Not all RECs are Created Equal

WWU Communications just put out a press release about WWU's purchase of Renewable Energy Credits through a new supplier, EarthEra Renewable Energy Trust. The why and how of REC purchases can be a confusing concept. In order to reduce our net carbon footprint to zero, WWU needs to support the production of renewable energy from sources such as wind, solar, biomass and other options. If we are not producing that energy on campus, we have to pay someone else to feed renewable energy into the energy grid. Because renewable energy that enters our grid is distributed to all points instantly, we get as much of the "green energy" that we pay for as anyone else on the grid. However, we have effectually increased the total "green energy" content of the grid though our purchase of RECs, thus lowering the amount of energy that needs to be produced though other means such as coal, natural gas, nuclear and large-scale hydro. Though other individuals may be consuming the energy that we are paying for, we get to claim the benefits, including the reduction in carbon dioxide. This is where the "credit" in "Renewable Energy Credit" comes from. We buy RECs, they produce RECs, and we claim the benefit. For a more detailed explanation see this FAQ sheet from NativeEnergy.

What the latest purchase means for WWU is a significant drop in our CO2 footprint. Because the research team for our purchases specified that WWU get the "biggest bang" for student dollars, the RECs that we are now purchasing are worth more in CO2 reductions than before. Over the last four years, while our REC purchases have dropped from around $10 per REC to $4 per REC, our lbs. of CO2 avoided per REC has climbed from 1500 to over 2000. This is akin to paying half as much for a large pizza, but then getting an x-large instead. This is a huge step toward reducing our carbon footprint down to zero because the RECs we're buying offset the not just our CO2 emissions from electricity use, but more than that. So much so, that WWU could offsets its entire carbon footprint for an additional REC purchase of $66,000. See page 14 of the budget proposal from Business and Financial Affairs for more details.

IT's role in campus sustainability

I came across a list of practices that Information Technology staff can take to decrease the footprint of their services. Due to the efforts of our IT staff, WWU already employs some of these practices, such as LCD screens, centralized printing (in most areas), print limits, and one that doesn't show up on this list, the "Print Station." Apparently print station has had a significant effect on the amount of paper used in the labs, simply because of the extra step involved in printing, which involves telling the printer to finalize printing at a secondary computer. Last quarter, students in the Campus Sustainability Planning Studio (CSPS) put forth a proposal for default margin reductions on computers, aimed at saving $7,000 in paper alone. IT staff have been receptive and are looking to implement this change in the coming months. A student team from this quarter's CSPS class is currently researching the potential energy savings involved with shutting down campus computers at night, while still enabling critical operating system updates.

1. Use servers as heaters . Because servers generate a lot of heat all by themselves, consider not heating the server room in the cold months. Monitor the room to check temperature levels.
2. Conserve PC power . Implement power conservation software for all PCs on campus.
3. Go LCD . Replace monitors with those that have lower-energy LCD screens.
4. Eliminate desktop printers . Not only will this save energy, but it will greatly decrease the amount of printing-- and paper waste-- that routinely takes place on a campus. If users have to walk to a printer in a central location to pick up a printed sheet, they are more likely to opt to read the information on-screen.
5. Implement pay-to-print programs in your computer labs . You don't have to charge students for every sheet they print; but by simply placing a limit on the tally and charging fees for overage, your campus will make students pay more attention to what they're printing.
6. Cash in on copper cabling . Many colleges removed their copper wiring when they upgraded their infrastructures to a newer standard. Often, the old copper cabling is parked in a storage area; recycling the now highly valuable copper can result in a nice fat check for the institution, if it's taken to the right vendor. The move will also reduce storage.
7. Replace older computers with newer, more powerful, and more energy-efficient machines. On average, a refreshed machine can result in a 20 percent decrease in power consumption, resulting in significant cost savings and environmental benefit. Recycle the old machines responsibly.
8. Remind employees to turn off their computers when they go home for the day, or implement a program that forces the automatic shutdown of PCs left on after business hours.

Yale Sustainability Video

Here's a new campus sustainability video from Yale. Check it out!

Go For the Green Challege Success - 20.6% reduction

This year's Go For the Green Challenge (GFTG) was a huge success, seeing an average of 20.6% reduction in energy use across all campus residence halls. This program, funded by University Residences though the Office of Sustainability derives its power from the many committed student "EcoReps" who make GFTG happen on a daily basis. EcoReps are sustainability representaitves who are elected to their hall council and work through peer education. Their efforts have resulted in an over 20% average reduction in all residence halls, with some halls reaching a peak 34% reduction over the course of one month. What? No joke! Turning off lights, unplugging cell phone chargers and unplugging computers makes a huge difference. Let's hear it for the EcoReps! Kudos also to Rebekah Hook, the Resident Resource Awareness Program Coordinator, for her great work in making this happen!

Cascadia Green Building Council Video

From our friends and Cascadia: http://www.cascadiagbc.org/