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PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
January 14, 2010
Winslow Hall Conference Room
Chairman Dick Bernhard called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. The following members attended the meeting: Andrew Barnes, Jon Barnwell, Ronald Baynes, Dick Bernhard, Karen Ciccone, Ahmed El Saghir, Garden Freeman, Charley Pennell, Steve Ratzlaff, Ryan Rindone, Rick Seagroves, Ed Sekmistrz, and Sarah Warren
EX-OFFICO: Cheryl Branker, Jack Colby, Tracy Dixon, Tom Skolnicki
GUESTS: Lindsay Batchelor, Facilities Operations University Sustainability Office; John Hammond, CHASS student; Jeff Hightower, Facilities Operations Utility Infrastructure Planning & Development
WELCOME: Dick Bernhard welcomed the committee members and guests and asked them all to introduce themselves.
OLD BUSINESS:
Dick Bernhard called for a motion to approve the minutes for the November 5, 2009 meeting. The motion was made and seconded and minutes were unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Dick Bernhard addressed the need to elect a committee chair for the upcoming academic year, 2010-2011. He said he was willing to serve as chair for 2010-2011. He asked for other nominations, saying that individuals could nominate themselves. There were no other nominations. Bernhard called for a motion and a second for the 2010-2011 chair. The motion and second was made and Bernhard was unanimously voted in as 2010-2011 chair.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
CAMPUS PLANNING AND DESIGN AND RESOURCE AND CONSERVATION SUBCOMMITTEE:
Dick Bernhard asked Tracy Dixon, University Sustainability Office director; Lindsay Batchelor, University Sustainability Office Program Coordinator; and Jeff Hightower, Facilities Operations Utility Infrastructure Planning & Development director to address the committee about the University’s current sustainability commitments.
Tracy Dixon said that sustainability, which is defined as “…development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, involves everyone on campus. It is about balance. People matter, economy matters, and environment matters. The program affects academics & research, buildings, energy & water, land use, materials, transportation, and waste reduction & recycling. NC State’s driving forces are the 2006 Assessment, Climate Commitment, UNC-GA Sustainability Policy, State Law 2007-546 (SB668), LEED-Silver certified, and the University’s Physical Master Plan.
Dixon distributed copies of the LEED 2009 project checklist for New Construction and Major Renovation along with two pages from the Physical Master Plan that address Sustainability. She addressed the LEED point system and the major categories that are considered.
Sarah Warren asked about the retrofitting of larger buildings to address sustainability issues. Jack Colby said that the University strives for LEED Silver when buildings are renovated.
Dick Bernard asked who decides whether a building should be certified LEED Silver. Dixon said that it is a matter for the University Green Building Council.
Dixon said the University Sustainability Office has a number of tasks that include:
- Institutionalize sustainability
- Clearinghouse for campus sustainability
- Program development that includes climate work, service learning project, green living guide, green IT, green purchasing
- Process development that includes (new templates/tools), sustainability vision statement, LEED prototype credits, private development
- CEST support
- Consult on Developing Projects such as bike share, PackPulse, student sustainability commission, student sustainability bill
- Education and outreach
- Communications
- Events such as Earth Day, S.E.E., Campus Sustainability Day
- Accountability, metrics, reporting
Dixon outlined the ideas that the committee should keep in mind in their reviews:
- Sustainability is broader then LEED
- Sustainability is different for each project
- Review and ensure that sustainability concepts are in building, landscaping, and transportation projects
- Other resources
- Sustainability vision statement
- Project scope
- Connection to climate commitment (greenhouse gas reduction)
Jeff Hightower began his portion of the combined presentation to let the committee know that the University signed on to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2008, which addresses global warming through a commitment to work towards climate neutrality. One of the requirements of being a signatory is to develop within one year a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and update the inventory every other year thereafter. For purposes of ACUPCC, a GHG inventory quantifies the campus “carbon footprint” in terms of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year (MTeCO2/yr).
