| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.62 |
| Liaison | Delicia Nahman |
| Submission Date | March 10, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Lafayette College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.50 / 4.00 |
Mary
Wilford Hunt Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Facilities Planning and Construction |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | No |
| Research (or other scholarship) | Yes | No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | No |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | No |
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | No | No |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | No | No |
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
Lafayette College offers an Environmental Science minor that investigates the interaction of human activities and natural phenomena. The program is interdisciplinary, requiring courses from three of the College’s four academic divisions, and is apportioned
into three components: “core, technical and policy/issues” components. Also, many faculty members actively try to incorporate sustainable practices into their classrooms and recent Freshman Reading requirements and courses have focused on natural resources and sustainability.
-Faculty and administration will continue to incorporate sustainable concepts into required coursework.
-Students will request that the College administration consider major candidacy for the Environmental Science minor.
-The Education Subcommittee will continue to meet on at least a yearly basis to evaluate progress and recommend initiatives.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Climate Action Plan (2011)
Executive board members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
Lafayette College’s broad liberal arts curriculum is unique in that it includes extensive engineering studies and research initiatives. Forty percent of Lafayette’s students study engineering. The faculty’s expertise in science and engineering fields, combined with a rigorous academic program, facilitates extensive research at the undergraduate level. Faculty members are actively engaged in research with students, often supported by external funding, including federal agencies. Many student-faculty endeavors culminate in publications in world-class peer-reviewed journals. National and international attention for
recent environmental research includes a grant from the Clinton Global Initiative University and recognition by the EPA.
Plans:
-Faculty members and students already engaged in sustainability research will continue to reach out to other disciplines.
-Faculty and students will promote environmental research initiatives and advertise known grants on campus.
-The Research Subcommittee will continue to meet on at least a yearly basis to evaluate progress and recommend initiatives.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
Climate Action Plan (2011)
Executive board members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
Our new Connected Communities program acts as an extended orientation program which will holistically involve students in many aspects of being an engaged community member including being environmentally responsible.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Lafayette also recently celebrated earth week with a number of sustainability-related events like providing sustainably farmed food one evening, inviting Shana Weber (Director of Princeton's office of sustainability) to speak, and a Green Arts Showcase to name a few.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Student Life Department, Dean McLoughlin
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The College’s ongoing partnerships with local organizations, such as the West Ward Neighborhood Project (WWNP), Nurture Nature Center, and Easton Area Community Center, are examples where sustainability and community intersect.
Lafayette runs "Vegetables in the Community" initiative. The goal: to cultivate more fresh produce from community gardens in town and distribute them to neighborhood residents as a way to increase access to and the availability of healthy food.
There is also Make a Difference Day: Each year the College’s Landis Center organizes projects dedicated to environmental sustainability in Easton. In 2014, for example, students worked to build a new portable, light, affordable tomato cultivation system at Easton’s South Side Urban Farm.
Sullivan Park: This is a stormwater detention wetland constructed in response to Hurricane Ivan (2004) and stewarded by a collaboration between local and state political representatives and students in Prof. David Brandes’ Civil and Environmental Engineering classes.
Karl Stirner Arts Trail: Faculty at the College have assisted city planners, the local arts community, and residents to help develop the KSAT as a walking trail and environmental corridor between downtown and 13th Street. Jim Toia, director of the community arts program, serves as the chairman of the Bushkill Creek Corridor Council of the Arts.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
http://sustainability.lafayette.edu/in-practice/community-engagement/
Sustainability Committee members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Lafayette released a Climate Action Plan in 2011, outlining the school's goals and initiatives to decrease our impact on the environment and make our school more sustainable in many different ways.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
For the years 2012 through 2021, projects were scheduled with a target funding level of $400,000 per year. The ECMs were grouped by type and building so that each building could be upgraded as efficiently as possible. For example, multiple lighting projects were scheduled in one building in one year along with any other related electrical projects. Installing building utility meters, especially for larger energy intensive buildings, is a high priority, so those projects are slated to be completed during the first five years of the Emissions Reduction Plan.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Emissions Reduction Efforts in Buildings recently implemented:
Conversion of Boiler from No. 6 oil to Natural Gas.
