Sustainability

Electric_vehicle

Segway

Student stuff left behind headed to charities - click here for complete story

A Brief History of “Sustainability” at Union College Facilities Services

  • Early 1990’s - Union College gets involved with the US EPA “Green Lights” Program 
    • A national campaign to replace outdated, energy wasting lighting devices with new, state of the art, efficient light bulbs
    • Over the next few years, essentially every Fluorescent lighting fixture was updated with a new electronic ballast saving many $K.
    • All fluorescent tubes were updated at the same time with modern, energy efficient fluorescent tubes.
    • The college became a beta sight for many new styles of incandescent replacement light bulbs including the new compact fluorescents.
    • Many of the old outdoor incandescent lights were replaced with new, high-efficiency sodium vapor lamps.
    • All campus lighting was updated and many of these bulbs are still considered to be the most efficient available.
    • To this date, we routinely stock only the most efficient replacement bulbs (other than decorative lighting.)
  • In 1996 we rebuilt one of our two main boilers with state-of-the-art multi-fuel burner and controls. At the same time it was upgraded to meet future emission requirements. In fact, the NOX emissions were undetectable in tests performed. It was the only boiler of this size in New York State to achieve these test results, and to this day is still visited by various engineers from companies about to embark on a similar project.
  • 1996 to 1998 - all motors on campus greater that 1 ½ HP are replaced with “premium efficiency” motors. These motors were typically 17 to 22% more efficient than those replaced.
  • In 1996, 97 and 98 we stayed involved with the EPA’s Energy Star and Green Lights Program, and as a result of our continued improvements to the efficiency and quality of campus lighting and controls we were listed on the Organization’s “Honor Roll.” This fact was documented on web sites and in several trade journals. Union College was also honored at the annual EPA Energy Star Awards Ceremony for those years.
    • We continue to stay involved with this program and are still considered an active Energy Star Partner.
    • We are in the process of getting three of our buildings qualified as Energy Star Buildings.
  • In 2005, we commenced the process to get the renovation of College Park Hall LEED-certified by the US Green Building Council. That certification is still pending. The project has been assigned file # 1202384985144720. 




Advertisement which appeared in several national trade journals and magazines

 



Certificate awarded to Union College in 1998 in recognition of Green Lights involvement
 

Our Benchmarking Consultant Sightlines, has shown that for the past four years, our energy consumption has been considerably lower per square foot, than the average of 17 of  the other colleges in the northeast, and one of the lowest in the group.

Amherst College

Bennington College

Bowdoin College

Champlain College

Colgate University

Dartmouth College (GPO/Athletic)

Duquesne University

Hamilton College

Ithaca College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

St. Lawrence University

The Sage Colleges

Union College

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

University of Vermont

Williams College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute


 

Amherst College

Bennington College

Bowdoin College

Champlain College

Colgate University

Dartmouth College (GPO/Athletic)

Duquesne University

Hamilton College

Ithaca College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

St. Lawrence University

The Sage Colleges

Union College

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

University of Vermont

Williams College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Ongoing Projects toward the goal of a Sustainable Campus 

  • We continue to look for energy-saving projects that provide reasonable ROI and expedient payback.
  • In 2006 we proposed 6 projects which would provide important upgrades to the campus mechanical systems.
  • These projects totaled $2.76M but provided a 22% annual return. The average payback time was 4.5 years
  • We have commenced two of these projects and will address the others in the future. These projects in process are:
    • The update of portions of the S&E building controls
      • We have completed one phase of this project in one of the several equipment spaces in the building complex. The project included installation of modern controls and addressed the deferred maintenance issues in one of the mechanical spaces.
    • Additional lighting occupancy sensors
      • A local supplier performed an extensive survey of several of our building spaces to determine which types of spaces would benefit the most from these controllers.
      • We have an on going program of installing units in these priority spaces.

  • Future/ongoing Projects toward the goal of a Sustainable Campus

    • Assisted the Union Dining Services department by installing a compost tub for food wastes in our kitchens. This unit recycles food wastes into useable compost that is used in the Union College “Octopus” Organic Garden.
    • Proposed the installation a system of rainwater collection barrels on campus.  Collected water will be reused to irrigate our Jackson’s Garden formal perennial area.
    • We have purchased 3 electric vehicles that are now part of our fleet:  an electric truck, and two electric golf carts.
    • We are providing more decorative lighting on campus Using LED technology. This lighting is used to illuminate trees along the West side of the Alumni Gym Pool.  We are also retro fitting the Campus exterior traditional light fixtures located throughout campus with high efficiency LED lamps.
    • We have converted one of our residences at 712 Roger Hull Place/Eco-House in the College Park neighborhood to a model sustainable house including solar power, recycled rainwater for toilets, low water use toilets, and other “green” systems and furnishings. We have provided a small computer lab in the building. This lab monitors the energy usage and other functions of the residence and is a living laboratory for students to monitor the functions of the house.
    • Union College/Plug Power/National Grid are collaborating by installing a fuel-cell in the Beuth House student residence as a test site for Plug Power to determine the use of their product for medium to large sized residential applications.  The fuel-cell is designed to replace the common boiler in the home and generate electricity by converting natural gas to hydrogen to create power.  The Unit known as GenSys is a 5-kilowatt system.  The unit will provide both heat and power to the building for up to a years period, and the existing boiler will be used as a backup in case it is needed.  *Click here for Times Union Newspaper story*
    • The College has engaged Novuss Engineering to perform an energy audit on our largest buildings and that study is currently underway.  We expect the results of the study to be complete by August of ’09, and plan to incorporate suggested energy saving improvements in the facilities renewal process for fiscal year ‘09/10.