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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Kelly Wellman
Title: Sustainability Officer
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available: http://sustainability.tamu.edu/
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[x] No
[ ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC:
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[x] No
[ ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[x] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available: Sustainability is one of the 8 goals of the master plan. This goal states the University’s commitment to sustainability in its actions and academics. http://www.tamu.edu/campusplan
[ ] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[x] Yes
If you answered "No" to question 5, please proceed directly to question 11.
6) Please provide the name of the committee and list the number of meetings held since August 2008.
Name: Sustainability & Environmental Management Committee
Number of meetings: 4
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[# 0 ] Administrators
[# 5 ] Faculty
[# 9 ] Staff
[# 2 ] Students
[# 7 ] Other. Please describe: Representatives from 6 State Agencies and 1 from the University System
8) Please provide the name of the chair(s) of the committee for the 2009-2010 academic year, and indicate which stakeholder group the chair(s) represents.
If 2009-2010 academic year information is not yet available, please provide information for 2008-2009 instead.
Name of chair(s): Chris Mathewson, PhD, PE
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student): Faculty
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)? Vice President for Facilities
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August 2008.
Key issues/programs that the group has addressed/implemented since August 2008:
Progress made on each of these issues since August 2008:
· Changed name of committee to include Sustainability
· Drafted a Sustainability and Environmental Policy for the campus (later signed by the President)
· Expanded the committee to include a more diverse group of stakeholders
· Created a Recycling study group
· Created a Hazardous Waste study group
· Created an Environmental Initiatives Implementation study group (don’t think we had an actual name for the group)
· Approved documents/procedures for conducting a GAP analysis
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[# 1] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [Kelly Wellman, Sustainability Officer]
[# ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ ]
12) Does the head of the sustainability staff report directly to the president or another high-level administrator (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor)?
[ ] N/A
[ ] No
[ x] Yes. Please describe: The position reports to the Vice President for Facilities Office
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created): The Office of Sustainability
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please provide URL: http://sustainability.tamu.edu/
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[x] No We are working to establish a green purchasing policy for the university.
[ ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available:
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ x ] Some. Please describe: The custodial crew uses General Electric reduced energy consumption lamps that are Energy Star certified. Computers purchased are shipped Energy Star compliant; however, the Energy Star compliant capability has to be turned on inside the computer’s BIOS. Some departments turn this feature on, some don’t.
[ ] All
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[ x ] Some. Please describe: The custodial crew uses 20-40 percent post consumer recycled content paper towels and tissue with up to 95 percent total recycled content. Some copy paper purchased is 30 percent recycled content meeting the sourcing requirements of the Sustainable Forest Initiative.
[ ] All. Please describe:
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ x ] Some. Please describe: The university purchases EcoLogo and Green Seal products for the custodial crews to use such as floor cleaner, general purpose cleaner, tissue, roll towels and foaming hand soap.
[ ] All. Please describe:
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[ x ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
20) Does your school use only pesticides that meet the standards for organic crop production set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Canadian Organic Standards (excluding on-campus farms)?
[ x ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
Please check all that apply.
[ ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ x] Yes. Please provide total annual GHG emissions (in metric tons of CO2e). Also, include the start date for each year as well as the URL to each inventory, if available online, or attach the document.
2008: Not yet available
2007: 422,254 MTeCO2 (Year starts September 1, 2006)
2006: 430,221 MTeCO2 (Year starts September 1, 2005)
2005: 447,925 MTeCO2 (Year starts September 1, 2004)
2004: 447,224 MTeCO2 (Year starts September 1, 2003)
Texas A&M University has utilized a 3rd party firm to inventory and calculate its GHG emissions. This inventory was very inclusive and included all of the following sources of emissions associated with: purchased energy, energy produced by the cogeneration facility, campus fleet emissions, staff / faculty / student commuting, faculty / staff air travel, animal agriculture, fertilizer use, solid waste, and refrigerants / other chemicals.
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
The purchase of carbon offsets does not count toward greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for this indicator. They are counted in a subsequent indicator.
22) Has your school made a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by a specific amount?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please list details.
Reduction level:
Baseline year:
Target date:
If you answered only "No" or "In progress" to question 21, please now skip to question 27.
REALIZED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
23) Has your school achieved a reduction in GHG emissions?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please list details.
