Walk the Talk: Integrated Sustainability Initiative
Project updates
Oct. 2010: New solar installation on display at University’s Agricultural Experiment Station
STATEMENT OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Michael Collopy, John Sagebiel and Steve Mischissin
University of Nevada, Reno
A. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
In order to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus, we propose an Integrated Sustainability Initiative to transform infrastructure and institutional practices, and develop collaborative programs to reduce consumption and waste, save money in the long term and provide a working model of environmental best practices for the community and region. Together with the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S), and regional and community partners, the UNR Academy for the Environment (UNAE) will identify specific practices and technologies to promote campus sustainability.
The ultimate goal will be to come as close as possible to a ‘closed loop’ campus for energy and material consumption and discharge, focusing on three dimensions of campus operations: 1) Physical Infrastructure (such as campus planning and older building retrofits); 2) Institutional Practices (such as improved conservation habits and recycling); and 3) Programmatic Developments (such as building community partnerships, drawing on faculty/student expertise, making practices visible to the community as models for individuals, businesses and other institutions).
This initiative will produce a “triple bottom line” benefit for the Nevada System of Higher Education: reducing environmental impact beyond those mandated by state and regulatory agencies, save money, and create social benefits by helping to build UNAE capacity to enhance UNR’s community outreach and educational components. Improving Environmental Impact and Awareness has been a central mission of both the Academy and the University since the Strategic Planning Initiatives of 2000.
B. PROJECT SCOPE
This project is designed to explore ways the University of Nevada, Reno, can continue to develop ways to improve environmental sustainability on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. The proposal program will take a three-pronged approach, focusing on improving infrastructure, practices and programs.
Improvements to infrastructure will emphasize the development and promotion of renewable energy technologies for on-site renewable energy generation, including solar panels, and wind generators. Since there are significantly more opportunities for retrofitting existing campus buildings than constructing new ones, we also will focus on developing and applying cutting-edge designs for retrofitting older buildings to sustainable models and use these buildings (as well as existing campus buildings with green features) as public demonstration sites that will provide visitors with information
Promoting improved practices by faculty, staff and students can change behavior and promote more environmentally sustainable actions. Through education, new web-enabled technologies, cost-saving incentives and other strategies, we will demonstrate ways to reduce overall energy consumption. We also plan to enhance UNR’s integrated solid waste management program through expanded recycling, improved green waste management, vermiculture, and source reduction.
Educational programs will be developed that focus on the environmental improvements that are achieved with campus infrastructure and practices. Whenever possible, these programs with involve students, faculty, staff, and community partners in developing, maintaining, and making public the success of these efforts.
This program is consistent with the goals and objectives of DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program. By enhancing the its recycling program and implementing a number of energy efficiency retrofits, the university hopes to demonstrate its commitment to improving its sustainability practices and reducing costs through increased energy efficient. These efforts also are in line with the Sustainability Plan recently developed by the University of Nevada, Reno, in accordance with the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. (ACUPCC).
C. TASKS TO BE PERFORMED
Task 1.0 Enhancement of Recycling Efforts. Under this task we propose to increase our diversion rate and expand the capability of the recycling program.
SubTask 1.1 Assess Recycling Program. Through a series of assessments, determine the current use of the recycling program by the campus.
SubTask 1.2 Identify Barriers to Increased Recycling. By using a series of interviews and assessment identify the key barriers to use of the existing program on campus
SubTask 1.3 Expanding capacity and usability. Using the information gained via the first two subtasks, focus efforts on expanding the capability and usability of UNR’s recycling program. This would include expansion of operational capability by adding space and a vehicle for pickups and adding student labor.
Task 2.0 Re-Lamping Parking Garage and Pedestrian Walkways
Under this task, we will demonstrate to the campus community the energy and cost savings that can be achieved through the use of new lighting technologies. Using signage and online communication we will provide educational and research opportunities to students and faculty as the savings in cost and energy are monitored. Specifically, we propose to re-lamp pedestrian areas with LED lighting and re-lamp the main parking garage. Both of these efforts will be high-visibility projects and have rapid paybacks.
Task 3.0 Installing Solar Panels on the Parking Garage
Under this task we will seek to emphasize high visibility projects that will provide opportunity for educational opportunities as well. We propose to put solar panels on the campus’s main parking garage as a way to provide renewable energy to the campus.
Task 4.0 Chemistry Building Cooling Tower Replacement
Actual work will be contracted out, but managed by UNR. The scope will involve replacement of the cooling towers for the Chemistry Building. The existing towers are on the roof of the building, which while space efficient is not thermally efficient plus it expends a lot of energy pumping water to the roof. This is why this project is a high priority for an efficiency upgrade. The new system will be mounted on the ground, on the east side of the building. This has two advantages: First, the pumping costs will be lower and the building itself will shade the towers in the afternoon, further improving the performance. This project supports the project in that it is part of UNR’s overall energy efficiency project wherein we are replacing and upgrading much equipment on campus and carefully documenting savings in energy, costs and greenhouse gas emissions. This project will result in very significant savings since the new system will be installed at ground level not the roof as the old one is. This will save in pumping costs, plus the high-efficiency equipment will save in electricity and water.
Task 5.0 Jot Travis Building Boiler and Heat Exchanger Replacement
Actual work will be contracted out, but managed by UNR. The scope will involve replacing and upgrading boiler and heat exchanger systems for this building. This is the only building on the central campus heating loop that still uses a steam system, not a hot water system. As a result the loop temperature must be maintained much higher than would be needed if this building were removed from the loop. By upgrading and changing these systems, we will be able to provide all the steam the building needs from the new system that will feed this building alone. This project supports the project in that it is part of UNR’s overall energy efficiency project wherein we are replacing and upgrading much equipment on campus and carefully documenting savings in energy, costs and greenhouse gas emissions. In this case, the project will have direct and indirect savings. Direct savings will come from improved efficiency in this 1954 building and indirect will be from removing this building from the campus central heat plant, allowing us to lower the temperature in that loop resulting in very large savings.
Task 6.0 Computing Center Cooling Tower Replacement
Actual work will be contracted out, but managed by UNR. This is a replacement and upgrade of the cooling towers for the computing center. This will replace an older system that has been overworked due to the added load from newer server systems. This project supports the project in that it is part of UNR’s overall energy efficiency project wherein we are replacing and upgrading much equipment on campus and carefully documenting savings in energy, costs and greenhouse gas emissions. New high-efficiency equipment will save in both electricity and water.
Task 7.0 Project Reporting
Reports and other deliverables will be provided in accordance with the Federal Assistance Reporting Checklist following the instructions included therein.