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Sustainability at City Tech

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Sustainability Plan

Sustainability Plan Summary

A college campus may take several different routes towards becoming a sustainable environment. One obvious route would be to erect new buildings or facilities that are LEED certified. Another would be to upgrade the campus’ energy systems to reduce overall energy consumption. Yet another route is to implement a comprehensive recycling program complete with marked bins and posters. While City Tech will go through all these routes, the college also believes that the key to true campus-wide sustainability is through “sustainable outreach and education”. Ultimately, the success of City Tech’s Campus Sustainability Program for years to come will depend on the continued involvement of the college’s students, faculty, and staff in ensuring that its goals will come to fruition.

The “sustainable outreach and education” plan can be divided into formal education and an informal awareness sections. The most notable part of the “formal education” section is City Tech’s goal to offer a Bachelor of Science degree program in Sustainability by 2011-2012. With this program, the college will become only 1 of 12 universities in the world to offer a BS in Sustainability. In addition, the college currently offers a Certificate in Sustainable Technology degree program to complement its other Technology degree programs.

The planned Sustainability degree program and existing Certificate in Sustainable Technology program will no doubt focus primarily on technical aspects, such as “green” energy and construction. However, non-technical aspects of sustainability will remain just as important to the success of City Tech’s Campus Sustainability Plan. These aspects will be the key to spreading “informal awareness” to the college and its community.

Perhaps the most notable “informal awareness” program is EcoFest the Earth Day event that occurs every April. This event is generally successful in bringing awareness to sustainable and environmental issues to the college community.

The ultimate success of the Sustainability Plan hinges most on the continued involvement of the 15,000 degree students that compose the vast majority of City Tech personnel. One way to involve these students is through the formation of a Student Engagement Committee. This extracurricular committee will be led by dedicated students to promote to sustainable issues to the campus community. Another way to increase involvement of not just students but also faculty and staff is through the proposed City Tech Sustainability website, which will inform visitors of the college’s current sustainability initiatives and educate visitors on sustainable practices.

A more curriculum-involved way to increase awareness is through the Hospitality Management Department. Students studying here will have the opportunity to develop a “green market menu”, which will be based on the purchase and preparation of local foods raised within a 150-mile radius of the college. In a similar vein, expanding culinary clubs such as “Cooks in the Marketplace” and “Spoons Across America” will bring more awareness about sustainable food and good nutrition to the greater Brooklyn community.

Finally, the most obvious form of sustainable “awareness” is the numerous recycling bins around campus. To increase use of these bins, recycling posters will be placed above the bins and around campus to educate personnel on what items should be recycled as well as on the consequences of not recycling.

In the end, successfully convincing students, faculty, and staff to be continually involved in sustainable practices will require the college’s administration and leaders to show that they themselves are serious about sustainability. Leading by example is perhaps the best way to truly motivate the whole community to participate in City Tech’s Campus Sustainability Plan. The examples below show the college’s leaders are indeed serious about sustainability:

Energy-use Reduction:

  • The new Central Energy Plant will increase energy efficiency by 40-60%.
  • The New Academic Building will be certified LEED Silver.
  • Reducing computer electricity consumption by 25% through the Verdiew Surveyor computer software program.
  • Eliminate all window AC units

Water-use Reduction:

  • Renovate all campus bathrooms to contain sustainable elements, such as low-flush toilet, faucet aerators, low consumption valves, light sensors, and sustainable building materials.
  • Eliminate water loss through continued maintenance of existing plumbing facilities.
  • Capture and reuse “greywater” and rainwater for the irrigation of herb garden for School of Culinary Arts; use drought-resistant plant species in Atrium Courtyard to reduce water consumption.

Recycling, Reuse, and Reduction:

  • Install paper, plastic, glass, and battery recycling point throughout campus offices and building exteriors.
  • Recycle material waste from renovations done on campus, such as ceiling tiles, furniture, framing, etc.
  • Recycle discarded books from the college library.
  • Increase percentage of recyclables collected by 30%.
  • Reduce paper usage by 30% by implementing paper-saving best practices.
  • Using sustainable elements in renovation of campus dining hall.
  • Donate 30% of retired computer inventory to charity.

