In this issue:
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Five Colleges Honored at NJHEPS Princeton Energy Workshop |
Over 50 New Jersey facilities directors, energy experts and other seekers of energy progress gathered on May 26th at Princeton University for an NJHEPS energy workshop. The day opened with a 2002 update on New Jersey higher education's participation in the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan, a commitment to reduce emissions to 3.5% below 1990 levels by 2005. Five institutions were honored for their greenhouse gas emissions achievements: Bergen Community College, Caldwell College, Kean University, the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and William Paterson University. Martin Rosen, the New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Sustainable Communities and Innovative Technologies, also offered his congratulations -- to the 5 awardees and to all New Jersey colleges and universities for continuing to work as a sector to attain the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
Many excellent presentations followed: The BPU's Clean Energy Program's Mona Mosser presented information on some new BPU subsidy and grant opportunities for combined heat and power and to perform a building audit to assess attainment of the new LEED for Existing Building standards (watch our newsletters and the BPU's Clean Energy Program website for official program announcements). The BPU's Ronald Jackson shared the financial bonanza that New Jersey's new Solar Renewable Energy Certificate program (SREC's) will bring to solar electricity producers: an estimated 11 - 25 cents per kilowatt-hour! PowerLight, SunFarm Network, and Sun Edison shared their various solar technologies and financing arrangements. Nick Stecky of the US Green Building Council's New Jersey Chapter introduced the USGBC's new LEED for Existing Building guidelines, designed to green the renovation and operation of already-existing buildings. Jim Hansen from Hansen Associates, a global energy consulting company, gave advice to help clients maximize their benefits from performance contracting with energy service companies. Keith Hartman of Public Energy Solutions spoke on lighting, and Keith Cockerham from CUH2A spoke about heat recovery and energy-efficient humidity management.
Higher education experiences were also presented. Dr. Peter Jansson, electrical engineering professor at Rowan University, electrified the audience with an impressive presentation that described Rowan's new and already-influential Energy Review Panel, and that detailed the impressive results from an NJHEPS-supported course he offered that taught students how to conduct audits and present audit findings. Because of the students' excellent work at uncovering energy savings, and because of the progress that Rowan's Energy Review Panel is making possible, Rowan stands poised to make enormous energy and emissions progress over the next few years -- enough to comply with the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan -- in spite of massive expansion in size and technology use.
Participants also got an in-depth look at energy aspects of Princeton University, a leader in energy progress. Extensive information on life-cycle costs and payback periods was presented on heat recovery systems, which made clear why Princeton now installs them as standard practice in all new buildings. Princeton also includes a "utility surcharge" on all new campus construction, which benefits the University in many ways: it allows donors to assume more of the full cost of a building's use, it finances needed improvements (including energy-efficiency improvements) to plant infrastructure, and it serves as a "green" incentive to the architect to keep a building's utility load (and thus its energy and fuel usage) low.
Find a complete list of presentations at the NJHEPS Energy and Emissions page.
New Sustainability Frontiers Explored
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 Presenters and some attendees gather for a group photo outside of the Howe Center, Stevens Institute of Technology |
On May 20th, 30 New Jersey faculty members (with a few students!) gathered at Stevens Institute of Technology to explore and devise new ways of teaching about sustainability. The event was hosted by Steven's Center for Environmental Systems, dedicated to applied, interdisciplinary research for the solution of pressing, real-world environmental problems. Participants discussed ways to connect their teaching to the exploration of sustainability, and also brainstormed projects and activities for NJHEPS to undertake to support education for sustainability in New Jersey higher education.
The workshop also offered presentations. Dr. Clinton Andrews, of Rutgers' Bloustein School, described the extraordinary fieldwork that took place in a Spring 2004 graduate Environmental Planning and Management class. To put "planning for sustainability" theory into practice, his students contributed their time and their talents to a sustainable communities initiative underway in nearby Highland Park. They assessed government buildings for compliance with LEED for Existing Building (LEED-EB) guidelines; they did a preliminary cogeneration feasibility study; provided some stormwater management tips; and wrote K-12 sustainability curriculum for the schools, focusing on ecological footprints. Some presentations relevant to this extraordinary project are available at radburn.rutgers.edu/andrews/projects/hp/default.htm. In Fall 2004, Dr. Andrews will continue this work in an Urban Planning Graduate Studio class that will undertake a green master planning process for Highland Park Borough, New Jersey.
