Post on 15-Dec-2015
transcript
Green Rovers 12
Developed TopicsTheme DaysGreen Rovers (Patrollers)Green Supply ChainLocal Composting FacilitySustainable Living CommunityReduce Commuting
Green Rovers 12
Idea THEME DAYSDescription
Designated days twice a month that call attention to sustainable movements on campus. The themes can be generated by the Sustainability Center or can be sponsored by campus groups or local businesses. Examples: Blackout Day, Carry Your Trash Day, NV (Natural Ventilation) Day
StakeholdersEvery living thing
ImpactEnvironmental
Increase in awareness and initiative to take actionCultural
Community feel, interaction among students and localsEconomic
Low impact, but if successful, would save money (electricity, waste, etc.)
ImplementationHow Student involvementWho Student-run organization or task forceCost LowPayback N/A
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Idea GREEN ROVERSDescription
Work study program where groups of 2-3 students patrol the campus to exemplify sustainable behavior, turn off lights, turn down heat, close/open windows, and report overlooked maintenance issues. They could reward students with coupons from local merchants and provide a weekly status report about the Institute’s sustainability.
Stakeholders
Every living thingImpact
Environmental
Less waste, increase in recycling, energy conservationCultural
Provide good examples of sustainable habitsEconomic
Low impact, but if successful, would save money (electricity, waste, etc.)Implementation
How Student involvement, Work StudyWho Student-run organization or task forceCost LowPayback Medium
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Idea GREEN SUPPLY CHAINDescription
Adopt a policy to consider the carbon footprint and environmental impact of each purchasing decision. Stakeholders
Everything that breathesImpact
Environmental Less waste, energy conservation, choice of sustainable materials, the greening of support businessesCultural Provide good examples of sustainable habitsEconomic Low financial investment, moderate time investment, large environmental payback
ImplementationHow RPI procurement department with student research and assistanceWho All responsible for purchasing descisionsCost LowPayback N/A
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Idea LOCAL COMPOSTING FACILITYDescription
The facility would collect all organic waste (landscaping, food preparation, regular garbage) from RPI and local communities to compost it at a local facility. Decomposed waste will be processed with an anerobic digester to create:•Solids to use as fertilizer by RPI or local farmers•Methane to run a motor/generator system with resulting electricity sold back to utility via net metering•Leachate that is biologically remediated before being released to the sewer.
Stakeholders•Entire campus•Sodexho•City of Troy•National Grid•Local Farms
ImpactEnvironmental •Eliminates organic waste currently going to landfills•Produces electricity for the grid made by renewable resource•Eliminates methane gas emissions from anaerobic decompositionCultural•Changes campus mindset regarding organic waste disposal.Economic•Revenue from electricity and fertilizer•Eliminate cost of landfilling.
ImplementationHow Facility would be located on purchased land within a 5-mile radius of campus. Who Facility construction would be overseen by Campus Planning & Facilities Design, and its operation would be the responsibility of
Envriomental and Site Services or a private company. Cost Medium Payback Calculated revenue from electrical generation is $500-$1000 day. Estimated savings in not having to landfill is $50,000-$100,000
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Idea SUSTAINABLE LIVING COMMUNITYDescription
A neighborhood of small off-grid single family homes designed by interdisciplinary design studios (perhaps in conjunction with a Solar Decathlon studio) , built by students (perhaps a summer session activity for credit), built in walkable distance to campus, owned by staff and faculty, or by the institute for grad student or married student housing, utilizing and showcasing current RPI research efforts.
Stakeholders
Everything that breathes. Impact
Environmental
Reduces energy use per capita in our community. Reduce staff-fac commute.CulturalDemonstrates the feasibility of low impact sustainable living especially in an urban setting. Improves Campus Edges and gateways. Establishes an interesting, attractive and engaging approach to campus.Economic
Develop new housing in our community. Prototype homes could be produced and sold to owners in other neighborhoods and communities.
Implementation
Howresearch examples , develop a curriculum, establish courses, identify buyers/clients, locate landWho School of Architecture as lead, other schools interdisciplinary, CPFD, some outside contractors neededCost some research funding, faculty cost, building materials, Payback client/owner pays for the house so some cost is recovered immediately. RPI has less expense for
mowing of open.
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Idea REDUCE COMMUTING IMPACTSDescription
Reduce the length of commute by staff and facultyReduce the need to commute by staff and facultyReduce the environmental and financial cost of commuting by staff and faculty
Stakeholders
Everything that breathesImpact
Environmental
Conserves natural resourcesCulturalLess time spent commuting means more time spent on career and family and recreation.Economic
Less money spent on commute means more money for investment in meaningful endeavor.Less money spent on road repairs.
Implementation
How incentives to purchase local homes, incentives to rent locally, promote local business development and local schools to make neighborhoods more livable, incentives to carpoolWho Institute Administration HR, CPFD, Transportation Cost housing incentives - $250,000 per year Promotional Materials and training – low cost, Payback economic impacts described above, less parking lots to maintain on campus, building of local Intellectual Community surrounding campus.
Conceptual Ideas•Resource Usage Feedback
•Visual displays that indicate energy use within the building
•Sustainability Technology Showcasing•Fosters interdepartmental collaboration
•Windmill / Windmill Farm•One large windmill on top of the hill – energy producing and visual reminder•Series of smaller windmill installations in overly windy areas (i.e., DCC wind tunnel)
•Sustainable Community•Develop on-campus living community for student or faculty that encourages local and sustainable living•Reduce commuting footprint. Incentives for faculty/staff to live close to campus
•Hudson River Water Turbines•Generating electric power from the river flow
•Promote Human Power•Encourage walking and bicycling as alternative means of transportation
•Sustainability Competitions•Participation in events such as Solar Decathlon and the EcoHall Challenge