Sustainable Transportation:

  • Increase fleet use of clean and alternative fuels by 30%
  • Install 10 new bike racks around campus buildings

Sustainable Procurement:

  • Increase sustainable standards for all new purchase of commodity items, such as campus furniture, paper, janitorial supplies, etc.
  • Increase the amount of recycled materials purchased via ProfTech Office Supplies to 30%; improve post-consumer recycled content of those items.

Sustainable Nutrition:

  • Hospitality Management Department will procure local produce
  • Department will compost its food waste and other biodegradable disposable items.

Action Plan By Pillar Area

GOAL: ENERGY BUILD NEW PLANT THAT WILL INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY BY 40-60%
TIMELINE COMPLETED
GOAL SUMMARY
  • OBJECTIVE: INSTALLATION OF NEW CENTRAL PLANT WITH THE REMOVAL OF OVER 200 COMPRESSORS.
  • METRICS FOR SUCCESS: ACHIEVING ENERGY SAVING OF OVER 40%
  • BASELINE: CURRENT ENERGY USAGE.
  • CURRENT PRACTICE:
  • COSTS AND FUNDING:
  • IMPLEMENTING AGENTS: NYPA, LARRY ARMINAS, ART FASELINO
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: ENERGY NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING WILL BE LEED SILVER
TIMELINE 2018
GOAL SUMMARY
  • OBJECTIVE:
  • METRICS FOR SUCCESS:
  • BASELINE:
  • CURRENT PRACTICE:
  • COSTS AND FUNDING:
  • IMPLEMENTING AGENTS: MARIANO ALEMANY
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: ENERGY Reduce computer electricity consumption by 25%
TIMELINE 2009-2010 (?)
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Reduce unnecessary usage of energy by changing computer usage policies and enforcing nightly shut downs of unused computers and equipment.
  • Metrics for success: Compare current models to models that will be purchased. Continued use of central management software Verdiem Surveyor to track energy consumption.
  • Baseline: Surveyor is currently installed in most of the computer labs.
  • Current Practice: Policy noted to all users on campus to shut down workstations on a nightly basis. Enforced sleep mode for non use of computers through Surveyor.
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Rita Uddin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Generate monthly reports from Surveyor and ensure we are meeting goals.
  • Research on different types of energy management software for reducing costs.
  • Ensure all computer labs contain images with Surveyor software.
GOAL: ENERGY Elimination of all window AC units.
TIMELINE 2009-2012
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To remove window AC units as offices and rooms are renovated and existing units fall into disrepair.
  • Metrics for success: Number of individual AC window units still on campus
  • Baseline: Currently about 80 AC units
  • Current Practice: Many offices control their AC which leads to waste.
  • Costs and Funding: Nothing
  • Implementing Agents: (Larry Arminas)?
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • As units fall into disrepair, they will not be replaced. Seasonal cooling is deemed sufficient.
GOAL: WATER Install energy efficient drinking fountains equipped with filtration/ irradiation system.
TIMELINE 2009-2010
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To have members of campus community drink water from drinking fountains as an alternative to bottled water.
  • Metrics for success: Percentage of drinking fountains with filtration/ irradiation system.
  • Baseline: Drinking fountains have no such system.
  • Current Practice: Few people use the fountains, many are skeptical of water quality.
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Larry Arminas
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • NYCCT in-house plumbers will install initial unit and use it as a template for future installations.
GOAL: WATER Renovate all campus bathrooms to be ADA compliant and contain sustainable elements
TIMELINE 2009-Present
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Take advantage of renovations in order to implement sustainable features in all bathrooms.
  • Metrics for success: All bathrooms are renovated by 2013(?)
  • Baseline: Small percentage of low flush toilets and low consumption valves.
  • Current Practice: Bathrooms do not contain sustainable elements
  • Costs and Funding: School funds, $200,000
  • Implementing Agents: Mariano Alemany & James Vasquez
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Design plan and source materials for bathroom
  • Renovate bathrooms one floor of NAMM building to be used as template for other bathrooms
  • Install low-flush toilets, low consumption valves, and light sensors in all bathrooms
  • Use sustainable building materials
  • Use Build It Green to salvage materials from renovation.
GOAL: WATER Eliminate water loss through maintenance of existing plumbing facilities.
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Larry Arminas
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: WATER Using rainwater harvesting for drought resistant plant species and herb cultivation in the NAMM courtyard.
TIMELINE 2010 - Present
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Capture and reuse “greywater” for irrigation of herb garden for School of Culinary Arts.
  • Metrics for success: School of Culinary Arts is able to source all of their herb needs from courtyard. Plants in garden are able to live year round.
  • Baseline: There is a random assortment of plants in courtyard.
  • Current Practice: No rainwater cultivation of drought resistant plants.
