innovating with sustainability at george mason university · 2007 to present, mason participates in...
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Where Innovation Is Tradition
Innovating with Sustainabilityat
George Mason University
Greening Virginia Universities and Colleges ConferenceFebruary 29th, 2012
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Agenda
Introduction to Mason SustainabilityBuilding Policies and ProgressEnergy InitiativesCurricular and Co-Curricular InitiativesTracking Sustainability with AASHE STARS
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Sustainability at Mason2007/08:
ACUPCC: Climate Neutrality by 2050Office of Sustainability formed
2008/09: Sustainability in 2014 Strategic PlanProvost’s 1st Fellow of Sustainability Studies
2009/10:1st Climate Action Plan by students, faculty and staffSustainable Endowments Institute Green Report Card
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Sustainability at MasonCurrent OoS/AE initiatives:
ClimateReporting/trackingPatriot Green FundMason Sustainability InstituteGreen PatriotsGreen OfficeSustainable Food and DiningRecycling program improvementTransportation and cycling program improvementContract integration (Auxiliary Enterprises)
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Green Building Policy and Progress at George Mason
University
Erik C. Backus, PE, LEED AP (BD+C)Engineering Planner, Campus Planning
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Short Chronology - Major Milestones in Standards
June 2007 - Lenna Storm named First Sustainability Coordinator
July 2007 – Mason signs the ACUPCC
August 2008 – Mason Board of Visitors approves LEED Silver as Baseline Building Sustainability Standard
December 2008 – DEB Notice 120108 – Virginia Energy Conservationand Environmental Standards (LEED Certified or VEES)
January 2009 – Mason’s College Of Science commits toLEED Gold for S&T2 and “that all future projects achievea minimum certification of LEED silver, while striving for the highest possible certification.”
Fall 2009 – Mason Delivers its first LEED Building
January 2010 – Mason Releases its Climate Action Plan
December 2010 – DEB Notice 121510 - Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards (LEED Silver,Green Globes (2 Globes), or Virginia Energy Conservationand Environmental Performance Standards)
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Built World AccomplishmentsLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Projects:
Engineering Building - LEED SilverMason Inn & Conference Center - LEED GoldFounder’s Hall - LEED Certified - ProjectedHousing VIII-A - LEED Silver - ProjectedScience and Tech II (S&T2) - LEED Gold – Projected
Landscape Standards and Guidelines – Incorporating Native Vegetation Options – May 2008/Rev Sep 2009
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Where are we going with StandardsTargeting Sustainability Efforts:
Energy efficiency; environmentally sensitive site development, especially regarding storm-water and transportation demand management; minimize waste and increase recycling; and maximize comfort and well-being of the building occupants while engaging them in awareness-building.
Not rating system-specific, but focused on our priorities to steer the rating systems to accomplish above goals.
USGBC LEED, Green Globes, Envision, etc.Keep a baseline system requirement for projects.Have a Standard that has broad buy-in and presses forward.
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Energy Initiatives
George Mason University has grown by 40% since 2006.Energy use has only grown by 9% in that period.Strong Energy Management has allowed GMU to reduce energy use intensity(BTUs/GSF), despite the 1 million SqFt increase in FY11 of technically complex space.
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Energy Initiatives2005 Mason partners with Siemens Industry, Inc. on the first of two Energy Savings Performance Contracts.
$12.5M Energy/Water reduction contract. Over 15 years, contract is estimated to save:255 Million Kilowatt-hours of electricity49 Million BTU of natural gas6.9 Million gallons of potable water
2009 Mason partners with Siemens Industry, Inc. on the second Energy Saving Performance Contract.
$4.5M Energy/Water reduction contract. Over 15 years, contract is estimated to save:78 Million Kilowatt-hours of electricity2.5 Million BTU of natural gas
3 Million gallons of potable water
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Energy Initiatives2007 to present, Mason participates in the Energy Curtailment Program with PJM through Energy Connect. The funds are used on other energy saving initiatives to further reduce energy consumption and costs.
INSULTECH INSULATION BLANKETSCHCP & HTHW TUNNELS
Project: Cover the uninsulated expansion joints and valves in the HTHW Tunnels. Insulate the Expansion tank in the CHCP, the large HTHW valves and part of the new hot water generator that was installed as part of the ESPC II Contract.
Savings are based on 0.06 KWH for electricity and $7.49 DKTH for Natural Gas
INITIAL INVESTMENT ANNUAL SAVINGS PAYBACK PERIOD MONTHS 15 YEAR SAVINGSCHCP HTHW TUNNELS PH I $39,903.13 $25,927.59 18.2 $388,913.86 CHCP HTHW TUNNELS PH II $37,157.18 $24,008.39 18.1 $360,125.88 PHASE II MECHANICAL RMS $91,182.38 $47,967.44 22.3 $719,511.63 CHCP BOILER #2 $10,596.60 $8,945.10 14.1 $134,176.57 CHCP VALVES FLANGES $26,031.20 $23,417.80 13.3 $351,266.93 CHCP EXPANSION TANK $4,137.74 $13,440.60 0.3 $201,609.00
TOTAL $209,008.23 $143,706.92 14.4 $2,155,603.87
• 2,547,843 Million KWH of Electricity
• 8,783 Million BTU of Natural Gas
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Insultech Thermal Blankets
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Water EfficiencyAll plumbing fixtures in restrooms have been replaced with efficient low flow fixtures and aerators.The faucet aerators are .05 gpm, the flush valves are 1.0 gpm, and the toilet tanks have high power flush assist units in them. Showers were fitted with 2.0 gpm shower heads.Waterless Urinals
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Lighting Efficiency
T-8/T-5 Lamps with electronic Ballasts.Occupancy SensorsLed LightingCompact FluorescentsInduction Lighting
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Lighting Efficiency
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Building Automation System
Siemens Apogee Insight v3.11
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Energy Efficient Vehicles
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Campus LED Lighting
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Campus LED Lighting
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Energy & Sustainability
Green Roof Project on Research Hall
2009
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Energy Management Webpage
http://facilities.gmu.edu/physicalplant/energy/index.html
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A Vision for Sustainability in Academics
Mason will rank among the top 50 US universities in sustainability studies,
leading strategic research, education and service to promote
a more sustainable campus, community and world.
