Sustainability Website
Links (pages below):
 Mission statement
 Sustainability Council
 Climate Neutrality:
Carbon inventory,
climate action plan
 ECO Club
 eTour of Campus
Lands
http://www.franklinpierce.
edu/academics/ugrad/pro
grams_of_study/div_nats
ci/environmental_science
/e-tour.htm
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Earth Day and other
events
Monadnock Insititute
Sustainability
Certificate Program
(link here)
MBA Track in Energy,
Sustainability and
Community (link here)
Actions taken towards
sustainability
 Data
 Energy
 Env. Services
 Food services
 Land protection
 Purchasing
 Recycling
Franklin Pierce’s commitment to the environment is deeply
rooted in the rich natural setting of the main campus in
Rindge. With over 1000 acres of undeveloped forests, fields,
wetlands and lakeshore, the land provides excellent
opportunities for experiential learning about ecology as well
as the impacts of humans on the natural world.
In 1998, the Environmental Science Dept. proposed the
“Ecological Conscience Initiative”, which was endorsed by
President George Hagerty as well as the full faculty.
Ecological conscience is a collective awareness of
the effects of our actions on all aspects of the ecological
community, and a demonstrated respect for that
community. The ecological community includes people
as well as other species, and the land, air and water
that sustain them. If we are concerned that future
generations should be able to live happily, enjoy clean
air and water, have a beautiful place to live, and
continue as part of an evolutionary chain, then we must
be responsible members of that ecological community.
By helping individuals develop an ecological conscience,
we will help them learn how to live well while
minimizing their impacts on the community, thus
becoming part of a sustainable society. (ECI 1998)
This initiative was a call action for the institution, and it
identified several areas to work on: Making environmental
responsibility part of the Mission of the University; increase
the interdisciplinary teaching about sustainability; reduce the
environmental impacts of campus operations; protect FPowned wildlands; increase opportunities for low-impact
outdoor recreation; and create a low impact ”green building”
for environmental science and related fields.
Franklin Pierce has made substantial progress towards all of
these goals; see links at left. In 2007, our efforts were kicked
into high gear when President Hagerty signed the American
College and University President’s Commitment to Climate
Neutrality http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
To fulfill its commitment to Climate Neutrality, Franklin
Pierce’s Ecological Conscience Initiative became the
Sustainability Council, and
number of actions to reduce greenhouse gases.
we are working on a
All of these programs are now being organized under a grand proposal called the Green Earth
Program proposal (link), which seeks to make the environment a central focus of all University actions.
Sustainability Council
The Sustainability Council is charged with meeting the goals of the Commitment to Climate Neutrality,
which are:
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Completing an emissions inventory
Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.
Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of shortterm actions.
Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience.
Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.
(President’s Climate Commitment, 2009. Available: http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/html/about.php).
In addition, the Franklin Pierce Sustainability Council works on other issues related to
Sustainability:
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Organize educational events that promote sustainability (link to Events page)
Identify and implement actions that reduce overall environmental impact of University
operations.
Members of the 2008-2009 Sustainability Council are:
Doug Lear, Director of Facilities (Co-Chair)
Catherine Owen Koning, Professor of Environmental Science (Co-Chair)
Kim Knox, Manager, Sodexho Food Services
Barbara Peloquin, Manager, Environmental Services
Robert St. Jean, Director of Purchasing
Paul Clifford, Senior Environmental Science major
Michelle Comeau, Instructor, Integrated Science
Jennifer Provencher, President, ECO Club
Kenneth Clarke, Instructor, Business Administration
Gary Heald, Assistant Professor, Computer Information Technology
Susan Rolke, Biology Lab Supervisor
Climate Neutrality and Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Climate neutrality is defined as
“having no net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to be achieved by minimizing GHG emissions as
much as possible, and using carbon offsets or other measures to mitigate the remaining emissions.”
(President’s Climate Commitment, 2009). Franklin Pierce has finished its 2007 Carbon Inventory; a
summary is shown below, based on the Clean Air-Cool Planet Carbon Calculator.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Franklin Pierce University 2007-08
Metric Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide
Equivalents (=mTeCO2)
2007
Source
mT eCO2
Electricity
3637
Oil
1851
Propane
996
Transportation
232
Student commuters
161
Faculty/staff commuters
1264
Air travel
347
Solid waste
85
Refrigerants
69
TOTAL
8642
FP Greenhouse Gas Production, 2007
(metric Tons CO2 equivs)
Total = 8642 mT per yr
Carbon taken in by FP forests: 462 mT per year
refrigerants
1%
Solid waste
1%
Air travel
4%
Fac/staff
commuters
15%
Student
commuters
2%
Elec
41%
Transportation
3%
Propane
12%
Oil
21%
ECO Club
The ECO Club began as the Environmental Awareness Club in 1990; over the years, many students
have enjoyed such diverse activities as star-gazing on Mt. Monadnock, Whale watches, organic
brunches, and campus hikes, to name a few. Student activists have worked on recycling projects,
raised money to purchased sulfur dioxide credits to reduce acid rain, held fundraisers to protect the
rainforest, cleaned up roadsides, built new trails, helped reduce food waste in the cafeteria, etc.
etc.
