Transcript Slide 1

Nestled in the lush Swannanoa river valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Warren
Wilson College was founded in 1894 upon a philosophy of sustainability that thrives
to this day. As an accredited, four-year, 900 student private liberal arts college, our
education is driven by a threefold "Triad" principle: Academics for the mind, Work
for the hands, Service-Learning from the heart. Ours is a setting that, throughout
history, has inspired community, creativity, learning, and a sense of harmony with
the environment.
The Warren Wilson College Environmental Leadership Center is determined to
foster the dialogue, develop the leaders, and apply the practices required to
implement systemic change. Its vision is global, its focus is regional, and its
initiatives are action-oriented and designed to address the most pressing
environmental and social issues.
Reality Check
As a signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment,
Warren Wilson College has pledged to monitor and reduce campus greenhouse gas
emissions. How we build, remodel and maintain buildings is an important part of our
reduction strategy, but only a part. Ultimately, our most challenging and valuable work is
to research, teach and role model the behaviors and technologies that will turn the current
climate change trajectory around. The potential of any green building relies upon the
choices occupants make, just as averting the worst impacts of climate change depends on
the choices people make each and every day. Therefore, it is incumbent upon higher
education to demonstrate and encourage individual and community wide behaviors that
lesson the environmental, social and economic impacts of our human activities. The
collective influence of higher education- whether measured by purchasing power,
endowment investments, perceived authority, or the education of tomorrow’s leadershipmust be intentionally and strategically engaged to help lead America toward responsible,
just and equitable solutions to the challenges that climate change poses. Finding these
solutions will require embracing a sense of common purpose that draws strength from the
diversity and interconnectedness that binds together all life on Earth.
Warren Wilson College Green Building Totals
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Roughly 68% of WWC’s greenhouse gas emissions come from building functions
33% of WWC’s primary campus buildings have significant green elements
That translates to 134,058 green sq ft (21% of primary campus buildings)
72,105 sq ft of WWC green buildings are LEED certified or registered (12% of
buildings)
WWC’s total 2007 emissions were 11,858,650 lbs CO2e
The College’s green buildings deferred over 705,478 lbs CO2e from being emitted
in 2007 (an additional 6%)
In 2007 WWC paid $551,285 on heating, cooling and powering campus buildings
The College’s green buildings deferred $57,900 in 2007 energy costs
(an additional 11%)
WWC has invested approximately $800,000 in green premium costs
Based on 2007 energy costs, and looking only at direct energy savings associated
with green buildings, WWC anticipates payback for green investments in 14 years
In 2007, Warren Wilson College’s EcoDorm was the building
technique case study used by the North Carolina Legislature to
justify Senate Bill 668 that mandates aggressive energy
conservation goals for State owned buildings.
From North Carolina Senate Bill 668: The General Assembly finds that public
buildings can be built and renovated using high-performance methods that save money, improve
employee and student performance, and make employees and students more productive.
High-performance public buildings are proven to cut energy and utility costs, increase performance
and productivity, and reduce absenteeism. It is the intent and an established goal of the Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program to increase demand for building materials
and products that are extracted and manufactured locally, thereby reducing the environmental
impacts, and to support the local economy.
LETTER FROM NCSEA ATTESTING TO
VALUE OF ECODORM CASE STUDY:
North Carolina
Sustainable Energy Association
Education
Public Policy
Economic Development
www.ncsustainableenergy.org
There were many key people and groups that partnered
during this year’s legislative session to pass S668, an act to
promote the conservation of energy and water use in state,
university, and community college buildings. The NC
Sustainability Coalition, a group consisting of industry
professionals, businesses, nonprofits and state organizations,
started meeting in January of this year to discuss the
importance of reducing government buildings energy and
water consumption. Senator Janet Cowell led this effort at
the state level by working intensively with the State
Construction office and other partners to ensure the success
of this influential bill.
Warren Wilson College provided the North Carolina
Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) data analysis and
building techniques for the EcoDorm. This information was
given to the State Construction office and elected officials
who participated in the committees on Commerce,
Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Energy and
Energy Efficiency. This was a successful case study because
it was laid out in a way that was easy to make the
connections between energy and water efficiency and
building techniques and included performance standard
tracking. The students and faculty should be proud and
share in celebrating this accomplishment – you played an
important role in affecting change.