Also presenting were Dr. John Nettleton (Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYC Programs), who spoke about emerging opportunities to connect college programs and operations with community projects, service learning, and emerging sources of expertise and funding. Randy Solomon, who in September will be Executive Director of the New Jersey Sustainable State Institute; also spoke, focusing on the many synergies between assessing local sustainability and higher education teaching and research about sustainability.
Dr. Reginald Luke informed the faculty of an exciting late-breaking opportunity: an NSF-funded project to develop modules on 4 local sustainability issues, tentatively identified as the Highlands Protection Act, sustainable development in Highland Park, the Hackensack-Meadowlands Commission, and the Burlington Eco-Complex. Faculty and technical experts are needed over the summer to begin crafting these modules, and anyone interested should contact Dr. Luke immediately (732/906-2533, ReggieLuke@aol.com).
Dr. Chris Weaver of the Rutgers Center for Environmental Prediction provided the day's last presentation, on the usefulness of a land use, water, atmosphere climate model of New Jersey currently being developed. It's relevance to tourism, water management, health, Smart Growth, and a host of other issues were explored, and details about the model presented.
Find links to the delivered presentations at the NJHEPS Education page. NJHEPS also invites anyone unable to attend the meeting, but interested in working on infusing sustainability into their teaching, to contact us (973/596-2938, cfederico@njheps.org), to share your ideas, and to be included future events and initiatives.
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Energy Case Studies Now Online! |
Formerly found only in our Campus Energy Toolkit, some energy case studies that highlight past progress in New Jersey higher education are now available on our website. We invite anyone to learn from these positive experiences and bright ideas:
June 9 2004
Kean Hall, Kean University
Offered by Stockton Geothermal Project, in collaboration with
NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability
All Day Workshop (registration begins 8:30 AM with a continental breakfast)
Featuring instructors who are seasoned experts in different aspects of Green Building Technology. This workshop will provide you with valuable information through in-depth discussions based on case studies of realized projects. Attendees will learn specific details on a wide range of topics including green building specifications, green materials, and energy.
Speakers and Topics:
ARCHITECTS RECEIVE 6 LU's for attending this workshop.
Lunch Provided
Registration Fee: $150
SPECIAL RATE for NJHEPS member institutions only: Attend free, and bring your design or engineering consultants for $95 each! (Higher education registrants: RSVP through Carmela Federico (cfederico@njheps.org, 973/586-2938) to see if your institution is an NJHEPS member and take advantage of this special offer.)
Click here for a registration form (Microsoft Word).
Monday - Thursday: PV Installation Training by Gay Canough of ETMSolar.
Friday: Rowan University's 2004 Clean Energy Conference, 9 AM - 4 PM, offering:
Other speakers may also be recruited.
The Conference is aimed at homeowners, commercial developers, and business owners. An outreach manual (with system overviews, local dealer/suppliers, design info, incentive details, interconnection requirements, contact info, etc.) will be provided. The event is FREE.
For updates, registration and further information, visit http://users.rowan.edu/~jansson/CEW/.
There was almost unanimous agreement among the roster of speakers--all leaders in their respective fields--that people will live longer in the not-too-distant future. There was considerably less clarity regarding the quality of these extra years of life - an issue that received as much focus as the scientific advances.
Conference organizer Dr. Donald B. Louria, past chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, said that "every decade increase in life span will increase eventual world population by 1.3 billion persons." He noted "a four-decade increase from the current world average life span of 65 years would increase the anticipated eventual world population from about 9.5 billion to almost 15 billion people. Considering the damage six billion of us are doing to the planet today, that is a scary scenario," Louria added.