Percentage reduced: 5.6%
Baseline year: 2004
Date achieved: August 31, 2007
Texas A&M University has reduced its total carbon footprint by 5.6% in the period from September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2007. When the data is normalized for campus growth, Texas A&M has reduced its carbon footprint from 0.0246 MTeCO2/GSF in FY04 to 0.0197 MTeCO2/GSF in FY07 or a reduction of over 20%.
24) Please provide the total heating and cooling degree days averaged over the past three years.
Data on total degree heating and cooling days is available at: http://www.degreedays.net/. This information will be used to help reduce bias between schools in different climates.
Cooling degree days average over the past three years: 3,340 (June 2006 – May 2009)
Heating degree days average over the past three years: 1,744 (June 2006 – May 2009)
25) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-thousand-square-foot basis for the past three years.
Per-Thousand-Square-Foot Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total maintained building space in thousands of square feet.
2008: Not yet available
2007: 19.73 MTeCO2/ 1,000 GSF (Year starts September 1, 2006)
2006: 20.16 MTeCO2/ 1,000 GSF (Year starts September 1, 2005)
2005: 21.46 MTeCO2/ 1,000 GSF (Year starts September 1, 2004)
2004: 24.57 MTeCO2/ 1,000 GSF (Year starts September 1, 2003)
26) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-full-time-student basis for the past three years.
Per-Student Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total number of full-time enrolled students.
2008: Not yet available
2007: 10.55 MTeCO2/FTE (Year starts September 1, 2006)
2006: 10.87 MTeCO2/FTE (Year starts September 1, 2005)
2005: 11.89 MTeCO2/FTE (Year starts September 1, 2004)
2004: 11.72 MTeCO2/FTE (Year starts September 1, 2003)
This is a reduction of over 10% since 2004.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)? Texas A&M University’s Utilities and Energy Management has a long history of utilizing cogeneration since the establishment of the campus in 1893. Currently, the University’s cogeneration plant utilizes a 15 Mw gas turbine coupled with a 5 Mw and 12.5 Mw steam turbine to safely and efficiently produce electricity, chilled water, heating hot water and domestic hot water for the campus. The system is operated in the thermal ‘sweet spot’ for both electrical and thermal generation. The campus is currently in the design phase to upgrade the cogeneration equipment by installing modern, more efficient gas turbine, heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine which will deliver generating efficiencies approaching 85% and will reduce the campus Energy Use Index (EUI) from approximately 250 mBtu / GSF in 2009 to 200 mBtu / GSF in 2012 or a reduction of over 20%.
Texas A&M University’s Utilities & Energy Management team has been a leader and helped to pioneer the retro-commissioning process through its work with the Texas Engineering Extension Service’s Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) since 1996. In the past thirteen years, the Utilities and Energy Management team, working with ESL, has retro-commissioned over 100 buildings or over 13.2 million square feet of campus space. The retro-commissioning program includes a complete review of the consumption profiles of all the utility commodities and establishes a baseline for effective use of those commodities. It also includes a thorough review of the use of the building and all operating systems to ensure efficiency, safety and occupant comfort are maximized and any deficiencies are identified and corrected.
When it comes to water conservation, Texas A&M has set a standard for others to follow when it comes to water use reduction. Over the past 16 years, it has cut its total annual water consumption by 53 percent (from 3.5 billion gallons in 1991 to 1.6 billion gallons in 2007), all while serving a significant increase in customers and more than 25 percent more building square footage.
Texas A&M has also been leading the way in energy use reduction. For the period beginning in September 2001 and ending in June 30, 2009, Texas A&M University reduced its Energy Use Index or EUI (assuming a purchased power heat rate of 8,100) from 364 mBtu / GSF to 250 mBtu / GSF or a reduction of over 31%.
In the fall of 2004, the President of Texas A&M established a campus wide space temperature standard of 75°F for cooling and 70°F for heating. For those thermostats with remote direct digital control capability, the temperature standard allows a temperature adjustment for an unoccupied mode of 85°F for cooling and 60°F for heating. Currently, 43.75% of space capable of a temperature setback is on a setback schedule. Rooms not on a setback schedule includes sever rooms, laboratories with temperature sensitive experiments, laboratories with temperature sensitive chemicals, and animal rooms.
Additionally, a concerted effort is being made to turn campus air handler units off during unoccupied periods. Currently, the campus air handler unit (AHU) run time index for units with direct digital control is 93%. In other words, on average, AHUs are off 7% of the time. For those AHUs that have a run time schedule, the run time index is 77%. In other words, for those AHUs that are scheduled on and off, the AHUs are off 23% of the time. This is a work in progress and requires close coordination with all faculty and staff in a research intensive university.
