Sustainability Charrette
April 17 – 18, 2009
Team: The Roots
- Concepts and Takeaways -
Concept 1:
Establish an Office of Sustainability
Description and Objectives
– An organization on campus that provides:
• Leadership and Direction
• Communication
• Coordination
• Education
on all things sustainable!
Functions
– Management of Sustainability Funding
– Maintain Website
– Centralize Campus Sustainability Projects
– Education/Resource Center
• Develop Workshops/Lecture Series
• SO/FYE Events
– Assist Professors to incorporate sustainability in curriculum
– Staff Training
– Resource Center for Other Departments
Concept 1:
Implementation
– Physical Location: Repurposed ’86 Field
– Staffing
• Director
• 1-2 Staff Support
• Work-Study Posts
• Grad Assistants?
• Student Organization Volunteers
Stakeholders
– The Community of Troy
– The Entire Rensselaer Community
• Students
• Faculty
• Staff
• Alumni
Concept 1:
Justification
– Demonstrates Rensselaer’s commitment to sustainability to:
• Prospective and current students
• Companies and Corporations
• Alumni
– Other universities demonstrate such initiatives generate
much more revenue than cost
• Example: Harvard University, Cornell
– Educates future leaders who are poised to change the world
Impact:
– Environmental—improve campus atmosphere
– Economic—minimal
– Cultural—Establish the importance of sustainability in
students, staff, and faculty, and demonstrate Rensselaer’s
commitment to sustainability.
CONCEPT 2: Green Careers
Description and Objectives:
Develop resources on campus to support students seeking
careers in “green” jobs, sustainability, and renewable energy
in private industry, entrepreneurial endeavors, governmental
organizations, and non-profit organizations
Functions:
– Work with Career Development Center (CDC) to bring in more
“green” companies and/or develop links to green career
resources
– Develop “green” company sections in established on-campus
career fairs
– Collaborate with other schools to establish a green career fair
– Develop seminar series that would highlight opportunities in
the “green” marketplace
– Implementation:
– CDC, Schools, Alumni relations, SHPE/NSBE
CONCEPT 2: Green Careers
Implementation
– Existing Career Fairs
– Utilization of CDC RedHawk JobLink Database
– Possibility for growth in “Green” ranking system to
sort, classify and manage “Green Jobs” and
“Green Company” profiles
Stakeholders
– Undergraduate Students
– Graduate Students
– Career Development Center
– Companies and Corporations which interview
on campus
CONCEPT 2: Green Careers
Impact:
– Environmental—improve campus atmosphere
– Economic—minimal
– Cultural—Establish the importance of sustainability in
students, staff, and faculty, and demonstrate
Rensselaer’s commitment to sustainability
– Rensselaer students placed in “Green” positions
CONCEPT 3:
Beta Testing on Campus
Description:
Establish framework to encourage/support the demonstration on
campus of all new sustainable technologies, concepts, and ideas
developed by Rensselaer faculty, students, and staff
Functions:
 Matching funds for research projects
 Develop student projects
 Website (hosted by OoS) to showcase concepts, results, etc.
Implementation:
 OoS, schools, research centers, faculty, students, facilities
CONCEPT 4:
Re-purpose ’86 Field
Description:
Develop a green space/natural area that would demonstrate
Rensselaer’s commitment to sustainability, enhance beauty of
campus, and serve as the home for the Office of Sustainability
Characteristics:
 Office of Sustainability building (use Solar Decathlon house or
similar)
 Outdoor “classroom” or amphitheater
 Natural area, park, trees, wildflowers, pond(?), open space, paths
Implementation:
 Senior architectural student design competition
 Facilities, outside contractor (?)
CONCEPT 4:
Re-purpose ’86 Field
Possible Location for
“Office of Sustainability”
CONCEPT 4:
Re-purpose ’86 Field
Impact:
 Environmental—improve campus atmosphere
 Economic—bring in prospective students, companies, organizations
seeking research support, encourage alumni to donate
 Cultural—Establish the importance of sustainability in students, staff,
and faculty, and demonstrate Rensselaer’s commitment to
sustainability.
Concept 5:
Local/Organic/CSA
Description: Provide alternative, sustainable food resources through:
An on-campus Farmer’s market
Expand Terra-Cade to a RAD option
Community Supported Agriculture
Stakeholders:
Rensselaer Students and Faculty
Impact:
Environmental: more sustainable foods, less pollutants/carbon emissions,
support local agriculture
Cultural/Social: community awareness/support, healthier atmosphere
Economic: stimulate local economy
Implementation:
Who: Terra Café, Troy Farmer’s Market, Troy Food Co-Op
How: Allow space for market on campus, larger incorporation of local
foods in dining halls/facilities
Cost: relatively low
Payback: N/A
Concept 6:
Volunteer Abroad
Description:
Collaboration with REACH program to provide a study experience
that would allow the students to work on sustainability projects/
develop global awareness of sustainability
Stakeholders: Rensselaer Students and Faculty
Impact:
– Environmental: positive impact on global communities
– Cultural: students gain a global cultural awareness
– Economic: promotes global low income communities
Implementation:
– Who: REACH Program, ESW, design courses
– How: Collaborate with established study abroad/global service
organizations
– Cost: student tuition, transportation/projects costs
– Payback: N/A
Concept 7:
Co-generation/Geothermal
Description:
Reuse of heat produced by Rensselaer power plant. Utilizing underground
heat to heat buildings, dorms, etc.
Stakeholders:
Rensselaer Facilities, Faculty, Staff, Students
Impact:
Environmental- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Economic- Energy/Utility savings
Implementation:
How: Construction of Machinery
Who: Administration/Faculty
Cost: High
Payback: High
Concept 8: (Reach Goal)
Carbon Neutral by 2025
Description:
Develop a long term commitment of zero carbon emissions produced
yearly by Rensselaer.
Stakeholders:
– Rensselaer Community as a whole
Impact:
– Environmental: eliminate contribution to global climate change
– Economic: Savings in energy/utilities
– Cultural: Institute pride in sustainable leadership and policies
Implementation:
Through the application of renewable energy sources, such as those
suggested at the Sustainability Charrette, and potential use of carbon
offsets
Cost:
High cost, high long term payback