Hightower conducted the GHG emissions inventory in 2008. He displayed the results on a spreadsheet. He said that Senate Bill 668 calls for 20% reduction of energy by 2010 and 30% reduction of energy by 2015. Jon Barnwell asked whether the University would meet the 2010 target. Hightower replied that the focus is on the 2015 target.
Jack Colby added that while the State Government has mandated reduction targets, it also has cut funding to achieve the targets. He said that the University is holding its own with regard to reduction, considering that we have added 1.5 million gross square feet of space in the last nine years without a comparable increase in GHG emissions.
Hightower also discussed the University’s combined heat and power project, which will add two 5.5 megawatt combustion turbines with heat recovery steam generators to produce electricity. The project will reduce greenhouse gases by 15 percent and reduce energy consumption by $1-$1.5 million.
Jordan Hammond questioned the amount of savings. Jack Colby said that savings would be over $5 million a year, but the debt service needs to be paid off. Ronald Baynes asked whether the savings could be reinvested. Colby responded that the State keeps utilities in a separate budget and therefore they cannot take the savings and reinvest in new buildings. Hightower added that they have tried to change that law.
Lindsay Batchelor presented the Climate Action Plan, which is a comprehensive plan including a target date and interim milestones for how NC State will reach climate neutrality. She showed the committee the carbon management hierarchy that includes first avoiding carbon-intensive activities, next do things more efficiently, next replace high-carbon energy sources with low-carbon energy ones, and finally offset those emissions that cannot be eliminated by the above.
She discussed the organization, mission, and vision of CEST and its sustainability strategic plan. She told the committee that while sustainability has been happening on campus for a good while, we now have a plan.
She encouraged committee members to get involved by either joining a CEST Working Group, submitting a project idea or suggestion, signing up for the newsletter, or joining the Facebook group.
Dick Bernard said he had been on the sustainability email list, but was receiving too many emails so he disenrolled. Batchelor responded that they have since deleted the email list and replaced it with a weekly on-line newsletter.
Bernard asked who appoints members to the Administrative Advisory Council. Jack Colby said that Bill Winner and he make appointments. They choose those who have the needed expertise and they try to achieve a good balance in the membership.
Bernhard thanked the speakers for their excellent presentations.
Garden Freeman announced that Lisa Johnson, interim university architect, is scheduled to address the January 21 subcommittee meeting about the University Physical Master Plan.
CAMPUS PARKING & TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE:
Dick Bernhard asked Tom Kendig to provide the subcommittee report. Kendig said the subcommittee would meet on January 28 to review the proposed 2010-2011 Parking and Transportation policy, which will be presented for a vote at the February 4 PEC meeting.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS:
Dick Bernhard asked the committee to review the following wording change in the PEC sustainability charge that would accurately reflect the actual task of the committee. Wording changes also address communication with the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government.
The changes follow:
- Review and ensure that the concepts of sustainability are incorporated into building, landscaping, and transportation projects and in alignment with the University’s sustainability goals as outlined in the Physical Master Plan.
- Provide regular communication about its deliberations to the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government.
Provide direction and critically review the basic concepts and assumptions underlying University recycling and solid waste programs, energy management, conservation and sustainability initiatives.
Provide direction and critically review the basic concepts and assumptions underlying green building practices and the environmental impact as a result of the development of the University.
Consult with the Faculty Senate's Resources and Environment Committee for consideration of policies, procedures or other matters pertaining to the academic mission of the University.
Sarah Warren asked for assurance that the changes dealing with sustainability are in accordance with all other related University documents. Bernhard provided that assurance. There being no other discussion, Bernhard called for a motion and a second to approve the wording change. The wording was unanimously approved. Bernhard asked Ron Grote to send the change forward to the Committee on Committees for review and approval.
There was no other new business. The committee adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
The next meeting of the full PEC is scheduled for February 4, 2010 in the Winslow Hall Conference Room.