Texas A&M University also has a long history with metering energy consumption in all of its forms including electricity, chilled water, heating hot water, domestic hot water and natural gas. Currently, all Auxiliary and Agencies are metered and by the end of 2010, all campus buildings that are larger than 5,000 GSF will be metered. This data is used for billing purposes but is also used to raise awareness of consumption and to promote conservation.
In 2003, Texas A&M University began implementing a lighting retrofit project that included 42 buildings that encompassed over 4.1 million GSF of predominately E&G space. It was originally estimated that the overall project simple payback was 5.5 years based upon 2003 energy costs. Due to rising energy costs, the simple payback was revised to 2 years after the project was fully implemented in 2005. The consumption reduction targets for several of the buildings were recently reviewed and the original estimated reduction targets have been achieved. Currently, TAMU has a project underway for an additional $1 million which will include 32 buildings for a total of almost 2 million GSF.
The most recent program that the Utilities and Energy Management team have kicked off is the Building Operation Efficiency Improvement (BOEI) program. This program is comprised of three pillars that include the 1) energy stewards, 2) building control improvements and 3) efficiency upgrades. Although all components of this program have not been funded, the Utilities and Energy Management team are moving forward with the energy stewards part of the program. Please see the answer in question 28 for the details.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
28) Do you facilitate programs that encourage members of the campus community to reduce energy use (e.g., cash incentives, signs reminding individuals to turn off lights and appliances)?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe:
Texas A&M University’s Utilities & Energy Management and the Residence Hall team combined forces to establish the Residence Hall Energy Challenge for the past three years. This program challenges each dorm to reduce their respective utility cost per square foot compared to their previous year, the winner is selected based on which residence hall reduced their consumption the most. The team developed a web-based interface and gathered information from our metering database to post hourly results as well as analyzed data to select the winner. The web based interface allowed the students to have near real time feedback on their performance.
There is a web site devoted to energy conservation (http://energy.tamu.edu) and recycling (http://recycling.tamu.edu). These web sites are used to provide information to faculty, staff and the students. In addition, conservation ads are placed in the campus newspaper and other advertising spots such as the bus fleet and the daily campus enewsletter.
The Utilities and Energy Management team is currently implementing the Building Operational Efficiency Improvements (BOEI) program. This program enhances the activities and accomplishments of the retro-commissioning program while moving towards a comprehensive energy conservation program The BOEI Program is designed to reduce energy consumption and cost of operation in TAMU buildings by improving energy conservation and efficiency while improving environmental conditions. When fully implemented, one leg of the BOEI program will assign an Energy Steward (ES) to every building with significant energy consumption.
The ES will become familiar with occupant needs in their assigned buildings and perform a key role to inform and educate occupants on the most efficient and cost effective use of energy. The ES will also develop an understanding of HVAC and control systems, lighting, water, and other energy requirements in the buildings and act as a liaison with technical support staff who will work with them to ensure occupant needs are met in the most cost effective manner. In addition to reducing consumption through improved conservation and efficiency, the BOEI Program will focus on ensuring proper air quality and comfort standards are consistently met.
With a goal of improving service while educating, informing and enrolling building occupants, Energy Stewards will have access to energy consumption and cost data – overall and per gross square foot ‐ and use this data to educate themselves and others. The ES will meet with building proctors and/or facility managers, and occupants to continuously raise awareness and improve operating efficiency. They will also meet with department managers and representatives to ensure thorough understanding of occupant energy requirements and schedules. The ES will tour assigned buildings observing all aspects of energy consumption, room temperature, humidity, and lighting. Unnecessary consumption will be identified and steps taken to improve operating efficiency while educating occupants and requesting support to encourage every occupant to become a steward for efficient energy use. Temperature, humidity and air flow issues that need correction will be documented, along with recommended solutions, so effective corrective measures can be implemented. Mechanical rooms and energy systems will be inspected routinely to ensure HVAC systems, VFD’s and controls are operating properly. Energy Stewards will spot check buildings during and after normal occupant working hours and weekends to ensure conservation measures are being implemented and maintained as expected and make note of wasteful energy use, along with required solutions.
The ES will continually be asking the following questions in each of their assigned buildings:
Are occupants comfortable and are departmental requirements being met?
Are temperature, humidity and air flow standards being achieved and not exceeded?
