EMS Class 2006

1
EMS Class 2006

• Assessed UVM sustainability using the draft
  EcoCampus Environmental Management System
  framework from the UK
• Eight different UVM Management programs ranging
  from Solid Waste and Recycling to Transportation
  and Parking Services were reviewed.
• The final presentation included
• EMS overview
• Development of EMS model for Construction and
  Demolition Waste
• Review of recommendations for Green House Gas
  Management actions within an EMS context
• Transportation and Parking Services Ecocampus
  rating
• EMS Policy Recommendation

2
Construction and Demolition EMS

• A EPA Solid Waste Reduction Grant was received in
  Fall 2006 based on the EMS approach to CD waste
  issue developed in the class.
• The grant application was co-authored by Physical
  Plant, Capital Planning and Risk Management staff
• It formed the basis for my Environmental Studies
  senior thesis
• The grant supports the development of a Web-based
  toolkit for project managers that includes
• Description of the CD EMS
• A waste data tracking tool
• A training powerpoint

3
Web Screenshots
The Wiki Page
Data Entry Page
4
This Years Class
5
Scope of GHG Emissions Reporting and Planning
Activities
Complexity of decisions
Data reliability

• First level activities
• buildings energy use (power, thermal)
• fleet fuel use
• energy sources
• Second level
• commuting fuel used
• solid waste disposed
• refrigerants chemicals
• animals manure
• Third level
• air travel
• purchasing, food
• research, education

6
Current GHG Emissions from Buildings,
Transportation

• Heating sources remained the dominant source of
  carbon emissions, comprising almost half the
  emissions in 2005.
• Fleet emissions are roughly equivalent to
  emissions from UVMs cows. (Solid waste and
  refrigerants also about 1 each.)
• Commuting plays a significant role in
  emissionsvery rough estimates now

7
EcoCampus Assessment of GHG from Buildings,
Transportation

• Efficiency Could be Silver or Gold with policy,
  plan, and communication.
• Green building policy Platinum level now
• Conservation Bronze for EcoReps res hall
  students only. Informal campus-wide conservation
  activities.
• Purchasing electricity and heating fuels No
  policy or program purchased low sulfur 6 oil
• Transportation B20 in buses, CNG coming,
  baseline evaluation complete. Silver level
  program now for fleet and commuting if had
  policy.
• Research and demonstration projects Could be
  Bronze with official policy or plan, ongoing
  activities

8
Current UVM Energy Activities Academics Culture

• ACADEMICS
• Transportation Center focus on sustainability
• Greening Aiken modeling, metering, students and
  faculty engaged
• Researchers on climate change organizing network
• Wind turbine and kiosk installed, website next
• Alternate Fuels in fleet vehicles, hybrids
• CULTURE
• Eco-Reps program focus on behavior, lightbulb
  exchanges, awareness
• Clean Energy Fund proposal proposed by Campus
  Energy Group members, April 2007 following survey
• Events, lectures, ex Laurie David, Jerome Ringo

9
Current UVM Energy Activities Campus
Accountability

• CAMPUS OPERATIONS
• Co-generation planning and chiller loop
  installation for new buildings
• Green buildings measurement verification
  real-time monitoring sustainability gallery in
  Davis. Internship, 50k donation
• Ongoing efficiency upgrades through Physical
  Plant, 1million next year Governors Award 06
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• LEED certification sought for all major
  construction projects 2005-2007
• Pledge by President Fogel to support regional
  climate action goals in 2004
• Report on energy and greenhouse gas emissions
  beginning to be researched and drafted. Will
  engage faculty and students in fall.

10
Next Energy Actions for the Environmental
University

• Academics support and track climate change
  research and teaching train faculty to
  incorporate into classes
• Culture Enhance EcoReps to include staff
  ambassadors support initiatives such as Clean
  Energy Fund annual climate change events
• Campus Operations Continue to improve EMS for
  energy efficiency, purchasing, transportation
• Accountability Annual reporting and indicators
  with stakeholder input connect to VT climate
  goals and activities connect to AASHE and
  national/global discussion

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Suggested Approach

• Policy/commitment and evolving plan.
• Address first level activities first buildings
  (power and thermal), fleet, plus commuting
• Revisit and expand scope of plan over time to
  include next level activities.
• Use Environmental University framework
  (Academics, Culture, Campus, Accountability) to
  guide assessment and planning.

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Class RecommendationEMS Policy for Campus
Operations

• Amendments to last years proposal
• Policy statement shortened
• Definitions tightened
• Selection of impacts to be covered left to
  program staff rather than listed in the policy
• The Vice President for Finance and Enterprise
  Services will
• Review an Environmental Management System for
  least one program of campus operations per year.
• Report annually to the Board of Trustees on the
  status of the environmental indicators related to
  campus operations via the UVM Sourcebook.

13
The EMS Review Process

• How often are reviews necessary?
• Which programs should be reviewed, in what order?
• Our recommendations
• Twice a year Food, Green Buildings, and CD
  Waste
• Annually Eco-Reps, Energy and Air Pollution,
• Three year cycle Parking and Transportation,
  Hazardous Waste (note that hazardous waste
  indicators are reviewed annually by EPA)
• Staffing and resources
• The academic connection is a useful and important
  asset, but not sufficient to move operational
  programs forward by themselves
• External grant funding opportunities show
  potential

14
Reporting Environmental Progress

• Suggested indicators for sourcebook reporting,
  tracked by the Environmental Council
• Energy use dollars spent and amount used
• Solid waste generated amount generated and
  percentage recycled
• EMS development
• LEED ratings for facilities
• Eco campus ratings for program operations
• Ecoliteracy efforts culture and academics

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Reasons to Do This

• Encourages campus greening programs
• A voluntary program - outside regulatory politics
  and changes
• Allows recognition of progress by the management
  and the community
• Ratings analogous to LEED rating system
• Would allow UVM to serve as a model for other
  campuses with regard to environmental program
  management

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Question

• What are the challenges facing implementation of
  a EMS approach at UVM?

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UVM Environmental Council Operations Committee,
February 2007

• Indicators Update
• Source Book Page
• Program Development

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UVM Population
19
UVM Building Space
20
UVM Electricity Use
21
UVM Space Heating Energy Use
22
UVM Solid Waste
23
UVM Transportation Demand Management
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UVM Laboratory Hazardous Waste
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Indicators for the Sourcebook

• Which environmental footprint numbers are
  significant enough to include the sourcebook
• Population and building space come from the
  sourcebook
• Significance includes reproducibility, guidance
  and importance
• What goals can be set for these indicators?
• What ideas can be applied to these goals?
• Sort ideas into low cost (within current
  budgets), moderate cost (require some increase in
  current budgets) and capital expenses (require
  trustee approval)