Climate Action Planning Presentation & Discussion

University of ConnecticutJanuary 15, 2009

The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)

Left: March 25, 2008 - UConn President Mike Hogan signs the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment as DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy and Vice Provost Greg Anderson observe. Below: 100+ Students, faculty and staff attended the ceremony.

UConn’s Commitment…1. Create structure to guide development &

implementation Climate Action Task Force (CATF) & affiliated workgroups CAP Project Manager hired September 2008

2. Complete GHG inventory and update annually

3. Develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP)• Carbon neutrality by 2050 (or sooner) • Interim targets & milestones• Due by May 2010

Develop mitigation strategies for GHG emissions reductions from University operations and activities despite plans for continued growth.

Climate Action Task Force

Institutional StructureEnvironmental Policy Advisory Council

Preliminary 2007 UConn GHG Inventory Results• Total Emissions = 187, 841 metric tonnes CO2e

– Co-Generation Facility: 48%– Stationary Sources: 36%– Transportation: 9%– Purchased Electricity: 6%– Agriculture: 1%– Solid Waste: 0.4%– Air travel and refrigeration data not yet finalized.

Evaluation Criteria1. Potential to avoid or reduce GHG emissions2. Flexibility to achieve ongoing GHG reductions

3. Cost benefit – ROI and financial impact

4. Potential for positive or negative social and environmental side-effects

5. Relationship to other mitigation strategies and opportunity for synergies

6. Potential to be scaled upward if successful

7. Potential to involve students and faculty

Immediate Steps To Reduce GHGs

Steps UConn has taken:1. Established LEED Silver building standard2. Adopted Energy Star appliance purchasing written policy3. Encourage and provide access to public transportation4. Participate in Recyclemania (waste minimization category)5. Biodiesel production program

Potential Strategies – Energy

• Increase efficiency of utility supply and distribution systems

• Develop on-campus alternative energy fuel sources

• Building automation and occupancy sensors• Energy efficient purchasing standards• Lighting upgrades• Fume hoods – Phoenix controls• Water conservation strategies

Potential Strategies – Land Use & Green Building

• Stringent green building design standards• Site selection to maximize passive solar and

thermal energy use• Select landscaping practices to increase

shading and minimize water, chemical, energy and labor requirements

• Manage forest holdings for CO2 sequestration

Potential Strategies – Transportation

• Transportation-based land use planning• Parking design and policy to encourage

carpooling and bicycling• Use of alternative fuels in campus fleet• Vehicle purchasing standards • No idling policy• Driving restriction within campus core

Next Steps

• Continue to solicit ideas and input• Finalize 2007 GHG inventory – establish a

benchmark• Developing prioritization strategy• Research potential cost/savings and emissions

reductions potential of proposed strategies• Finalize recommendations to the CATF;

finalize Climate Action Plan

Climate Action Planning Presentation & Discussion

University of ConnecticutJanuary 15, 2009