Are space heaters or other energy wasting devices being used? If so, why?
Are HVAC systems and lighting being secured after regular business hours?
Are HVAC systems, pumps and controls operating as intended? Are any being bypassed?
Are lights and equipment being turned off when not needed? If not, why not?
Is there any water (DCW, DHW, CHW, HHW) being wasted or improperly used?
Are there any other improvements that will conserve energy or improve efficiency?
The BOEI Program is an ongoing process of improvement to identify and eliminate waste, inform and educate building occupants, and enroll ALL building occupants in the process of conserving energy and improving energy efficiency. As first priority, the BOEI Program will work with occupants, BOEI Management Team (BMT) and BOEI Technical Team (BTT) to identify and eliminate energy use that is obviously wasteful and improve building operational efficiency without investment of capital or major maintenance. While raising awareness and implementing priority one items, the second priority of the program will be to identify and implement space use efficiency improvements that can be made without significant modification, capital investment or major maintenance. As a third priority, with ongoing support from the BMT and BTT, opportunities will be identified, working with various departments and building occupants, that will accomplish greater operational efficiency through improved space usage, consolidation of like uses, capital upgrades, improved mechanical/electrical systems and controls. Each of the priority three opportunities will require thorough discussion, review, justification, management approval and funding to implement.
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify percentage of overall electricity generated from each of the following sources and describe details below.
[ %] B100 biodiesel
[ %] Clean biomass
[ %] Concentrating solar power (CSP)
[ %] Geothermal
[ %] Low-impact hydropower
[ %] Solar photovoltaics
[ %] Wind
[ %] Other
Description:
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify number of systems and total BTUs generated annually, if available:
RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE
31) Has your school purchased electric energy from renewable sources or renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs and electricity from renewable sources must be Green-e certified or meet the requirements of the Green-e standard.
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (kWh):
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents:
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (BTUs):
Percentage of your total non-electric energy use that it represents:
ON-SITE COMBUSTION
33) Please provide total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion:
The total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion is 1,517,846 mmBtu (million BTU) based on data from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source:
The total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion (Q.33) is 100% from natural gas based on data from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ %]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [# ]
Description of renewable energy sources used for on-site combustion for heating and cooling:
FOOD & RECYCLING
The food portion of this category is covered in a separate dining survey.
RECYCLING OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
36) Please indicate which traditional materials your institution recycles (check all that apply).
[ ] None
[x] Aluminum
[x] Cardboard
[ ] Glass
[x] Paper
[ ] Plastics (all)
[x] Plastics (some)
[ ] Other. Please list:
37) Diversion rate: [ 10.9 %]
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[x] Batteries
[ x ] Cell phones
[ x ] Computers
[ x ] Lightbulbs
[ x ] Printer cartridges
[ ] Other E-waste. Please list:
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 99 %]
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
SOURCE REDUCTION
41) Do you have any source-reduction initiatives (e.g., end-of-semester furniture or clothing swaps and collections)?
[ ] No
[x ] Yes. Please describe: Texas A&M University works with a local mission (Twin City Missions) and Salvation Army to remove any items (clothing, furniture, etc) left over at the end of the semester in the Residence Halls.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[x ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available: The 2004 Campus Master Plan stipulates that we will build all new major campus construction to meet LEED Silver minimum. Since the plan was implemented, we have four new buildings under construction that we anticipate will be LEED Silver certified.
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[# 0 ] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
44) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 0 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria
[ sq ft] Certified-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
45) Please indicate buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of ENERGY STAR buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
RENOVATIONS AND RETROFITS
46) Please indicate LEED-EB certified buildings.
[# 0 ] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 0 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED-EB criteria but are not certified. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
48) Please indicate renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
49) What energy-efficiency technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., HVAC systems, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, T5 lighting, LED lighting, timers, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of maintained building space have been retrofitted with motion sensors; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
TAMU Utilities and Energy Management operates and maintains a Building Automation System (BAS) that manages over 12 million gross square feet. The system encompasses over 200 buildings and over 163,000 control points. The BAS continuously processes information gathered from field points to precisely monitor and automate the operation of a building's HVAC system using programmed logic and algorithms. An important feature is the ability to schedule room temperatures for specific periods of occupancy. Currently, 43.75% of space capable of a temperature setback is on a setback schedule. Rooms not on a setback schedule include server rooms, laboratories with temperature sensitive experiments, laboratories with temperature sensitive chemicals, and animal rooms. Additionally, a concerted effort is being made to turn campus air handler units off during unoccupied periods. Currently, the campus air handler unit (AHU) run time index for units with direct digital control is 93%. This means that on average, AHUs are off 7% of the time. For those AHUs that have a run time schedule, the run time index is 77%. In other words, for AHUs that are scheduled on and off, the AHUs are off 23% of the time.
