Sustainability presentation

Cutler Cleveland - intro

Steering Committee, oversees:

• Working groups
• Waste & recycling
• Communication
• Buildings & Facility

Has been given $1 million that has survived budget cuts

Reasons for sustainability at BU:

• Cost savings
• Improved public image
•  
  • Competitive image
• Internal review > external stimulus
• Strengthen community
• Reconcile behavior with teaching and research
• Possible enforcement forbearance

Kelly Dunn – Dining Services Sustainability Program

• Trayless initiative

  • Save water

• Recycling

• Composting food waste (600,000 pounds/year)

• Local and Organic foods

• Green cleaning chemicals

• Plant Based disposables

• Replacing old equipment with energy-efficient models

• Energy Facts:

  • Apparently 80% of the $10 billion annual energy bill for commercial foodservice does no useful work

  • Foodservice buildings consume about 250,000 btu/sq ft, about 2.5 times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings

  • Energy efficient equipment can cut utility costs 10-30% without suffering any performance reduction

• Strategic Partnerships

  • Save that stuff

  • Seafood Watch

  • Fair Trade Certification

  • Food Alliance

  • USDA Organic

  • Massachusetts Grown

• Upcoming efforts:

  • Zero waste

  • Low carbon diet options

  • Energy efficient equipment

Michael Gevelber – Co Chair of Energy Working Group

• 12 million square feet on CRC/350 buildings

• 68% increase in total energy use

• 12% increase in electricity use

• Difficulties in the audit:

  • Building manager’s who don’t know how to operate efficient buildings

• Huge issue: HVAC use

  • No setbacks (by time of use, or temperature)

  • Accounts for 50-60% of all energy use.

• Facilities committed to a $50,000 investment in a setback in 15 St. Mary’s

Liz Lacy – Energy Administration & Operations Intern

• Mostly works on lighting projects

  • Easier to do than HVAC setbacks

  • Biggest lighting project so far is the mugar library retrofit

    • Annual energy savings: 1.5 million kWh

    • Big rebates from national grid

  • Delamping Project at 24 Cummington St

• Oil and natural gas

  • Conversion to dual fuel

    • Improves burner efficiency

    • Reduce carbon emissions: 1,032 tons per year

• New Hires in office of sustainability:

  • Dennis Carlberg, Sustainability Director

  • Susan Lebovits, communications specialist

    • Programs:

      • New green website

      • Office of sustainability library

      • Move out clothing drive

      • Pilot ecorep program to start in fall 2009