Agency Sustainability Plan
Submitted to the State Sustainability Coordinating Council - February 2007
Agency Coordinator: John Marzec, Director of Administration, Facilities Mgt.
Phone: 781-280-3751
Email:marzecj@middlesex.mass.ed
1. General Information, Impacts and Sustainability Team
1.1 Description and Scope
Founded in 1970, Middlesex Community College (MCC) is the largest community college in Massachusetts with two campuses, one in the City of Lowell; bounded by the Merrimack River, the Concord River and the canal system for which Lowell is known and another in the suburban town of Bedford on a 205-acre, heavily wooded site, on which resides a lake and surrounding palustrine, forested wetlands that are part of the Shawsheen River watershed. On these properties reside 20 buildings, consisting of 521,000 gross square feet.
We offer many paths to higher education, including 78 degree and certificate programs, hundreds of noncredit courses, career training, online courses and programs, and bachelor’s degree completion programs with Salem State College. All of these programs and supporting activities can potentially effect the environment; those of greater impact lay in Nursing, Science, and Dental Assisting. Operational functions such as the provision of technology and facilities maintenance are other significant sources of energy use and hazardous waste generation.
Executive Order 438 was established in July of 2002, however MCC is no stranger to the goals of sustainability and has pursued environmentally sound practices both in partnership with State initiatives such as, Energy Conservation Measures and Executive Order #350 the Clean State Initiative, as well as independently. As a result, MCC is the second lowest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) per square foot of buildings, of the fifteen community college campuses in Massachusetts. 1
Being an institute of higher learning, our mission is both the local and globalization of the curriculum; we have a responsibility to educate the world culture in sustainability, both in the classroom and in practice.
1.2 Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
MCC on average consumes 824,000 cubic feet of water, or over 5 million gallons, for domestic plumbing, and heating and cooling requirements. These activities result in approximately 482,000 cubic feet of sewer water; (accounting for losses due to evaporative cooling and irrigation.)
Through its consumption of fossil fuels, MCC emits approximately 7,000,000 pounds of CO2. The College produces over 500 tons of solid waste per year. Currently only 7% is being recycled.
1. Sustainability Tracking & Reporting, College & University CO2 Emissions, 2005
The Bedford Campus, being a suburban community, has limited access to public transportation, as a result many of the 2028 full time enrolled students, and 420 full and part-time faculty and staff make single occupant trips to the campus.
There are 20 vehicles in the facilities maintenance fleet, 4 shuttle vans, and 2 staff cars consuming on average a combined 9000 gallons of gas and diesel, with 55 gallons of waste oil as a byproduct. 25 acres of parking lots and roadways requiring 120 tons of sand, salt and ice melt for de-icing, affecting habitats. 450 faculty and staff, and 5000 FTE students consume tons of paper and $29,000 of toners, annually. MCC possesses numerous acres of landscaped grounds that require pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer and a small fleet of gas powered landscaping equipment to maintain creating waste oil and greenhouse gas emissions.
In additionally, MCC runs a dental clinic as part of the dental hygiene program; amalgams and x-ray processing generate heavy metal effluent.
1.3 Operational Costs
Electricity
FY 2005 - 323,134 kW
FY 2006 - 5,481,127 kW
Natural Gas
FY 2005 - 145,764 ccf
FY 2006 - 128,059 ccf
Water/Sewer
FY 2005 - 5,930,772 gallons
FY 2006 - 5,264,634 gallons
Solid Waste
FY 2005 - ~500 t
FY 2006 - ~500 t
Hazardous Waste
FY 2005 - $14,543
FY 2006 - $4670
1.4 MCC Sustainability Team Members
John Marzec – Director of Administration for Facilities, EH&S
Steve Hatch - Dir of Operations for Facilities
Robert Bickford – HVAC
Maureen Hudson – Purchasing Coordinator
Jessie Klein – Science Labs
2. Long-Term Goals/Vision
Seek an alternative to domestic water supply, (i.e. well or canal), for two cooling towers in the Lowell Campus, thus eliminating the demand for treated water.
Consider a co-generation option for Cowan Center to reduce fossil fuel use and increase efficiency
Pursue LEED-EB certification for all buildings beginning with the Federal Building in 2006.
Consider alternative fuel vehicles over gas fueled fleet vehicles, where applicable, on a replacement basis.
Encourage a zero-spill policy in sciences to eliminate chemicals in waste stream
3. Short-term Actions and Priorities
Current Initiatives:
Replace fluorescent lamps with 25W super saving T8’s
MCC is currently reviewing proposals to replace existing copiers and networked printers. Copiers will be equipped with scanning capability to encourage the use of electronic archiving and documenting in order to reduce paper and toner usage. Printers will be reviewed and consolidated to reduce existing numbers, providing reduced energy usage and disposition impacts.
