“Enterprising” Students Lead Campus Sustainability Initiatives

at Michigan Tech

Presented by:Andrew McKenzie

Erin Valdivia

Green Campus Enterprise

AASHE 2010

Outline

• Michigan Tech and the Enterprise Program

• Origin of Green Campus • Structure and roles • Projects:

– Carbon footprint– Occupancy sensors

• Questions

Michigan Technological University

Doctoral Granting

STEM DominantEnrollmentGraduate: 1241Undergrad: 5716

Carnegie Classification

High Research Activity

Sustainability Initiatives at Michigan Tech

• Student-led teams run like consulting companies

• Corporate partners• Prescribed responsibilities• Courses for credit

– Senior design replacement

• ~ 30 teams with 15 to 60 members

Supermileage Enterprise

Green Campus Enterprise

Partner: EPA/Keweenaw Bay Indian CommunityGoals: Clean and sustain water resources

Partner: GM, 3M, Chrysler LLC, DENSO, Alcoa, ArcelorMittlal, Ford Motor Company, CumminsGoals: Design and build off-road rec vehicle for competition

Partner: Raytheon, ABSL, SAIC, WindRiver, AGIGoals: Design and fly student-built spacecraft

• Executive Team support • Student leadership• Exposure to professionals• Level of performance• Direct effect on campus• Focus on culture & infrastructure• Continued enrollment

Why Green Campus Is Innovative

Origin of Green Campus

• Carbon Neutral AQIP project– Created to “better integrate sustainability into

Michigan Tech’s research, education, and operations.”

• Prescribed responsibilities– Complete annual carbon inventory analysis– Advise executive team on potential projects– Communicate efforts to campus community

• Enterprise collaboration– Executive Team– Energy Advisory Group (EAG)

Structure and Roles

– Report annually to Executive Team– Participate in weekly meetings

Faculty Advisor – Provides resources, professional expertise and project guidance

Student Leadership Team

Project Leaders

– Run weekly meetings– Guide decision making– Represent Green

Campus– Determine class

structure– Oversee public

relations– Assign weekly tasks– Grade project team

membersAll Members

Current projects• Carbon inventory• Campus culture• Wind turbine feasibility study• Energy savings: computers

– Electricity reduction incentives – Software tools– Associated resources, paper

• Energy savings: buildings– Occupancy sensors– Outdoor LED– Solar panels

Carbon Inventory

Carbon Inventory

• Clean Air – Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator

• ACUPCC guidelines• Data gathering

– Commuter survey– Air travel

Inventories completed:

FY 2008 – Baseline yearFY 2009

Other On-Campus Stationary32%

Direct Transportation2%

Refrigerants & Chemicals4%

Purchased Electricity38%

Faculty / Staff Commuting4%

Student Commuting3%

Directly Financed Air Travel11%

Other Directly Financed Travel1%

Solid Waste2%

Scope 2 T&D Losses4%

Carbon Emission FY 2009

Occupancy Sensors

Occupancy Sensors

• Charge by EAG

• Focus: Academic buildings– Computer labs– Classrooms– Restrooms

• Data collected using Leviton Light Loggers

– Occupancy and lighting condition

• Dollars & Sensors program

Green Campus Enterprise/Energy Advisory Group Lighting Occupancy Sensor Control Project Phase 1

Classrooms, Computer Labs and Restrooms in Academic BuildingsData by Type of Space

Type of Space

EstimatedCapital

CostPotential Rebate

EstimatedNet Cost

Annual Energy

Savings (kWh)

Annual Energy

Savings ($)

Payback w/Rebate

(Years)

Classrooms $8,225 $1,300 $6,925 28,185 $2,255 3.1

Computer Labs $9,025 $1,450 $7,575 53,377 $4,115 1.8

Restrooms $14,380 $1,600 $12,780 44,141 $3,532 3.6

Total $31,630 $4,350 $27,280 125,703 $9,902 2.8

Executive Presentation – Spring 2010

– Occupancy Sensors: $26,000– Wind Monitoring: $8,700

Over 3 semesters…• Powerful collaborative force

• Established close working relationships– Administrators– Faculty– Staff– Students

• Creating the future

Acknowledgments

•Sustainable Futures Institute•Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering•Administration of Michigan Tech•Faculty advisor: Dr. Chris Wojick

Questions?