Eastern Iowa Community College District Sustainability District Facilities

Eastern Iowa Community College District Sustainability

District Facilities Clinton County Community College Campus Graphic Arts Training Center Scott County Community College Campus Technology Center District Office Education Center Career Assistance Center Midwest Center for Safety & Rescue Muscatine County Community College Campus Jackson County Outreach Center Louisa County Outreach Center

Enrollment: Over 11, 000 in Associate, College Transfer, and Career Technology programs. Over 33, 000 in Continuing Ed, Business & Industry, and Adult Ed programs

EICCD Sustainability Initiative

Why Sustainability? • EICCD facilities and operations contribute greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere • EICCD houses several environmental programs • EICCD is a community leader • EICCD educates and trains the workforce and citizens of today and tomorrow

Sustainability at EICCD ………. . ATEEC – Advanced Technology Environment and Energy Center HSET – Health, Safety, Environmental Technician Program Iowa Waste Exchange Nahant Marsh Renewable Energy Technician Program

American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment ~signed November 2007~

Iowa’s Signatories Community Colleges: Des Moines Area Community College Eastern Iowa Community College District Iowa Lakes Community College 4 Year Institutions: Central College Drake University Loras College Luther College Maharishi University of Management Simpson College 623 institutions have signed to date

The Climate Commitment Requires EICCD to: 1. Develop an institutional structure for sustainability 2. Conduct a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 3. Strive to become climate neutral ( No Greenhouse Gas Emissions)

1. Develop an Institutional Structure EICCD Sustainability Initiative • • • Team New & Existing Facilities 60 Team Recycling Volunteer Team Curriculum Participants Team Business Practices Team Community Outreach Team Measurement & Celebration

2. Conduct a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory What is a Carbon Footprint ? ? ? The amount of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere by EICCD facility operations and activities ▫ Electricity/Natural Gas Usage ▫ Vehicle Fleet ▫ Staff and Student Commuting

EICCD's Carbon Footprint 17, 590 Mt. CO 2 e Utilities 6, 658 Vehicle Fleet 10, 736 196 Commuting

3. Strive to Become Climate Neutral Incorporate sustainability into EICCD policy • • EICCD Board Policy Ethics Statement Purchase Energy Star Appliances Construct to LEED silver standards Short-Term and Long-Term strategies to reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions: • Make our facilities more energy efficient • Consider sustainability as a factor when purchasing goods and services

Business Practices • Reduce district travel • Conduct meetings using technology • Purchase eco-friendly goods & services • Purchase energy star appliances • No bottled water Facilities • Utility Audits on all buildings • All new construction to LEED standards • Sustainable grounds management plan • Standards for energy and water consuming devices • Green cleaning products

Recycling • Reduce amount of waste generated • Increase quantity and types of materials recycled • Develop construction & demolition waste recycling program • Decrease paper usage • Participate in Recyclemania Curriculum • Increase sustainability-related course offerings • Incorporate sustainability across the curriculum • Provide all students and staff with a basic knowledge of sustainability • Develop sustainability-related continuing education and short term training opportunities

Community Leadership • • Speakers Bureau Website Community Events Leadership role in regional sustainability efforts • Partner with other institutions to further sustainability in higher education Measurement & Celebration • Assist with statistics and documentation • Recognize EICCD sustainability success

Opportunities • • Reduced operating costs Buffer against uncertain future energy supplies Identify new research and learning opportunities Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration Prepare students for sustainability leadership Appeal to current and prospective students Foster a campus-wide ethic of environmental stewardship (Higher Education in a Warming World, 2008)

STARS Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System A Comparative Tool for Evaluating Campus Sustainability www. aashe. org/stars Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

STARS Pilot Project Participant February – December 2008 STARS A voluntary, self-reporting framework for gauging relative progress toward sustainability STARS 1. 0 Will be released to the higher education community in the Fall 2009

Goals of STARS • Provide a guide for advancing sustainability in all sectors of higher education • Enable meaningful comparisons across and within institutions • Create incentives for continual improvement • Facilitate information sharing • Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community

Elements of STARS • • • Checklist of indicators (similar to LEED) Comprehensive – all campus sectors Clear levels of achievement Guidance and resources Transparency (public reporting and access) • Outside certification optional • Rating good for 3 years

Categories of Credits • Education & Research • Operations • Administration & Finance • Tier One Credits Based on sustainability outcomes • Tier Two Credits Recognize strategies institutions can adopt to move toward sustainability

Operations Credits Catagories: • Buildings • Dining Services • Energy & Climate • Grounds • Materials, Recycling, Waste Minimization • Purchasing • Transportation Example Credits: • Recycling Program • Green Cleaning • LEED construction • Local Food • ENERGY STAR purchasing • Downward trend in energy use

Education & Research Credits Categories: • Co-Curricular Education • Curriculum • Faculty/Staff Development • Research Example Credits: • Sustainability in new student orientation • % of sustainability related courses • Professional development opportunities for staff • % of academic departments engaged in sustainability research

Administration & Finance Credits Categories: • Investment • Planning • Sustainability Infrastructure • Community Relations • Diversity, Access, Affordability • Human Resources Example Credits: • Positive investments that promote sustainability • Strategic plan includes sustainability • Partnerships with local community • Diversity & Equity Officer

Pilot Participants • If you didn’t attempt credit – why? • How difficult was it to obtain information for credit? • Would you recommend changing credit? • Circumstances unique to your institution

STARS 0. 9 Will be released for public comment June 2009

STARS 1. 0 Will be launched Fall 2009 This will be the first opportunity for the Higher Education Community to receive a sustainability rating under STARS

Helpful Organizations • AASHE – Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education www. aashe. org • UMACS – Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability www. umacs. org • ACUPCC – American College & University President’s Climate Commitment www. presidentsclimatecommitment. org • HEASC – Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium www. heasc. org • US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development www. uspartnership. org

Contact Information EICCD Sustainability Initiative Co-Chairs Julie Plummer 306 W River Drive Davenport, IA 52801 563 -336 -3319 jplummer@eicc. edu Robin Blount 306 W River Drive Davenport, IA 52801 563 -336 -3309 rblount@eicc. edu