) 10% below 1990 GHG levels by 2020 80% below 2001 levels by 2050 Baseline GHG inventory by Dec. 2009 Recommended reduction strategies by July 2011 Biennial agency progress reports to DEP & OPM


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