Warren Wilson College Emissions and Cost Trends
3% 2%
0.43%
Electricity
6%
43%
Natural Gas
12,000,000
International Flights
10,000,000
Student Driving
Vehicle Fleet
Solid Waste
11%
14,000,000
GGE (lbs)
Aqricultural
10,982,064
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0
2004-2005
Miscellaneous
2006-2007
2.00E-02
1.81E-02
$611,628
$628,153
$499,594
26%
$400,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$0
2004-2005
2005-2006
Academic Year
2006-2007
Cost (dollars)
$700,000
$400,000
$350,000
$300,000
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$0
$298,831
$311,186
1.95E-02
1.77E-02
1.50E-02
2.2%
1.00E-02
5.00E-03
0.00E+00
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
Academic Year
Electricity Costs
Total Energy Cost Trends
Cost in Dollars
2005-2006
2.50E-02
Academic Year
25%
$500,000
11,846,459
7.9%
8,000,000
Staff Driving
$600,000
12,580,140
Natural Gas Costs
$342,123
14.5%
$233,443
$250,000
Cost (dollars)
5%
5%
GGE Emission per Capita per SqFt
GGE per Capita per SqFt
Total GGE Trend
Overall GGE by Sector
$200,000
$150,000
$209,162
$153,946
36%
$100,000
$50,000
$0
2004-2005
2005-2006
Academic Year
2006-2007
2004-2005
2005-2006
Academic Year
2006-2007
Schafer Dorms, non-certified
year of construction = 2003
construction and design cost = $2,900,000
square footage = 37,263
cost per square foot = $78
0% green premium cost = $ 0*
annual energy cost = $28,000
industry average = $48,000
annual energy cost savings = $20,000 (42%)
payback time for green investment = 0 years
projected energy costs deferred over 50 years = $1,000,000
emissions reduced over 50 years = 11,464,024 lbs CO2e
*this building’s bid without green elements was equal to the final cost with green elements added due to the buying power of the contractor
GREEN ELEMENTS: FSC certified lumber, Tight building envelope, Recycled content (floor tile, wall board), Day lighting,
Energy recovery ventilator, Water conservation (low flow faucets, waterless urinals), Storm water BMP, Radiant roof barrier,
Energy efficient appliances and lighting
Village Dorms, LEED Gold
Certified*
year of construction = 2006
construction and design cost = $3,970,000
square footage = 30,409
cost per square foot = $131
5% green premium cost = $200,000
annual energy cost = $17,000
industry average = $41,000
annual energy cost savings = $24,000 (59%)
payback time for green investment = 8 years
projected energy costs deferred over 50 years = $1,200,000
emissions reduced over 50 years = 13,999,337 lbs CO2e
* One building is LEED Gold Certified, the other matching building is anticipated
GREEN ELEMENTS: Radiant floor heat in slab, Energy recovery ventilator, Tight building envelope, WWC Forest lumber,
Finger jointed studs, Recycled content (floor, wall board), Locally sourced materials, Radiant roof barrier, Water conservation
(low flow faucets, waterless urinals), Day lighting, Storm water BMP
EcoDorm, LEED EB Platinum, registered
year of construction = 2002
construction and design cost = $1,800,000
square footage = 9,146
cost per square foot = $197
10% green premium cost = $180,000
total annual energy cost = $4,000
industry average = $13,000
annual energy cost savings = $9,000 (69%)
payback time for green investment = 20 years
projected energy costs deferred over 50 years = $450,000
emissions reduced over 50 years = 6,503,629 lbs CO2e
GREEN ELEMENTS: Structurally Insulated Panel construction, Exceptionally tight building envelope, 2kW photovoltaic
system, Solar hot water heating system , Radiant floor heat in slab, Energy recovery ventilator, Recycled content (floor tile, wall
board, cabinetry), Storm water cistern used for toilets and irrigation, Composting toilets, Permaculture landscape, Water
conservation (low flow faucets, waterless urinals), Day lighting, Energy efficient appliances and lighting
Orr Cottage, LEED Gold Certified
year of construction = 2006
construction and design cost = $1,200,000
square footage = 6,800
cost per square foot = $176
5% green premium cost = $60,000 (9$/sq ft)
annual energy cost = $3,900
industry average = $8,800
annual energy cost savings = $4,900 (56%)
payback time for green investment = 12 years
projected energy costs deferred over 50 years = $246,700
emissions reduced over 50 years = 3,306,930 lbs CO2e
GREEN ELEMENTS: Exceptionally tight building envelope, Finger-jointed studs, Soy-based open cell foam insulation,
Geothermal heating/cooling system, Energy recovery ventilator, Recycled content (carpet, wall board, framing), Renewable
wheat board desks/cabinets/tables, Reused doors/furniture, WWC Forest lumber (trim, siding), 90+% materials sourced
within 150 mile radius, Storm water BMP, Native landscape, Water conservation (low flow faucets, dual flush toilets), Day
lighting, Energy efficient lighting, 95% of construction waste diverted from landfill
Explanations
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Economic and energy use data used in this report was gathered from
the WWC Business Office and from monthly monitoring of building
performance. Data was analyzed using EPA ENERGY STAR software
(example shown here ).
All projections regarding financial savings are based on 2007 energy
rates and only include direct savings from reduced energy use. The
US Green Building Council claims that financial savings from energy
reduction only account for 11% of potential savings from LEED level
green building investment (see pie chart ).
This report does not take into account the social/cultural costs or
benefits associated with green building practices.
3 WWC green buildings (1 new build, 2 remodels) are not included in
this presentation because of insufficient data.
WWC Forest lumber refers to lumber sustainably harvested from the
campus’ 700 acre mixed age Southern Appalachian hardwood and pine
forest, and milled at the on-campus saw mill.