Sustainability, Energy Performance, and Sustainability, Energy Performance, and the Student Experience:the Student Experience:

Ithaca College as a Case StudyIthaca College as a Case Study

Peter W. BardaglioPeter W. BardaglioSenior FellowSenior Fellow

Second NatureSecond Nature

The Annual NACUBO MeetingThe Annual NACUBO Meeting

New OrleansNew OrleansJuly 31, 2007July 31, 2007

We need to arm our students – the leaders of We need to arm our students – the leaders of tomorrow – both to dream and take actiontomorrow – both to dream and take action

““We must present a sense ofWe must present a sense of hopefulness to students, and hopefulness to students, and the competence to act on that the competence to act on that hope.hope.

That’sThat’s different from wishful thinking – ignoring different from wishful thinking – ignoring problems or assuming thatproblems or assuming that somehow technology or somehow technology or some mythical ‘they’ is going to figure it out.”some mythical ‘they’ is going to figure it out.”

- - David Orr, Oberlin CollegeDavid Orr, Oberlin College

Sustainable EducationSustainable Education

Stephen Sterling:Stephen Sterling:

• Education Education aboutabout sustainabilitysustainability

• Education Education forfor sustainability sustainability

• Education Education asas sustainability sustainability

Education as SustainabilityEducation as Sustainability

• Student-centeredStudent-centered

• Emphasis on deep learning: Emphasis on deep learning: “learning about learning”“learning about learning”

• Promotes ideal of reflective Promotes ideal of reflective practitionerpractitioner

Education as SustainabilityEducation as Sustainability

• Transformative: we see world Transformative: we see world differentlydifferently

• Integrative: focus on connections Integrative: focus on connections and interdependenceand interdependence

• Fosters creation instead of Fosters creation instead of consumptionconsumption

The Positive Growth Initiative at ICThe Positive Growth Initiative at IC

incorporates sustainability intoincorporates sustainability into

• Curriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development

• College OperationsCollege Operations

• Community OutreachCommunity Outreach

Integrating the curriculum and Integrating the curriculum and campus operationscampus operations

Integrating sustainability across the Integrating sustainability across the curriculum at Ithaca Collegecurriculum at Ithaca College

• Chief vehicle: collaboration between Environmental Chief vehicle: collaboration between Environmental Studies Program and EcoVillage at Ithaca (EVI) Studies Program and EcoVillage at Ithaca (EVI)

EcoVillage at IthacaEcoVillage at Ithaca

• Planned community and nonprofit Planned community and nonprofit organization outside City of Ithacaorganization outside City of Ithaca

• 176 acres includes co-housing, habitat 176 acres includes co-housing, habitat for land conservation and restoration, for land conservation and restoration, organic agriculture, and education centerorganic agriculture, and education center

• Dedicated to modeling innovative Dedicated to modeling innovative approaches to ecological, economic, and approaches to ecological, economic, and social sustainabilitysocial sustainability

Collaboration with EcoVillage at IthacaCollaboration with EcoVillage at Ithaca

Interdisciplinary courses on Interdisciplinary courses on sustainability taught by IC faculty sustainability taught by IC faculty and EVI educators:and EVI educators:

• Sustainable CommunitiesSustainable Communities

• Sustainable Energy SystemsSustainable Energy Systems

• Sustainable Land UseSustainable Land Use

• Environmental FuturesEnvironmental Futures

• Teaching SustainabilityTeaching Sustainability

• Projects in SustainabilityProjects in Sustainability

Collaboration with EcoVillage at IthacaCollaboration with EcoVillage at Ithaca

• These courses all involve student projects carried out at Ithaca These courses all involve student projects carried out at Ithaca College, EcoVillage, or in local Ithaca areaCollege, EcoVillage, or in local Ithaca area

• Recent projects include constructing bus shelter at EVI featuring Recent projects include constructing bus shelter at EVI featuring passive solar heating and green roof, as well as designing root cellar passive solar heating and green roof, as well as designing root cellar to extend the season of EVI-grown produceto extend the season of EVI-grown produce

Other Environmental Studies ProjectsOther Environmental Studies Projects

EarthCafe 2050EarthCafe 2050 PV projectsPV projects

Alternative landscapingAlternative landscaping

Giant footprintsGiant footprints

Finger Lakes ProjectFinger Lakes Project

Specially trained faculty conduct curriculum development workshops Specially trained faculty conduct curriculum development workshops on how to incorporate sustainability issues and themes into courseson how to incorporate sustainability issues and themes into courses

Finger Lakes Project encourages:Finger Lakes Project encourages:

• Place-based studyPlace-based study

• Experiential learningExperiential learning

• Multi-disciplinary team approachesMulti-disciplinary team approaches

• Mini-grant program to build sustainability curriculum Mini-grant program to build sustainability curriculum modules for existing courses or to develop entire new modules for existing courses or to develop entire new coursescourses

