Sustainability Charrette April 17 – 18, 2009 Team: The Roots - Concepts and Takeaways -
Download
Report
Transcript Sustainability Charrette April 17 – 18, 2009 Team: The Roots - Concepts and Takeaways -
Sustainability Charrette
April 17 – 18, 2009
Team: The Roots
- Concepts and Takeaways -
Concept 1:
Establish an Office of Sustainability
Description and Objectives
– An organization on campus that provides:
• Leadership and Direction
• Communication
• Coordination
• Education
on all things sustainable!
Functions
– Management of Sustainability Funding
– Maintain Website
– Centralize Campus Sustainability Projects
– Education/Resource Center
• Develop Workshops/Lecture Series
• SO/FYE Events
– Assist Professors to incorporate sustainability in curriculum
– Staff Training
– Resource Center for Other Departments
Concept 1:
Implementation
– Physical Location: Repurposed ’86 Field
– Staffing
• Director
• 1-2 Staff Support
• Work-Study Posts
• Grad Assistants?
• Student Organization Volunteers
Stakeholders
– The Community of Troy
– The Entire Rensselaer Community
• Students
• Faculty
• Staff
• Alumni
Concept 1:
Justification
– Demonstrates Rensselaer’s commitment to sustainability to:
• Prospective and current students
• Companies and Corporations
• Alumni
– Other universities demonstrate such initiatives generate
much more revenue than cost
• Example: Harvard University, Cornell
– Educates future leaders who are poised to change the world
Impact:
– Environmental—improve campus atmosphere
– Economic—minimal
– Cultural—Establish the importance of sustainability in
students, staff, and faculty, and demonstrate Rensselaer’s
commitment to sustainability.
CONCEPT 2: Green Careers
Description and Objectives:
Develop resources on campus to support students seeking
careers in “green” jobs, sustainability, and renewable energy
in private industry, entrepreneurial endeavors, governmental
organizations, and non-profit organizations
Functions:
– Work with Career Development Center (CDC) to bring in more
“green” companies and/or develop links to green career
resources
– Develop “green” company sections in established on-campus
career fairs
– Collaborate with other schools to establish a green career fair
– Develop seminar series that would highlight opportunities in
the “green” marketplace
– Implementation:
– CDC, Schools, Alumni relations, SHPE/NSBE
CONCEPT 2: Green Careers
Implementation
– Existing Career Fairs
– Utilization of CDC RedHawk JobLink Database
– Possibility for growth in “Green” ranking system to
sort, classify and manage “Green Jobs” and
“Green Company” profiles
Stakeholders
– Undergraduate Students
– Graduate Students
– Career Development Center
– Companies and Corporations which interview
on campus
CONCEPT 2: Green Careers
Impact:
– Environmental—improve campus atmosphere
– Economic—minimal
– Cultural—Establish the importance of sustainability in
students, staff, and faculty, and demonstrate
Rensselaer’s commitment to sustainability
– Rensselaer students placed in “Green” positions
CONCEPT 3:
Beta Testing on Campus
Description:
Establish framework to encourage/support the demonstration on
campus of all new sustainable technologies, concepts, and ideas
developed by Rensselaer faculty, students, and staff
Functions:
Matching funds for research projects
Develop student projects
Website (hosted by OoS) to showcase concepts, results, etc.
Implementation:
OoS, schools, research centers, faculty, students, facilities
CONCEPT 4:
Re-purpose ’86 Field
Description:
Develop a green space/natural area that would demonstrate
Rensselaer’s commitment to sustainability, enhance beauty of
campus, and serve as the home for the Office of Sustainability
Characteristics:
Office of Sustainability building (use Solar Decathlon house or
similar)
Outdoor “classroom” or amphitheater
Natural area, park, trees, wildflowers, pond(?), open space, paths
Implementation:
Senior architectural student design competition
Facilities, outside contractor (?)
CONCEPT 4:
Re-purpose ’86 Field
Possible Location for
“Office of Sustainability”
CONCEPT 4:
Re-purpose ’86 Field
Impact:
Environmental—improve campus atmosphere
Economic—bring in prospective students, companies, organizations
seeking research support, encourage alumni to donate
Cultural—Establish the importance of sustainability in students, staff,
and faculty, and demonstrate Rensselaer’s commitment to
sustainability.
Concept 5:
Local/Organic/CSA
Description: Provide alternative, sustainable food resources through:
An on-campus Farmer’s market
Expand Terra-Cade to a RAD option
Community Supported Agriculture
Stakeholders:
Rensselaer Students and Faculty
Impact:
Environmental: more sustainable foods, less pollutants/carbon emissions,
support local agriculture
Cultural/Social: community awareness/support, healthier atmosphere
Economic: stimulate local economy
Implementation:
Who: Terra Café, Troy Farmer’s Market, Troy Food Co-Op
How: Allow space for market on campus, larger incorporation of local
foods in dining halls/facilities
Cost: relatively low
Payback: N/A
Concept 6:
Volunteer Abroad
Description:
Collaboration with REACH program to provide a study experience
that would allow the students to work on sustainability projects/
develop global awareness of sustainability
Stakeholders: Rensselaer Students and Faculty
Impact:
– Environmental: positive impact on global communities
– Cultural: students gain a global cultural awareness
– Economic: promotes global low income communities
Implementation:
– Who: REACH Program, ESW, design courses
– How: Collaborate with established study abroad/global service
organizations
– Cost: student tuition, transportation/projects costs
– Payback: N/A
Concept 7:
Co-generation/Geothermal
Description:
Reuse of heat produced by Rensselaer power plant. Utilizing underground
heat to heat buildings, dorms, etc.
Stakeholders:
Rensselaer Facilities, Faculty, Staff, Students
Impact:
Environmental- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Economic- Energy/Utility savings
Implementation:
How: Construction of Machinery
Who: Administration/Faculty
Cost: High
Payback: High
Concept 8: (Reach Goal)
Carbon Neutral by 2025
Description:
Develop a long term commitment of zero carbon emissions produced
yearly by Rensselaer.
Stakeholders:
– Rensselaer Community as a whole
Impact:
– Environmental: eliminate contribution to global climate change
– Economic: Savings in energy/utilities
– Cultural: Institute pride in sustainable leadership and policies
Implementation:
Through the application of renewable energy sources, such as those
suggested at the Sustainability Charrette, and potential use of carbon
offsets
Cost:
High cost, high long term payback