Emissions reduction of 3,199 MtCO2e/yr.
Variable Frequency Drive Installation on Air Handling Unit #1 in Farinon Hall.
The new fan controls will allow slower fan speeds during reduced load times, saving electrical energy.
Emissions reduction of 40 MtCO2e/yr.
Variable Frequency Drive Installation for Pumps in Markle Hall
Retrofit constant speed water pumps in the cooling system with variable speed pumps, saving electrical energy.
Emissions reduction of 25 MtCO2e/yr.
HVAC System Occupancy Control in Oechsle Hall
Installing a programmable control system to cycle less air when the space is not occupied, saving electrical energy.
Emissions reduction of 3 MtCO2e/yr.
Air Handling Unit Discharge Air Temperature Reset in Acopian Hall
Resetting the cooling coil temperature during non-peak hours will save electrical energy.
Emissions reduction of 55 MtCO2e/yr.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Sustainability Committee members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
***Lafayette College is in the process of implementing a food waste recovery program through the Food Recovery Network
The College improves its system of recycling paper, plastic and aluminum, and composts the food and biodegradable waste the dining halls generate. Dining Services
also advertises a list of sustainability “best practices” on its website and employs a Sustainable Student Promotions Coordinator to increase awareness of sustainable practices within the dining halls.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Lowering the amount of food waste, feeding hungry community members. Also, recycling efforts succeeded in reducing landfill waste by over 10% from previous years.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Alexa Gatti, Sarah Fried
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
2009 Energy Policy:
-Keeping doors and windows of conditioned spaces closed when systems are running.
-Turning off office equipment when not in use.
-Urging building occupants to avoid the use of personal heaters.
-Promoting use of local public transportation.
-Designing renovations and new construction projects with design features to minimize energy use.
-Consideration of LEED design criteria when possible.
Climate Action Plan (2011):
-Continue to promote the Campus Energy Policy guidelines and educate building maintenance workers about the policies, and to track progress as part of subsequent Climate Action Plans.
-Incorporate elements of the Campus Master Plan into subsequent Climate Action Plans to track and better understand the impact of new campus construction on the College’s total emissions.
-The Operations Subcommittee will propose changes to the LCAT fleet to include the most efficient and appropriately sized vehicles available.
-The Operations Subcommittee will continue to meet on at least a yearly basis to evaluate progress, track reductions and develop new projects to reduce campus energy use.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
An energy audit was conducted of Lafayette College preceding the Climate Action Plan. The Energy Audit identified strategies to reduce energy usage in each of the 51 buildings audited. A total of 485 Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) projects were recommended. The College could identify additional ECMs through an energy audit of the remaining off-campus buildings. All the ECMs have been entered into a database program called the Energy Planner. The web-based database allows users to assign current energy rates and easily update project information. Each ECM project aims to reduce emissions by reducing the amount of energy a building system consumes.
Using the Energy Planner, the College has developed the following plan to reduce emissions 20% by 2021.The emissions reduction of 20% accounts for an initial reduction of 9% from 2007 through 2009 that was the result of switching from fuel oil to natural gas in the campus’s boiler. The College will further reduce its emissions by an additional 11% from 2011 through 2021 by investing in the ECMs recommended in the campus energy audit.
Recent Emissions Reduction Accomplishments:
Supply and Installation of Oxygen Trim System in the Power Plant
New boiler controls reduce excess air in the combustion chambers of the power plant’s boilers, saving natural gas.
Emissions reduction of 80 MtCO2e/yr.
Condensate Tank Insulation Installation in Power Plant
Insulating the condensate tank reduces heat loss and increases the boiler system efficiency, thus requiring less fuel to heat the campus.