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OutcomesMason faculty are thought leaders and scholars in sustainability assessment and innovation, addressing and solving complex challenges of realizing sustainability at local to global scales.Mason alumni are prepared to be sustainability leaders. Communities around Mason’s campuses benefit from Patriots’ scholarship and action through improved operational efficiency, environmental quality, social safety nets, and participation in Mason activities (such as Earth Week).A more sustainable society results from Mason’s contributions.
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Strategies
Education Create a new generation of sustainability leaders
Scholarship Address “wicked” sustainability challenges
ServiceInnovate to solve real-world sustainability problems
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Green Leaf Programs & Courses
2011/12 Catalog 2012/13 Catalog* % Increase
Courses 35 85** +143%
Academic Programs 12 17 +42%
…Undergrad Majors 4 6 +50%
…Undergrad Minors& Certificates
2 4 +100%
…Graduate Degrees 3 4 +33%
…Grad. Certificates 3 3 --
* As proposed to Registrar, 2012/13 courses in CEHD, CHHS, CHSS, COS, CVPA, Honors College, S-CAR, SPP and VSE. Latest list at: sustainabilitystudies.gmu.edu/green-leaf
** Includes 9 sustainability-focused courses. The rest are sustainability-related courses.
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Green Leaf Courses, e.g.,
FOCUSED UNDERGRAD COURSESCEIE 150 Sustainable CitiesECON 335 –Environmental EconomicsGGS 307 – Sustainable DevelopmentNCLC 210 – Sustainable WorldPRLS 250 – Wilderness Travel & SustainabilitySOCI 320 – Social Structure and Globalization
RELATED UNDERGRAD COURSESANTH 370 – Environment and CultureGGS 322 – Issues in Global ChangePHYS 331 – Physics of Renewable EnergyPHIL 343 – Environmental Ethics
FOCUSED GRAD COURSESCEIE 751 – Env. Sustain. & EntrepreneurshipCONF 702 – Peace StudiesCONS 665 – Conservation Conflict ResolutionITRN 760 – International Env. PoliticsTOUR 540 – Sustainable Tourism Mgmt
RELATED GRAD COURSESCOMM 670: Social MarketingGCH 560: Environmental HealthHIST 615: American Env. History
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Green Leaf Academic Programs
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Green Leaf Academic Programs
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Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences
10,000+ Middle School science students yearlyTwo largest school districts in Virginia:
Fairfax County Public SchoolsPrince William County Public Schools
Land UseWater ChemistryBiodiversity and HabitatBiologyWatershed Stewardship
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Managing Our Planet Series
+
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Activities and EventsSample of hosted events:
2010 International Marine Conservation Congress2011 Trash-free Potomac Watershed Summit2012 Chesapeake Bay Bowl, Green Schools Expo. & Earthforce Youth Environmental Summit
Sample of campus-focused events:Curricular innovation workshops & presentations since 2007Sustainability authors at annual Fall for the Book2011 Innovating for Sustainability Showcase
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Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop Series (relaunch?)
30 faculty across 2 design workshops in 2007 and 2008
Participants’ 2011 feedback on impacts & follow-up:All found the workshop USEFUL73% Pedagogy impactedContributed to 3 new academic programs, 7 new “green leaf” courses & revisions to 15+ existing courses82% favor redelivery or continuation of workshop series; you too?
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More Pedagogical & Research Ops
A Sustainability Research Group?
Action Research Community of Practice!
Sustainability Research Assistantships and Internshipsin local public and private sector organizations
Regional Health Care ProviderNational Tecommunications CompanyCounty Government Agencies
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Tracking Sustainability
Mason received a STARS Silver rating!Strong performance in:
Incorporating sustainability into its plansPromoting diversity and affordabilityMaintaining grounds sustainablyPurchasing green productsPartnering with communityOffering academic and continuing education programs in sustainability
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Tracking Sustainability
Areas where Mason can improve:Emissions reductionsEnergy, water, and waste reductionsSingle occupancy vehicle reductionsClean and renewable energyPeer-to-peer sustainability education programVolunteer hours to sustainability causesSustainable investments
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Tracking Sustainability
Lessons Learned:STARS as foundation for sustainability metrics and progress reporting due to comprehensive categoriesBenefitted from having system and support in place from Climate Action Plan and GHGI data collectionKey success was having a champion in each major area to compile and track informationNeed to be more creative to achieve transformational changeStrengths in certain areas were not well represented within STARS Sharing lessons learned with others for greater change
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Questions?
?
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Contact InformationLenna Storm, Office of Sustainability703-993-4220, [email protected] Backus, Campus Planning703-993-4869, [email protected] Buchanan, Energy Office703-993-2657, [email protected] Sklarew, Fellow of Sustainability Studies571-277-5779, [email protected] Lo, Office of Sustainability703-993-5315, [email protected]
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Mason WebsitesOffice of Sustainabilityhttp://green.gmu.eduCampus Planninghttp://facilities.gmu.edu/CampusPlanningMason Energy Officehttp://masonenergy.gmu.eduSustainability Studieshttp://sustainabilitystudies.gmu.edu