William Leahy, DirectorInstitute for Sustainable Energy

at Eastern Connecticut State

University

Campus Climate Action PlanNorwalk Community College

June 9, 2009

Green Campus Initiative

Strategies for Carbon Reduction

Twelve Steps to a Sustainable (Green)

Campus1. Teaching and Research2. Purchasing and

Administrative Services

3. Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling

4. Energy Conservation5. Energy Purchasing6. Water and Waste

Water Management

7. Hazardous Waste Management

8. Transportation9. Food and Food

Service10. Campus Grounds

and Land Use11. New Construction12. Campus Planning

and Design

Teaching and Research• Teach Environmental Literacy

• The Campus as a “Learning Laboratory”

• Engage in Community Outreach

• Take an Interdisciplinary Approach

• Strengthen Core Programs• Encourage undergraduate

research in sustainability

Purchasing and Administration

• Only buy what you need• Buy environmentally

friendly products• Use Energy Star

Standards• Buy post consumer

recycled materials• Include in all

requirements for providing all goods and services

• Use your Buying Power and Investor Influence to recognize and encourage responsible behavior in suppliers

Solid Waste Management and Recycling

• Establish a Waste Reduction Ethic

• Perform Analysis • Minimize• Work with facilities• Provide Convenient

Stations• Special Collection

Days• Promote Repair and

Swap• Recognize

Performance• Encourage student

participation

• Track Use and Cost• Meter & Sub-meter• Benchmark• Life Cycle Analysis• Retrofit and Renovate• Participate in Existing

Utility Programs• Encourage Student

Involvement• Investigate Performance

Contracts• Energy saving contests

Energy Conservation

Energy Purchasing• Improve Campus

Efficiency First• Improve Campus

Load Profile• Convert from High

Emission Fuels• Purchase Green

Power • Install Renewables• Consider CHP• Consider Carbon

Sequestering

Water and Waste Water Management

• Report, Respond and Repair

• Retrofit with “Water Savers”

• Try Waterless

• Minimize Irrigation

• Capture Rainwater

• Protect Groundwater

• Take shorter showers

Hazardous Waste Management

• Exceed Haz-Mat requirements

• Educate Generators• Develop Tracking• Implement Swapping• Switch to Non-Toxics• Recycle & Recover

CFCs• Ensure Proper

Disposal

Transportation

• Encourage Car- Pooling• Support Zip-Car & Ride-Share• Use Public

Transportation• Support Bikes and

walking• Convert Vehicles to

Alternate Fuels

Food and Food Service

• Buy Locally in Season

• Eat “Low on the Food Chain”

• Minimize Disposable Trays, Plates, Utensils

• Support Organic Food Producers

• Promote Reusable Mugs

• Promote local foods through increased student demand

• Redefine Campus Beauty• Reduce Lawn Areas• Protect Wetlands,

Watershed and Wildlife• Protect Trees• Plant Native Species• Natural Walkways Evolve

Campus Grounds and Land Use

• Don’t Oversize & Overbuild• Use High Performance

Building Standards• Exceed Energy Codes• Use Natural Systems• Incorporate Renewables• Use Environmentally

Friendly Materials• Use Life-Cycle analysis• Recycle Construction

Debris• Consider suggestions from

undergraduate research

New Construction

• Develop a Master Plan• Preserve Green Space• Minimize On-Campus

Driving• Maintain Indigenous

Plantings• Preserve Solar Access• Perform Impact Review of

All Expansion Plans• Have students work with

the town to ensure that the town and campus plans are sustainable

Campus Planning and Design

www.SustainEnergy.org

Green Campus Initiative(on www.sustainenergy.org)

CT Energy Information www.ctenergyinfo.co

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Questions?

Green Campus Initiative

“ It’s not easy being GREEN ! ”Kermit T. Frog