  • Costs and Funding: $75,000. No current funding for project.
  • Implementing Agents: Mariano Alemany
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Get landscape architect on board to prepare a plan for the NAMM courtyard.
  • Get contractor to build
  • Create a system for maintenance shared between students, staff, and faculty.
GOAL: WATER Install aerators on all faucets throughout campus
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents:
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: RECYCLING Recycle material waste from renovations done on campus such as ceiling tiles, furniture, and framing.
TIMELINE 2009-2010
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To reduce the amount of material waste from campus renovations ending up in landfills.
  • Metrics for success: Amount of material diverted from landfills.
  • Baseline: No material waste in diverted from garbage stream.
  • Current Practice: Currently all waste from renovations is removed with regular garbage.
  • Costs and Funding: Depending on size of job, outside vendor will pick up reusable materials for free. For smaller pickups there is a small service fee.
  • Implementing Agents: Build it Green, Mariano Alemany
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Complete all paperwork to make Build It Green, or a similar organization, a college vendor.
  • Photograph materials which will be discarded in future renovations and send pictures to Build It Green so they can decide if they will collect the materials.
  • Spec Build in Green into architecture plans for large scale projects to increase dramatically reduce waste.
GOAL: RECYCLING Install paper, plastic, glass and battery recycling points throughout campus offices and building exteriors.
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Environmental Health & Safety Officer.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: RECYCLING Increase percentage of recyclables collected by 30%
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Environmental Health & Safety Officer.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: RECYCLING Reduce paper usage by 30% by implementing paper-saving best practices
TIMELINE 1 year
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Minimize use of paper report distribution. Provide user awareness for need to save paper.
  • Metrics for success: Percent decrease in reams of paper used for printing.
  • Baseline: 2000 reams/wk??
  • Current Practice: Reduced use of paper usage in CIS through distribution of reports through means other than paper. No print management system in place.
  • Costs and Funding: Print management system would have significant costs which would be offset by savings on paper. Policy changes would have minimal cost would only require a change of culture.
  • Implementing Agents: Richard Aronin, Rita Uddin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Research different print management systems for computer labs
  • Increased scanning of documents to email and PDF
  • Purchase only duplex printing units
  • Eliminate all stand alone units and replace with networked units.
GOAL: RECYCLE Recycle books discarded from college library.
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Tess Tobin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: RECYCLING 30% of the retired computer inventory will be donated to charity.
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Establish list of charitable organizations for college retired inventory donations
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents:
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN Establish list of possible charity organizations where college can donate.
GOAL: PROCUREMENT 30% of our Office Supplies (OS) will be purchased from recycled materials; & then we will also work to improve the post consumer recycled content of those items.
TIMELINE 2009-2019
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: 30% of Office Supplies (OS) will be purchased from recycled materials; & then we will also work to improve the post consumer recycled content of those items.
  • Metrics for success: Total OS recycled $/Total OS $
  • Baseline: Some work has already done in this area.
  • Current Practice: Slink is used by the College for OS purchasing. Individuals have some choice in what they order.
  • Costs and Funding: We will use communications tools available & being developed so no additional funding is being requested at this time except for perhaps some awards/rewards for Recycler of the Month/Year.
  • Implementing Agents: Richard Aronin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Email & website communication will encourage College staff to order the Recycled Products vs. the non-recycled one.
  • The Recycled Products will be logo identified and described on better.
  • More products with higher post consumer recycled content will be made available.
  • Reports & progress announcements will go out to College staff & perhaps an award/reward for Recycler of the Month/Year.
GOAL: PROCUREMENT Sustainable standards will be increased/met where possible for all new purchases of commodity items such as campus furniture, paper, janitorial supplies, etc.
TIMELINE 2009-2014
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Sustainable standards will be increased/met where possible for all new purchases of commodity items such as campus furniture, paper, janitorial supplies, etc.
  • Metrics for success: Tracking of commodity items in CUNYFirst with sustainability standards as a % of the ones with no standard. We can measure year to year increases as a % over prior year.
