UNC submits Climate Action Plan as part of commitment to carbon neutrality

As the latest step in its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill today (Sept. 15) submitted its Climate Action Plan to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. In 2007, Carolina was one of the first universities to make this commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of its campus and offset all its greenhouse gas emissions. The pledge now has 650 signatories.

Carolina has already adopted 60 percent of the tangible actions specified in the commitment by establishing a policy that all new campus construction be built to at least the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standard or equivalent; requiring purchase of Energy Star-certified products in all areas for which these ratings exist; and encouraging the use of and providing access to public transportation.

The ACUPCC also requires regular reports from all its signatories. Last year, Carolina completed and published a comprehensive inventory of its 2007 greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s Climate Action Plan updates this emissions inventory and uses that data, along with development plans and growth estimates, to project the carbon footprint of the campus under current practices. The document then presents a comprehensive plan for achieving the goal of climate neutrality by mid-century.

“The Climate Action Plan represents a set of tangible actions that help manage the invisible contributors to global climate change,” said Daniel Arneman, Ph.D., the UNC greenhouse gas emissions specialist who prepared the plan with input and feedback from across campus. “Only the highest impact solutions are described in this Climate Action Plan, but scores of others will allow for continuous improvement in a variety of UNC’s business processes.”

Near-term alternatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include increasing the efficiency of chiller plants, managing computer sleep and standby modes and improving teleconferencing facilities to reduce the need for air travel. The capture and destruction of methane gas from the Orange County landfill, slated to close in 2011, and the replacement of 20 percent of the coal with torrefied wood (a charcoal-like substance) at the University’s cogeneration plant are other strategies to decrease emissions by 2025. In the mid- to long-term, solar thermal panels, heat recovery chillers and a biomass gasification plant could provide additional carbon abatement, according to the plan.

UNC’s 2009 Climate Action Plan: http://www.climate.unc.edu/portfolio/
UNC’s 2007 Greenhouse Gas Inventory: http://sustainability.unc.edu/Portals/0/Documents/UNC_Chapel_Hill_GHG_Inventory.pdf

Energy Services contact: Daniel Arneman
News Services contact: Susan Houston

FORMAL NOTICE: Adoption of New Energy Use Policy

The following is the email sent to all campus community members on July 8. This marks the implementation of UNC's new Energy Use Policy. This important policy establishes the framework that will guide our university towards a cleaner, greener future! Forgive the late post - summer always leaves the office a bit understaffed!

To: Carolina Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Richard Mann, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Date: July 8, 2009
Subject: Adoption of New Energy Use Policy

In response to the grave global economic situation, the University's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 and state legislation that mandates reductions in energy consumption, the University has adopted a new Energy Use Policy. As a result, the University is implementing campus-wide Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) that will achieve significant and relatively immediate reductions in energy consumption and reduce the University's utility costs.

Space temperatures in campus buildings will be optimized for energy conservation during the times the buildings are occupied, and will not exceed 78 degrees during summer months or drop below 69 degrees during cooler weather. Further, most buildings will be programmed to relax these set temperatures during times of low occupancy when buildings are unoccupied.

Certain campus facilities such as labs, animal facilities, museums, libraries and computer server spaces that require strict, consistent temperatures may be exempt from many of the planned ECMs. The Facilities Services Division is working to accommodate the needs of facilities in these buildings while identifying other energy-saving measures that can be implemented.

Although building occupants could notice some change in their comfort levels because of the temperature adjustment, the University is committed to keeping facilities within safe and reasonably comfortable temperature ranges at all times. The temperature and humidity standards to be implemented are in accordance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommendations for occupied spaces.

The technical work involved in reprogramming and adjusting building control systems is complex and can be time-consuming. Facilities Services is making implementation of this policy a priority, and the division has committed Energy Management engineers and maintenance staff to this effort. Most of their work will be done "behind the scenes" and with as little disruption as possible to building occupants, the work environment and building operations. During the process to implement these energy-saving measures, several maintenance technicians will be temporarily taken away from their regular duties, potentially resulting in delayed response times for trouble calls.

University-wide support of the energy policy will save both energy and money, and there are many ways individuals across campus can make a difference. People should always dress appropriately for the weather and for temperatures inside buildings. Because lighting consumes a considerable amount of energy in most buildings, simply turning off unnecessary lights when there is adequate daylight and turning off lights whenever people step out of their offices will help conserve energy. It is critical to turn off all lights and nonessential computers and equipment at the end of the day.

The University community is asked to be tolerant of any discomfort as a result of adjusted room temperatures or other ECMs and to recognize the importance of taking such steps. Beyond reducing the University's utility bills, careful energy management benefits the environment and preserves natural resources.

Energy conservation is an ongoing commitment. Facilities Services will update the University community about the latest developments in implementing these measures. Information will be posted on a new Web site, www.save-energy.unc.edu, and people can send energy-saving ideas to a specially designated e-mail address, save-energy@unc.edu.

This email is sponsored by: Division of Finance and Administration

You can read the full policy, learn more, and submit feedback online at:
http://save-energy.unc.edu/

Higher Fuel Economy Standards

Big change is about to hit the road. On Tuesday, May 19^th, Obama announced new standards for fuel efficiency and emissions, which will start taking effect in 2012. The new rules will require all cars to get at least 39 mpg and trucks to get 30 mpg, which averages to 35.5 mpg (as compared to the current average of 25 mpg).

On the national end, these new standards will save the US almost 2 billion barrels of oil from 2012 through 2016. Also, the newly efficient vehicles will prevent 900 million metric tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted throughout their lifetimes, which is akin to taking 177 million cars off the road. Auto industries are happy too, because now they have a single nationwide standard that helps national security, air quality, and general public approval. Sure, this means new cars will cost more—an average of $1,300 per vehicle—but at current prices a consumer can make that money back in gas savings in about 3 years.

Obama couldn’t have said it better: “In the past, an agreement such as this would have been considered impossible. That is why this announcement is so important, for it represents not only a change in policy in Washington, but the harbinger of a change in the way business is done in Washington.”

For more information on fuel economy, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.