TAMU has completed a three phase lighting retrofit project to replace all T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts with T8 lamps and electronic ballasts in buildings over 10,000 square feet. Total gross square footage of buildings with T12 lamps and electronic ballasts is over 20.6 million square feet or approximately 92.8% of the campus.
Ambient light sensors are part of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building which has a gross square footage of 247,123 square feet which is approximately 1.1% of campus gross square footage.
TAMU has begun a pilot program for parking lot LED lighting.
Approximately 33 buildings with a total gross square footage of 3.5 million utilize lighting motion sensors which equates to approximately 15.6% of the campus. The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building's lab motion sensors are connected to the HVAC system to lower air changes per hour during non-occupancy periods.
50) What water-conservation technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., low-flow faucets, low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, gray water systems, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of the maintained building space have been retrofitted with low-flow faucets; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
As plumbing such as toilets need replacement, low-flow fixtures are used. At this time, no statistics are available to report the number or percent change in our campus.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ 5 %]
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program:
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house):
Number of students involved:
Additional details:
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour): Throughout the summer, during each New Student Conference (NSC), the Office of Sustainability hosts a table where students and parents are invited to learn about campus sustainability initiatives.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[x] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available:
[# ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Positions that award academic credit. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Uncompensated positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
56) Does your school have active student-run organizations devoted to sustainability efforts on campus?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available: Association for Social Entrepreneurship, Environmental Issues Committee, One Love, and Sustainability Council. http://sustainability.tamu.edu/StudentInitiatives/tabid/65/Default.aspx
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please list details for all competitions.
Name of competition: Residence Hall Energy Challenge
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: The Challenge is held once/year minimum; however, the goal is to host the challenge each Spring and Fall semester.
Participants: 29 residence halls
Incentives: Food, small prizes, and grand prize in Spring ‘09 was a water filtration system for overall winner
Goal of competition: Spring ’09 goal was to reach an overall 5% reduction in energy consumption of Halls
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 14.72% reduction in energy; estimated $3534.58/1000 sqft saved
Lasting effects of competition: Increased awareness of energy consumption and improved behavioral habits
Website: http://energy.tamu.edu/residencehallenergychallenge/
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[# 727 ]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[# 10 ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models:
[# 0 ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[# 79 ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[# 39 ] Other. Please describe: Flex Fuel
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[# 1.618] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ x] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): Faculty, staff and students can share a permit – save on permit costs per person; ride-share program alter-net rides
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[x ] Yes. Please describe the program including the size of the discount (as a percent of full price) and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): Texas A&M provides fare-free public transportation in B/CS to all faculty, staff, students and community
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please describe: Texas A&M provides a fare-free transit system on and off campus
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ x] Yes. Please describe: We offer 9 off-campus routes to serve the high density population areas of B/CS. Stops include Blinn College, Post oak Mall, grocery stores, shopping centers, etc. We provide in excess of 5 million rides per year
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ x] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created:
Number of bikes available:
Fees for participation:
Repair services provided:
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please provide details below. AlterNet Rides; we have a motor pool – daily rental fleet available to staff and student groups
Year created:
Total number of vehicles:
Number of hybrid vehicles: 10
Fee for membership: 0
PLANNING
67) Does your school have policies that support a pedestrian-friendly or bike-friendly campus (e.g., in the school's master plan, a policy prohibiting vehicles from the center of campus)?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[x ] Yes. Please describe: The campus master plan eliminates traffic in the heart of campus and moves parking to the periphery
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ 45 %]
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ x ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[ ] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe:
70) Total number of buildings: [# 836 ]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [# 21,687,684 sf ]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 42,777 ]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 5,262 ]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: [# ]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [ 24 %]
Questions 76-87 are for informational purposes only; responses will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
OTHER AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Please mark an "X" next to each item that applies to your institution.
76) Outdoors club: [ x ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ ]
78) Participation in Recyclemania: [ x ]
79) Student trustee position: [ x ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ x ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [x ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [ x ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ x ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ ]
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