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Annual Report

University Standing Committee: Physical Environment Committee


Academic Year Covered by Report: 2009-2010

Date Report Submitted: June 1, 2010

Submitted by: Richard Bernhard

Number of times committee met: 8

Recommend:

  • That Richard Bernhard return as chair for the 2010-2011 academic year
  • That the following wording change be made in the sustainability charge to accurately reflect the actual task of the committee: “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.”
  • That the following wording change be made to address communication with the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government: “Provide regular communication about its deliberations to the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government.”
  • That the attendance issue be addressed since it adversely affects the operation of the Committee.

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION ITEMS/ACTIVITIES OF COMMITTEE

PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF

Kevin MacNaughton, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities, spoke with the committee during its November meeting. He said that over the past 10 years we have spent $1.2 billion on new and renovated buildings and related projects with nearly $500 million coming from the 2000 Bond Program. The Bond building program was completed in May, 2009 ahead of schedule, on budget, and with no outstanding contractor claims.

He pointed to some of the highlights of that building program that included construction of central chilled water facilities and installation of chilled water lines, which resulted in the elimination of window A/C units and more efficient and effective cooling. Completion of Engineering Building III in 2010 will mean that we are more than halfway there in migrating engineering to Centennial Campus.

MacNaughton said our Physical Master Plan, which is updated in-house every five years, guides campus development. In the 2007 update, guiding principles such as being mindful of hallowed spaces and placing a stronger emphasis on sustainability were added. All future buildings will be worked toward LEED Silver certification. Facilities’ focus will be on improving the spaces between buildings. The landscaping should not only look good, but also function well in regard to stormwater management and related issues.

Tracy Dixon, University Sustainability Office Director, Lindsay Batchelor, University Sustainability Office Program Coordinator, and Jeff Hightower, Facilities Operations Utility Infrastructure Planning & Development Director, addressed the committee on the subject of sustainability on campus.

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.

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 doing things more efficiently, next replacing high-carbon energy sources with low-carbon energy ones, and finally offsetting those emissions that cannot be eliminated by the above.

Jeff Hightower said 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.

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.

CAMPUS PLANNING AND DESIGN AND RESOURCE AND CONSERVATION SUBCOMMITTEE:

During the 2009-10 academic year, this subcommittee reviewed and recommended the following projects, which the full committee then also reviewed and recommended for approval:

  • Centennial Campus Parking Deck will be a 500-space deck. It will have four levels with the first level below grade.
  • West Lot Parking Deck Phase I will be an 850-space deck. The five level deck is the first of two planned decks in the present West Lot area. The deck moves parking out of the core campus to fringe areas with more buses near the parking deck. This is one way that the University is working to get people out of their vehicles and on to public transportation.
  • JW Isenhour Tennis Outdoor Complex Expansion project will replace the existing tennis courts and provide a 1000 total spectator capacity grandstand structure on the south side atop shell space for future expansion. The project will correct accessibility issues and drainage problems. Oak trees on the north side will be preserved.
  • Derr Track project will include a toilet building, a team meeting building, and a batting cage building, and will convert an existing building into an open storage building. It will create two new pedestrian gates into Derr Track – one on Cates Avenue near the toilet building and one on the south side of the facility.

CAMPUS PARKING & TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE

This subcommittee reviewed and recommended approval of parking changes for 2010-2011, which was then reviewed and recommended by the full committee.

Some of the changes included:

  • Increase student permit fees $5-7 per year (2% increase)
  • Increase most employee permit fees $6-15 per year (2% increase)
  • Increase AS permit fees $51 per year (5% increase)
  • Eliminate separate employee permit types for primary student or mixed use areas including E.S. King, Wolf Village, West lot, Centennial Campus perimeter lots and Dan Allen deck.
  • Require employees to purchase C permits to validate parking in these areas
  • Revise policy regarding use of accessibility placards at parking meters (currently no payment is required)
  • Revise the ordinance policy to provide an impound mechanism for removing bicycles, mopeds and scooters that are left in a manner that creates a safety issue or hinders pedestrian movement.
  • Revise language pertaining to towing fees from exact fee ($45) to the contract agreement rate.
  • Create a violation for failing to make payment in a pay lot.
  • Eliminate section 4.5.5 which exempts deposit of coin payment for meter space parking when an accessibility placard is displayed.
  • Add to section 2: Bicycles, scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and other alternative modes of transportation are to be stored in an appropriate manner at bicycle racks or other designated spaces. Those deemed to be stored in a manner that creates a safety issue or inhibits pedestrian movement may be impounded by Transportation.
  • Revise PENALTIES chart (5.1) to note contract rate for towing fee and add violation code 08 as “Failure to Make Payment in a Pay Lot” - $30 fine.