““Multiplier Effect” of NSF GrantMultiplier Effect” of NSF Grant

• More than 40 faculty from 16 different disciplines have More than 40 faculty from 16 different disciplines have received these mini-grantsreceived these mini-grants• Over 100 courses from across disciplines at IC now have Over 100 courses from across disciplines at IC now have significant sustainability content significant sustainability content

Novel approaches to integrating Novel approaches to integrating sustainability into the curriculumsustainability into the curriculum

• Tom Pfaff, associate professor of Tom Pfaff, associate professor of mathematics, uses energy and environmental mathematics, uses energy and environmental data in introductory calculus coursesdata in introductory calculus courses

• Students learn about curve-fitting and Students learn about curve-fitting and regression analysis by analyzing this dataregression analysis by analyzing this data

• Students use data and calculus concepts to Students use data and calculus concepts to examine examine “what if?”“what if?” scenarios scenarios

• Write paper proposing energy policy based on Write paper proposing energy policy based on their analysistheir analysis

Ithaca SeminarIthaca Seminar““Sustaining Our Worlds”Sustaining Our Worlds”

• First-year course team-taught by faculty from sociology, business, biologyFirst-year course team-taught by faculty from sociology, business, biology

• Fall 2006 class projects focus campus paper and office supplies:Fall 2006 class projects focus campus paper and office supplies:

* Testing 100% post-consumer recycled * Testing 100% post-consumer recycled content office papercontent office paper

* Experimenting with document settings * Experimenting with document settings (margins defaults, duplexing)(margins defaults, duplexing)

* Exploring attitudes about recycled * Exploring attitudes about recycled content office supplies content office supplies

Recipient of 2006 Campus Ecology AwardRecipient of 2006 Campus Ecology Award

Sustainably Conscious Living CommunitySustainably Conscious Living Community

• Students live together in on-campus residence hallStudents live together in on-campus residence hall

• Supervised by faculty fellow – field trips and educational programsSupervised by faculty fellow – field trips and educational programs

• Academic requirements, including the First Year Seminar, Academic requirements, including the First Year Seminar, “Sustaining Our Worlds”“Sustaining Our Worlds”

• Communal meals with Communal meals with bioregional, organic foodbioregional, organic food

6,3256,325 FTE students FTE students

1,6761,676 faculty/staff faculty/staff

8181 campus buildings campus buildings

$7.9 million$7.9 million budget budget for utilities for ’07-08for utilities for ’07-08

Improving Energy Performance at ICImproving Energy Performance at IC

• 30 30 metered for electricitymetered for electricity

• 88 metered for natural gasmetered for natural gas

• 2222 College Circle buildings receive College Circle buildings receive separate electricity and natural gas separate electricity and natural gas billingsbillings

• 1111 remaining residence halls will be remaining residence halls will be metered this summer metered this summer

As of May 2007, out of 81 IC campus buildings,As of May 2007, out of 81 IC campus buildings,

• IC recently integrated all sub-meter data into new Direct Digital IC recently integrated all sub-meter data into new Direct Digital Control (DDC) systemControl (DDC) system

• Maintained by Day Building Automation in Rochester, NYMaintained by Day Building Automation in Rochester, NY

• DDC system collects and reports data on hourly and/or daily DDC system collects and reports data on hourly and/or daily basis for all sub-metered buildings, with separate meters for gas basis for all sub-metered buildings, with separate meters for gas and electrical dataand electrical data

• Day currently developing web-based, front-end display of their Day currently developing web-based, front-end display of their system’s collected datasystem’s collected data

• Provides easy-to-understand visual comparisons of building energy Provides easy-to-understand visual comparisons of building energy use on open-access siteuse on open-access site

Ithaca College and ENERGY STARIthaca College and ENERGY STAR

• IC joined EPA’s Energy Star for Higher Education Program in 2003IC joined EPA’s Energy Star for Higher Education Program in 2003

• Participated in “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign in 2005 & Participated in “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign in 2005 & 2006 – students went door to door in residence halls, handing out CFLs 2006 – students went door to door in residence halls, handing out CFLs in exchange for incandescent bulbsin exchange for incandescent bulbs

• Now using Portfolio Manager to analyze energy performance, using Now using Portfolio Manager to analyze energy performance, using data collected from DDC systemdata collected from DDC system

Student Projects with Facilities ManagementStudent Projects with Facilities Management

Study of campus energy use Study of campus energy use led to changes that have led to changes that have saved IC thousands of dollars saved IC thousands of dollars in energy annually.in energy annually.