Obtain Large Onsite Renewable Initiative (LORI) grant
Establish a window replacement specification to guide future projects
Consider ceasing active maintenance of grassy area adjacent to North Gate to revert to meadow
Convert outside lighting to pulse-start fixtures
Install sub-meters to track building usage and establish demand side management program
3.1 Priority and Area Goals
Natural Resource Protection
Investigate feasibility of anti-icing practices on campus to reduce roadway salt use
Consider a wetland program on-site, to elevate awareness of this natural resource and human impact to it
3.2 Action Steps
Sustainable Goal: Promote and energy star program for office equipment
Benefits: Reduces electricity usage
Specific Tasks: $20,500 / yr Promote with Purchasing to apply to all Departments. John Marzec
Responsible Staff: John Lyons
Timeline: Begins July 2006
Sustainable Goal: Add renewable energy on campus
Benefits: Reduces fuel use, cost and demands, meets mandate
Specific Tasks: Have House Dr. develop feasibility and grant proposal
Timeline: John Marzec
Timeline: By June 30, 2008
Sustainable Goal: Install irrigation & deduct meters on cooling towers
Benefits: Tracks non-sewer water for usage tracking, Cost savings of $7200 / yr
Specific Tasks: Submit for meter permits, Schedule & coordinate installation
Responsible Staff: John Marzec, Steve Hatch
Timeline: Begun, Installation completion by August 30, 2007
Sustainable Goal: Install irrigation system in Bedford
Benefits: Water conservation
Specific Tasks: Obtain design services, bid installation
Responsible Staff: John Marzec, Steve Hatch
Timeline: By June 2008 if budget allows
Sustainable Goal: Determine feasibility of well-fed irrigation at Bedford Campus
Benefits: Saves energy of treating water, reduces demand on resources
Specific Tasks: Drill test wells, possible hydro-geologic study
Responsible Staff: John Marzec
Timeline: Complete study by winter of 2007
Sustainable Goal:Insulate domestic hot water and hydronic heating pipes
Benefits:Reduces heat loss and fuel use
Specific Tasks: Install insulation when deficiencies are noted
Responsible Staff: Steve Hatch
Timeline: On-going
Sustainable Goal: Install sub-meters
Benefits: Allows for remote building monitoring and measurement
Specific Tasks: Type is specified, contractor to provide and install
Responsible Staff: John Marzec
Timeline: By August, 2007
4. Management Systems and Institutionalization
The Facilities Management Department performs many functions for the college: EH&S, waste disposal, furniture disposition, water treatment, construction and renovation, purchasing, landscaping and so on. Thereby, much of the responsibility for Sustainability lies within Facilities and as such we must promote the message throughout the organization.
4.1 Integrating Environmental Impacts into Key Decision Points
A) Construction and Renovation
Include LEED Certification wording in contract language where possible
B) Facilities Maintenance
Continue to buy green and use best practices
Investigate whether an EMS is applicable to our environment
C) Purchasing
Inform on EPP, and investigate product alternatives
Incorporate language in bid and contract language
D) Open Up Discussion
Communicate Sustainability at all levels of the organization
4.2 Education and Training
Promote Sustainability awareness through staff meetings and Facilities website, publish success stories online.
Provide LEED and Green Building training to key personnel
4.3 Management Systems
- Integrate environmental responsibilities into job descriptions and performance reviews
- Incorporate environmental considerations into standard operating procedures
- Establish a written agency sustainability policy that sets a broad vision for the staff and includes specific operational guidelines for various agency operations.
- Provide the opportunity for employee feedback to review program efforts
- Include top-level management in the activity prioritization process
- Offer recognition / awards that highlight work and spread best management practices
5. Tracking Progress and Program/Plan Review
Tracking and monitoring confirms successes and closes the feedback loop.
5.1 Agency Tracking and Reporting
Establish a policy of monitoring and measurement to confirm goals, require that vendors produce the needed data in the contract verbiage, i.e. tonnage of solid and recycled waste handled, quantities and types of hazardous waste, performance data on energy projects.
Mercury and PBT reduction
MCC has eliminated all common mercury containing thermometers and reduced quantities kept on hand for experimental use
EPP
We are mandated to buy recycled paper and do so.
We have replaced all bowl, tile and counter top cleaners with H2Orange, which is a biodegradable, low VOC product
Established a policy where lab chemicals are ordered as needed reducing inventory levels
We require waste carpeting be recycled by vendors
Environmental Compliance
MCC regularly submits to voluntary environmental audits
Purchase Aircuity Meter for building evaluation, optimization and IAQ monitoring and trending
Increased paper and cardboard recycling
Energy Conservation Measures
Established policy of high-efficiency equipment replacement
Replacing 60T condensing unit with a high efficiency model having a eer of 11.5, and added CO2 sensing to minimize heating and cooling loads
Established a wake on LAN environment for 680 student computers
Downsized Cooling Tower to proper tonnage (-150T), and installed VFD fan
Installed weather striping on all doors of Campus Center
Replaced area of South Academic flat roofs, upgrading to R30 insulation meeting current energy code
Replaced existing cooling tower with one appropriately sized, reducing load by 150 tons, and upgraded to VFD motor
Programs pursued but deemed not feasible or not productive
Shared Energy opportunities – In corroboration with vendors, no project exists on a scale that is attractive for partnerships
© Middlesex Community College - Last Updated 4/8/2010