sustainability at nmsu and the president’s climate commitment

Sustainability at NMSUand the President’s Climate

Commitment

Definitions

• Sustainability is a state of operations in which economic, social, and environmental needs of current generations are being met without negatively impacting the ability of future generations to meet their equivalent needs

Definitions

• Integrated planning is the process of linking vision, priorities, people, and the physical institution, in a flexible system of evaluation, decision-making and action to shape and guide the entire organization as it evolves over time, within and without its community

Definitions

• Sustainability – “balance of flows”

• Regenerative – “giving more than it takes”

Definitions

• Carbon footprint – the amount of carbon emissions generated over a specific time period. It accounts for one type of impact on the world – global warming

• Ecological footprint – measures the impact on the worlds biocapacity, or how much of the world it takes to sustain your lifestyle

Definitions

• Carbon offset – a reduction credit often offered by an organization whose project can claim that less carbon emissions were released due to the project

Definitions

• Climate Neutral – Having no net release of green house gas through elimination of sources or acquisition of carbon offsets

• Green house gas - Those gasses such as CH4, CO2, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6 that cause global warming

The Carbon Challenge

• It is estimated that humans generate about 9 Gtons of carbon per year. The earth is absorbing about 5 Gtons per year. That leaves 4 Gtons per year in the atmosphere as green house gas that contributes to rising temperatures. Scientists estimate the total tonnage in atmosphere to be 300 Gtons. 570 Gtons will lead to a sustained rise of 2 degrees C.

The Ecological Challenge

• The average ecological footprint in the United States is 24 acres per person. Worldwide there now exists 5.4 biologically productive acres per person.

• If everyone lived as we do we would need four planets.

Typical Sources of Carbon

• A monthly electrical bill of $80 equates to 19,700 pounds of CO2 emitted per year

• Driving 200 miles per week equates to 11,800 pounds of CO2 emitted per year

• A household that does not recycle equates to 6,300 pounds of CO2 emitted per year

NMSU’s Commitment

• April 17th, 2007

• President Michael V. Martin

• American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment

Presidents Climate Commitment

• Eliminate net green house gas emissions as soon as possible



• Create an institutional structure by June 17th, 2007 (Done)



• Create an institutional structure by June 17th , 2007 (Done)

• Complete a green house gas emission inventory by April 17th, 2008


• Make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences of all students



• Set target date, institutional action plan and interim milestones for climate neutrality by April 17th, 2009



• Set target date, institutional action plan and interim milestones for climate neutrality by April 17th, 2009

• Publish and post plans, goals and progress to date

Presidents Climate CommitmentTangible Actions

• All new construction and major renovations to be US Green Building Councils LEED Silver Certified or higher (Done)


• All new construction and major renovations to be US Green Building Councils LEED Silver Certified or higher (Done)

• Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring ENERGY STAR certified products (Pending)


• Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by the institution


• Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by the institution

• Encourage use and provide access to public transportation at the institution (Done)


• By April 2008, purchase at least 15% of electrical power from renewable sources (Seeking legislative support for both solar and wind energy projects). 15% of NMSU Las Cruces campus load is about 2 to 2.5 Mega Watts of power.


• By April 2008, purchase at least 15% of electrical power from renewable sources (Seeking legislative support for both solar and wind energy projects)

• Endowment portfolio investment strategy


• By April 2008, purchase at least 15% of electrical power from renewable sources (Seeking legislative support for both solar and wind energy projects)

• Endowment portfolio investment strategy

• Waste minimization component of the RecycleMania competition

Other Past / Ongoing Initiatives

• Cogeneration plant with thermal storage

• Recycling and composting operations

• Fleet composition and fueling sources

• Demonstration photovoltaic parking shade structure

Short Term Challenges

• Western water law of “use or lose” versus need to conserve

• Disconnect between capital funds and operational funds “life cycle cost models”

Opportunities

• Enable higher standards of living world wide through the ability to adapt new technologies

Opportunities


• Support for new ways of thinking about our world and how we impact it

Opportunities


• Support for new ways of thinking about our world and how we impact it

• Higher education will be the primary source of the solutions in addressing a defining challenge of the 21st century

An Approach

• Physical resource efficiency bordering on the fanatical

• Joint use of assets by competing entities

• Technology, technology, technology

• Integrated planning

NMSU Sustainability Website

• www.nmsu.edu/~energy

http://www.nmsu.edu/~energy

sustainability at nmsu and the president’s climate commitment

Documents

net release of green

carbon emissions

gtons of carbon

pounds of co2

institutional structure

institutional action

educational experiences

elimination of sources