  • Baseline: Currently sustainability standards are not formally considered before purchase by facilities and customers of furniture or recorded in current legacy systems. Paper is purchased on existing government contracts.
  • Current Practice: Such items like furniture are purchased based on existing standards, overall value being the main one.
  • Costs and Funding: CUNYFirst must have a methodology to track such purposes.
  • Implementing Agents: Richard Aronin, James Vazquez, & B & G Supervisor.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • CUNYFirst must have a methodology to track such purchases.
  • Email & website communication will encourage College staff to order the Recycled Products vs the non recycled ones.
  • The Recycled Products will be identified and described better to customers.
  • More products with higher post consumer recycled content will be made available.
  • Reports & progress announcements will go out to College staff & perhaps an award/reward for Recycler of the Month/Year.
GOAL: TRANSPORTATION Increase fleet use of clean and alternative fuels by 30%
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Lionel Presume
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: TRANSPORTATION Install 10 (?)new bike racks around campus buildings
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Tess Tobin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN Namm Hall
Voorhees Hall
Environmental Building
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION Hospitality Management Department will procure local produce and compost its food waste and disposable items.
TIMELINE 2009-2012
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective 1: Procure local products
  • Objective 2: Start composting kitchen waste
  • Metrics for success 1: (?)25 % of all products are local
  • Metrics for success 2: (?)100% of kitchen waste is composted
  • Baseline 1: Some produce is local but due to budget issues is not feasible at this time
  • Baseline 2: We are not set up for composting and are waiting for the renovation of the main kitchen before moving forward with the initiative
  • Current Practice 1: We procure 5% of our products from local food sources.
  • Current Practice 2: We are not set up for composting at this time.
  • Costs and Funding 1: Will need to increase the budget per student for purchasing food supplies due to the increase in cost of local products.
  • Costs and Funding 2: Will need to purchase compost receptacles for each food lab and possible costs for pick up of organic matter.
  • Implementing Agents: Susan Lifrieri-Lowry(?)
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Research vendors that sell local products and can consistently supply staple items through the 2 semesters
  • Purchase food grade containers for compost materials
  • Set up guidelines and train students and faculty on proper compost practices
  • Connect with a company willing to haul away and compost food material
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Formation of a robust Student Engagement Committee to increase student participation in sustainable initiatives.
TIMELINE 2009-2010 (?)
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Find dedicated students leaders to promote sustainability on campus in an organized way.
  • Metrics for success: Creation of a Student Engagement Committee that meets at minimum bi-weekly
  • Baseline: No committee currently exists
  • Current Practice: No committee currently exists
  • Costs and Funding: Nothing
  • Implementing Agents: Mariano Alemany, Daniel Fictum, Holly Burmeister
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Encourage other clubs to take mesh sustainability into their events on campus.
  • Find student leaders who care about sustainability and encourage them to form SEC
  • Offer special budget for the potential SEC.
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Launch a City Tech Sustainability website which will present steps the campus is taking to become more sustainable to the community and beyond.
TIMELINE Launch April 2016
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Develop and launch a Sustainability website to inform internal and external audiences of the Sustainability initiatives undertaken at city Tech and provide a public venue for tracking City Tech’s progress in meeting the 10 yr. goal
  • Metrics for success: Sustainability website developed and launched; content updated every three months.
  • Baseline: no current sustainability website
  • Current Practice: No current website practice
  • Costs and Funding: no direct costs associated with this objective. Indirect costs include staff hours to develop and maintain website
  • Implementing Agents: Holly Burmeister (?)
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Draft content areas and work with Steven Soiffer to adapt extant webpage templates for use.
  • Liaise with other Sustainability Committee members and other stakeholders to draft content for each area and designate what will be static areas and what will need to be refreshed every 3 months.
  • Begin working with Visual Communications to develop distinctive look to Sustainability website that also adopts the logo.
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Purchase LEED literature and other books pertaining to sustainability for the campus library.
TIMELINE 2009-2011(?)
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Increase the amount of resources pertaining to sustainability.