Emissions reduction of 25 MtCO2e/yr.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Climate Action Plan (2011)
Executive board members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
Lafayette Plans to implement a pollinator garden, which was a student-driven initiative. In addition, there is a campus-wide pesticide ban for Plant Operations staff. (Peter Todaro)
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Emily Crosette (student), Peter Todaro (Plant Operations Head)
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
-Energy efficient products shall be purchased whenever possible. For examples, see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star products list.
-Environmentally friendly cleaning supplies are used by the Plant Operations Department.
-Recyclable and reusable products should also be purchased when feasible to reduce disposal costs. Automobile purchasing policy promotes the addition of hybrids and smaller, more energy efficient vehicles to the fleet.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Measurable objective: number of energy star approved devices purchased by Lafayette.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Sustainability board members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The College is continuing to expand its LCAT (Lafayette College Area Transportation) service by increasing the service’s hours, number of shuttles and number of destinations. LCAT is free of charge to students and a convenient way to access points on campus as well as in the City of Easton, thus minimizing the need for travel in private vehicles. The College has also contracted with a car-sharing company to provide students with flexible transportation options without the need of a personal vehicle and has introduced a pilot program to provide electric car charging stations on campus.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Two electric vehicle charging stations. Two car-share vehicles. LCAT App that tracks the buses in real-time for waiting passengers.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
http://sustainability.lafayette.edu/initiatives/transportation/
Sustainability Committee members
Mary Wilford-Hunt
George Xiques
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
-When economically feasible, recycling shall be expanded to include (or enhance existing programs) green waste (for composting), construction waste, and used office waste such as computers. The College Plant Operations, along with student groups, promote the diversion of waste from landfill sites by establishing an earth tub system for composting dining facility and grounds crew produced waste into compost. The compost is then used in student/faculty/staff community gardens.
-The College will continue to support all its current programs while seeking to grow the overall recycling program.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Increases in the amount of material recycled.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Recycling Improvement (Vince Condello, George Xiques, Kira Lawrence)
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The College is working towards replacement of most, if not all, current fixtures with low-flow, dualflush or waterless fixtures.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Keefe Hall was recently outfitted with low-flow fixtures, saving an estimated 40,000 gallons of water a year.
Additional water savings were realized by implementing operational changes to the steam boiler’s cooling towers to reduce the amount of makeup water used by approximately 15%.
Emissions Reduction Through Water Use Mitigation:
Low Flow Fixture Conversion in Keefe Hall
Replacing all the existing plumbing fixtures with low flow fixtures will reduce water consumption as well as reduce hot water heating requirements for showers and sinks.
Emissions reduction of 19 MtCO2e/yr.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Climate Action Plan (2011)
Executive board members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The College has established a goal to invest $400,000 per year for 10 years (2011 through 2020) toward ECMs and carbon reduction projects that have a positive net present value and large MtCO2e reduction. If the College decides to also reinvest the expected energy savings into ECM implementation, the expected savings will be realized in a shorter time frame.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
Climate Action Plan (2011)
Executive board members:
-Mary H. Wilford-Hunt, Director of Facilities Planning & Construction
-George A. Xiques, Assistant Director & Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Planning
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
Yes
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A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The Climate Action Plan is a comprehensive plan outlining specific strategies the college will employ to reduce GHG emissions and eventually achieve climate neutrality. The plan addresses the areas of Education, Research, Operations (Athletics, Transport, Dining, and Building initiatives). The immediate goals are: Within one year of signing the CAP (2011), Implement a selected set of energy conservation measures (ECMs) as part of the Campus Emissions Reduction Plan to reduce GHG emissions 20% from 2007 levels by 2021.
By 2012, develop a monitoring and verification program to compare the predicted GHG emissions reduction from the implementation of the ECMs with the actual results. And within two years to set:
- A target date for achieving climate neutrality,
▪ Interim target goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality,
▪ Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability part of the curriculum,
▪ Actions to expand research or other efforts to achieve climate neutrality,
▪ Mechanisms for tracking progress, and
▪ Making the plan publicly available.
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The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.