There may also be serious social and economic implications to dramatically increased longevity. Dr. Louria warned that older people could outlive their financial resources. "The rate of poverty and near-poverty doubles for 85-year-olds compared to 65-year-olds," he explained. "At present, 13 percent of the population is over age 65; they use about 33 percent of health care dollars. When those over age 65 increase to 30 percent of the population, will they use 75 percent of health care dollars? That would be an impossible situation." Dr. Louria also noted that "when 30-to-40-percent of the population is over age 65 and 40-to-50-percent of adult life is spent in retirement, Social Security and company pensions are not likely to be viable."
Summing up the day, Dr. Louria stated that "the major goal of the conference was to have everyone realize how fast the science is moving and how unprepared our society is for the dramatic changes and immense challenges that will be created by huge numbers of old and very old people. We need to consider issues such as linking retirement age to longevity patterns and compelling adult workers to save for retirement years. We need to plan for the inevitable demographic future, to have an ongoing national discussion and debate and make the necessary adjustments now. If we dawdle until the changes are upon us, it will be too late," he concluded. A policy institute to focus on these issues is under consideration at the New Jersey Medical School.
For more information, to schedule interviews with conference presenters or receive presentation slides, contact Jessica Barnes, 201-451-3444.
A roof that looks like a field isn’t the horticulture department run amok. Rather, it’s an environmental milestone that offers urban areas an attractive way to:
Green roofs are a concept embraced for years in Germany, where some 12 percent of flat roofs are green. While green roofs are initially more expensive, over time energy savings, storm water runoff reduction and other benefits make it cost effective. MSU’s Office of the Vice President of Operations is funding the project. Terry Link, director of the MSU Office of Campus Sustainability, said that studies here can help determine if these approaches can save money, not to mention give more aesthetically pleasing vistas when looking down from above. "MSU needs to be investigating and finding solutions to our looming global climate change crisis," Link said. "Green roofs hold a number of intriguing possibilities, including absorbing carbon, reducing heat island effects and adding insulating effects to buildings." For more information on green roofs, see www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof/.
Sharing Indigenous Wisdom: An International Dialogue on Sustainable Development
June 6-10, 2004
Green Bay, Wisconsin
www.sharingindigenouswisdom.org
The conference is hosted by The Sustainable Development Institute at College of Menominee Nation. The conference design will bring together scholars and practitioners who are committed to the concepts of sustainable development. A forum will be created that encourages dialogue, learning, solidarity and cross-fertilization of ideas.
Who Should Attend? Scholars, policy makers, practitioners and concerned individuals from around the world, whether working in academia, the private sector, government or civil society organizations and other advocates of sustainable development. All will find topics of interest at this conference.
Passaic River Symposium
June 9, 2004
Montclair State University Student Center, Montclair, NJ
Sponsored by: Montclair State University, Passaic River Institute &
NJ Department of Transportation Maritime Resources
Register on line at: www.csam.montclair.edu/pri
The Passaic River Institute at MSU and NJDOT invite you to participate in our first annual Symposium to share research, missions and visions towards our common goal of a clean and vibrant ecosystem. Governmental agencies will provide information on the Lower Passaic River Restoration Feasibility Study, an innovative partnership to seek a watershed-based comprehensive solution to restore the river. Many other organizations are also conducting valuable research that will aid in determining the right solution. The primary purpose of the symposium is to find out "Who's Doing What". Please join us!
Buy Green and Save Green: Purchasing Strategies for New Jersey Local Governments and School Districts
Friday, June 11,8 AM -3:45 PM
Rutgers University Busch Campus Center, Piscataway, NJ
The Conference will feature: more than 15 New Jersey presenters from local governments and school districts who are leading the way, and will review cost savings and contract specifications; vendors showcasing technologies, services and products in related fields; time to learn and share; and a raffle of products and services. Sign up for a lunchtime tour of the Rutgers Dining Services food recycling system. CEU's are available, and a specially developed Resource Guide will be distributed as well.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is defined as: "Purchasing products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. The product or service comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal (Federal EO 13101, Section 201)." EPP includes purchase of items ranging from toner cartridges to furniture to landscaping material; to energy, building design and maintenance. Major EPP benefits include reduced economic, health and legal consequences.
CONFERENCE GOALS: to explain and review what Environmentally Preferable Purchasing is, why it's important, and how it can be easily integrated into routine decision-making in local governments and school districts.