  • Metrics for success: To obtain LEED literature so students can prepare for exam. Increase the amount of books having to do with sustainability.
  • Baseline: Library currently offers 69 (?)books relating to sustainability.
  • Current Practice: There exists a fair quantity of books on sustainability.
  • Costs and Funding: The costs of the new books.
  • Implementing Agents: Tess Tobin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Contact United States Green Building Council (usgbc.org) to see if they have special packages for learning institutions.
  • Look for funding/ grants with for purchasing these books
  • Purchase the new literature and exhibit them in library so students know they are available.
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Purchase LEED literature and other books pertaining to sustainability for the campus library.
TIMELINE 2009-2011(?)
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: Increase the amount of resources pertaining to sustainability.
  • Metrics for success: To obtain LEED literature so students can prepare for exam. Increase the amount of books having to do with sustainability.
  • Baseline: Library currently offers 69 (?)books relating to sustainability.
  • Current Practice: There exists a fair quantity of books on sustainability.
  • Costs and Funding: The costs of the new books.
  • Implementing Agents: Tess Tobin
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Contact United States Green Building Council (usgbc.org) to see if they have special packages for learning institutions.
  • Look for funding/ grants with for purchasing these books
  • Purchase the new literature and exhibit them in library so students know they are available.
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Complete recycling posters and place them throughout campus to increase awareness about recycling.
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Luis Venegas
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION
TIMELINE 2009-2011
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective:
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Laureen Park, Geoff Zylstra
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Plan and execute Earth Day event that has campus wide participation.
TIMELINE Execute Event in April 2010
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To increase awareness about environmental issues through an Earth Day event.
  • Metrics for success: 30 vendors/organizations participate/300 students attend
  • Baseline: no event in place for Earth Day
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding: Direct Costs: approximately $5,000, including advertisement costs, refreshments, student give-aways; Indirect costs: staff time to organize, set-up, clean-up and provide security.
  • Implementing Agents: Holly Burmeister, Lorena, Mariano Alemany
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  1. Convene Earth Day Committee, including interested students, to develop theme and focus of the day
  2. Set date and secure location
  3. Develop list of potential internal and external participants and contact each
  4. Work with City Tech Foundation to identify potential sponsors for the event
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION
TIMELINE
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To increase awareness about environmental issues through an Earth Day event.
  • Metrics for success:
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice:
  • Costs and Funding:
  • Implementing Agents: Alexandra Benardete, Mariano Alemany
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Students from Hospitality Management Department are provided opportunity to develop a “green market menu”
TIMELINE 2009-2010
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To purchase and prepare local foods based on availability for advanced level culinary classes
  • Metrics for success: To procure 50% of the products raised within a 150 mile radius of City Tech
  • Baseline: Students and faculty go to green market on days available and seek out suitable products
  • Current Practice: Currently procuring 10% of produce from green market for this advanced level class
  • Costs and Funding: Will be based on market prices and seasonal availability, must be in coordination with green market days or find companies that will work within our specifications
  • Implementing Agents: Susan Lifrieri-Lowry
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Build into curriculum regular visits to the local farmers market for ingredient purchases.
  • Consider purchasing from other vendors like Red Hook farm for more variety.
  • Plan more trips to green markets and urban farms in Brooklyn.
GOAL: SUSTAINABLE OUTREACH & EDUCATION Expand clubs like “Cooks in the Marketplace” and “Spoons Across America” which bring information about sustainable food and good nutrition to the greater Brooklyn community.
TIMELINE 2009-2010
GOAL SUMMARY
  • Objective: To increase visibility of the two clubs
  • Metrics for success: To gain members the support of professionals in the industry and increase awareness
  • Baseline:
  • Current Practice: Cooks in the Market are currently doing regular demonstrations at the farmers market.
  • Costs and Funding: Spoons is seeking funding to expand program and is city wide.
  • Implementing Agents: Susan Lifrieri-Lowry
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
  • Coordinate fundraising events for cooks in the marketplace
  • Increase demonstrations and networking
  • Collaborate on events with other areas of the sustainability team