First comprehensive greenhouse First comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory carried gas emissions inventory carried out, using Clean Air – Cool out, using Clean Air – Cool Planet assessment toolPlanet assessment tool

EPA P3 Grant to Study Biodiversity on South HillEPA P3 Grant to Study Biodiversity on South Hill

Students helped to design and implement sustainable management Students helped to design and implement sustainable management plan for campus natural lands and to locate best sites for wind powerplan for campus natural lands and to locate best sites for wind power

Campus Wind Power InitiativeCampus Wind Power Initiative

• Board of Trustees Board of Trustees approved feasibility study approved feasibility study to construct commercial-to construct commercial-scale wind turbine on scale wind turbine on South HillSouth Hill

• Carrying out wind study Carrying out wind study this yearthis year

• Would generate 3-5% of Would generate 3-5% of campus energycampus energy

• In meantime, IC installing small wind turbine on Center for Natural In meantime, IC installing small wind turbine on Center for Natural Sciences as demonstration projectSciences as demonstration project

Campus Solar Power InitiativeCampus Solar Power Initiative

• Submitted NYSERDA funding proposal to install solar hot water Submitted NYSERDA funding proposal to install solar hot water systems on several units in new College Circle student apartments systems on several units in new College Circle student apartments

• Hope to be one of several demonstration sites in NY stateHope to be one of several demonstration sites in NY state

Vision for New Business SchoolVision for New Business School

Not just a building…Not just a building…

but a way of thinking and but a way of thinking and being:being:

• ethical business practicesethical business practices

• organizations as citizensorganizations as citizens

• responsible use of natural resourcesresponsible use of natural resources

IC School of Business Earns AACSB IC School of Business Earns AACSB International Accreditation – April 2005International Accreditation – April 2005

• Projected cost: $19 million – lead gift of $10 million from Park familyProjected cost: $19 million – lead gift of $10 million from Park family • First Platinum LEED™ facility in world planned for a Business SchoolFirst Platinum LEED™ facility in world planned for a Business School

Ithac

a Colle

ge

Ithac

a Colle

ge

Busines

s Sch

ool

Busines

s Sch

ool

• Robert A. M. Stern Architects selected to design 38,000 sq. ft. Robert A. M. Stern Architects selected to design 38,000 sq. ft. buildingbuilding

• Ground broken in Spring 2006 – full occupancy by beginning of Ground broken in Spring 2006 – full occupancy by beginning of Spring 2008Spring 2008

• New facility will incorporate radiant flooring heat, fritted glass to New facility will incorporate radiant flooring heat, fritted glass to control daylight, natural ventilation, and vegetated roofcontrol daylight, natural ventilation, and vegetated roof

• Projected energy savings of 45-50%Projected energy savings of 45-50%

Community Outreach and Community Outreach and Student LearningStudent Learning

Building Alliances in the CommunityBuilding Alliances in the Community

• Broad-based coalition seeks to ensure long-term well being Broad-based coalition seeks to ensure long-term well being of communities and regionof communities and region

• Primary goal: introduce concept of sustainability to Primary goal: introduce concept of sustainability to individuals, businesses, and community and government individuals, businesses, and community and government leadersleaders

Tompkins Renewable Energy Education AllianceTompkins Renewable Energy Education Alliance  

• Founded by IC facultyFounded by IC faculty

• Dedicated to educating community Dedicated to educating community about energy options and their about energy options and their financial, social, and environmental financial, social, and environmental costscosts

• Currently focused on need for wind Currently focused on need for wind power and increasing acceptance of power and increasing acceptance of wind turbines in communitywind turbines in community

• Workshops, speakers, panel discussions, op-eds, letters to the editor Workshops, speakers, panel discussions, op-eds, letters to the editor and Public Service Commissionand Public Service Commission

Collaboration with Downtown IthacaCollaboration with Downtown Ithaca

Students in public relations course Students in public relations course researched area pedestrian issues, researched area pedestrian issues, developed educational campaign, developed educational campaign, and reported on recommendations and reported on recommendations to Ithaca Common Councilto Ithaca Common Council

Students in environmental studies course Students in environmental studies course worked with local coffee roaster to assess worked with local coffee roaster to assess carbon impact and waste management carbon impact and waste management strategiesstrategies

Conclusions:Conclusions:

• Students learn best and enjoy the Students learn best and enjoy the process most when they process most when they “learn by “learn by doing”doing”

• Experiential learning reinforces Experiential learning reinforces classroom learningclassroom learning

• Students develop skills, refine Students develop skills, refine knowledge, adjust applicationsknowledge, adjust applications

• They become “reflective practitioners”They become “reflective practitioners”

• Students (and faculty) make a positive Students (and faculty) make a positive difference in their communitydifference in their community

Thomas Berry: Thomas Berry:

“ “The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.”The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.”

Thank you!Thank you!

E-mail: pbardaglio@secondnature.orgE-mail: pbardaglio@secondnature.org