To register and for more information: aesop.rutgers.edu/~envpurchase/eppconf/
USGBC: Willow School Case Study
June 22n, 5:30 PM
Willow School, Gladstone, NJ
$20 members; $30 members; $40 at door
Register at www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=67749
The Willow School has become known as a model of green building. Opened in 2002 the school, K-8 which aims to be a model for responsible living, set achieving LEED-Gold as one of its design goals. When completed the 34 acre park-like campus will support two renovated existing and several new buildings. In March 2004 phase I of the project was submitted for LEED certification and is of special interest because, in addition to a new 13,500 square foot classroom building, it includes the infrastructure for the project. Storm water is being managed on the site, rainwater is being harvested, and waste water is being recycled through a constructed wetlands based on the concept the "of a living machine".
The program will include a presentation by Mark Biedron, comments by Heidi Fichtenbaum, Anthony Sblendorio and Stubby Warmbold and an opportunity to tour the site.
Registration Deadline: Must register by June 16, 2004 to get reduced rate! For more information on this event contact Marianne Leone at marianne1013@comcast.net.
Natural Building Colloquium
June 26-July 3
Thunder Mountain Wellness Center; Bath, NY
Facilitated by Gaiatecture Design and hosted by the PeaceWeavers
The 2004 NBC-E is a week full of teaching, building, and networking among professionals and neophytes in the fields of natural building, permaculture, renewable energy and sustainable technology. This event is being held for the first time ever in New York State and follows the overwhelmingly successful 1998 NBC-E in Davidsonville, MD.
For more information: www.gaiatecture.com/workshops/nbce04.html
Making the Watershed Connection:
An Interactive Conference for New Jersey Educators
June 29-30
Eco-Complex; Bordentown NJ
Registration: www.peopleware.net/index.cfm?siteCode=1361&eventDisp=EW0320&subeventdisp=EW0320HB05
The Watershed Partnership for New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection invites you to its first annual two-day interactive conference for educators. Conference sessions will explore New Jersey's dynamic watersheds and connect educators with regional resources, curriculum materials and more. Discover the beauty and complexities of your watershed and ways to teach our future leaders about earth's most precious resource - water.
In addition to receiving professional development credits, you will also receive many of the guidebooks and curriculum at a discount. The Healthy Water, Healthy People and New Jersey WATERS alone would regularly cost $70, but are included in the $35 registration fee. In addition to these two guides, the Regional Track Workshops will feature watershed education resources that focus on a particular area of the state and the Action Track Workshops will feature watershed projects that have been completed by other educators. Watershed 101 will provide educators with a refresher on New Jersey's watershed basics and resources available through the New Jersey Geological Survey. All workshops will be interactive. At lunch, students and their advisors discuss their successful watershed stewardship projects. Please join us for this exciting and valuable educational opportunity for New Jersey educators.
Workshop Highlights - June 29th
Participants can select from several of the following interactive workshops:
Field Trips - June 30th
Participants can select from field trips that feature canoeing, boating, volunteer monitoring, storm drain labeling and stream clean-ups.
Further information: aesop.rutgers.edu/~ocpe/courses/current/ew0320hb05.html
Upcoming AEE Telecourses
Complete Course Offerings: www.aeecenter.org/realtime/ (includes courses on fuel cells, microturbines, HVAC Performance, and many other topics).
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NJHEPS
Dr. Donald Wheeler, Executive Director
Dr. Daniel Watts, President
Want to share progress towards sustainability on your campus? Please send news items to Carmela Federico (973-596-2938; cfederico@njheps.org) for inclusion in our newsletter.
NJHEPS gratefully acknowledges the support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Educational Foundation of America, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the AT&T Foundation, AT&T, Inc., and the NJHEPS 39 Member Institutions.
This newsletter is available online (from www.njheps.org/press.html). This newsletter is sent out twice a month by NJHEPS via an announcements-only listserv, NJHEPS-news@listserver.njit.edu. If you no longer wish to subscribe to this listserv, please use the tools available on the listserv's homepage, at http://listserver.njit.edu/mailman/options/njheps-news/* (replace the "*" with your email address), or notify Carmela Federico, NJHEPS Program Manager.