In 2008 and 2009, the ECO Club held an event called Focus the Nation, geared towards schools and
universities throughout the Country to take the initiative in becoming “greener,” and meeting the goals
of a carbon neutral campus. Thanks to Michelle Comeau and the many other Professors that spoke,
the event foused on 350 ppm, the goal for the allowable amount of CO2 in the air; check out at
www.350.org to learn more.
In the fall of 2008, the ECO Club students organized a clean up on campus, and they brought in a
guest speaker from Climate Counts, (www.climatecounts.org) an organization geared to educating
consumers about shifting purchases and daily use items to support the companies and business that
are focused on being carbon neutral.
Earth Week in April is always an important time for the ECO Club. In 2008, the guest speaker was
Tom Wessels, author of Reading the Forested Landscape, Sustainability, and other books. Dozens of
exhibitors brought local food, natural and organic body products and presented information about
sustainability, and a live band brought great energy to the day. In 2009, the ECO Club held an Earth
Week celebration, with events throughout the week of April 20th, including a Lights Out competition to
save energy and reduce greenhouse gas production, a “Green Business: The Next Generation”
forum, a movie night, and live music, games and a plant sale on the Manor lawn.
Proceeds from the Earth Day plant sale will go towards the creation of an ECO Club garden outside
the campus center.
We hope you all will take a little initiative and come out participate in these events. Join us Mondays at
7pm in 119 Marcucella Hall for our weekly meetings to help make your campus and community a little
greener. –Jennifer Provencher, ECO Club president, 2008-09
ECO Club officers for 2009-2010: Arianna McClean, President; Josh Grey, VP; Chelsea Petersen,
Treasurer; Rebakka Milles, Secretary; Joe Metzler, SGA Senator.
Green Business: The Next Generation
Earth Day Forum 2009 at Franklin Pierce
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This forum was held in conjunction with the Rindge Chamber of Commerce, the SW Region
Planning Commission, PSNH, and the NH Small Business Development Center. The goal of the
forum was to provide information on how to reduce the environmental impact of business
operations. More than 85 students, staff, faculty and local businesspeople listened to keynote
speaker Dave Lunati, director of Marketing for Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington, NH,
describe how a company can “Design for Sustainability – While Navigating the Eco-noise. He
emphasized the use of third-party verification to “go green”.
Paul Lockwood of NH Dept. of Environmental Services explained the many sustainability
support programs the state provides for businesses.
John Richardson of Concept Communications, Nashua NH discussed the challenges of going
“real” green rather than “greenwashing”.
Deb Buxton of New England Forest Products in Greenfield, NH presented the audience with her
company’s approach to being responsible foresters, millers and producers of sustainably harvested
forest products.
John Kondos, of Solar Source-Home Efficiency in Spofford NH wrapped up the presentations
with an exciting overview of the new “energy landscape” for solar hot water, photovoltaics and more
efficient commercial and residential buildings.
The speakers were surrounded by over a dozen vendors of local products and services to help
people achieve a more sustainable lifestyle at home and at work. This included Green Energy
Options, Keene NH, Zehn Naturals, Keene NH, Public Service of NH, Vermont Wood Studios,
Vernon, VT, Students in Free Enterprise, ECO Club of Franklin Pierce, Franklin Pierce MBA
program in Sustainability and Community , Purely Green Environmental, Nashua NH \, Shaklee
Distributors, Rindge NH and Knotty Rose, Fitzwilliam NH
Sustainability Events – Spring 2009
Thurs. Feb. 5, 7-10 pm. Pierce Hall.
Focus the Nation on Climate Change
Teach-in, discussion, video on the first 100 days of Obama.
Free food, live music from fresh local talent!
Fri. Feb. 27, 3-5 pm:
Exploring the Woods in Winter
Learn some mammal tracks and winter botany
as we find out who is moving where in our own 110 acre backyard!
Meet in Library in front of reference desk
Thurs. March 5, 7-8 pm. Pierce Hall
Will Steger, Polar Explorer
Wed. March 25: 7-8 pm. Cheshire Community Rm.
Ecopsychology with Prof. Davina Brown
Tues. April 14: 8-9 pm
Sex and the Single Salamander
Why did the amphibian cross the road?
Explore vernal pools, side streams and swamp edges as our local frogs and salamanders slither,
crawl and call for mating partners.
Call 4322 to reserve a place, space is limited to 12 people.
EARTH WEEK April 20-24
Mon. April 20
ECO Club: Lights Out!
Tues. April 21, 11 am -3 pm. Pierce Hall
Earth Day Forum
Green Businesses: The Next Generation
Keynote speaker, Exhibitors, Panel Discussion, Lunch!
Wed. April 22. 12-2. Pierce Hall.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. And enjoy the fresh air along the way!
Thurs. April 23: 7 pm. Pierce Hall
Eco-Movie night
Fri. April 24. 12-5 pm, Peterson Hall lawn
ECO Club: Earth Week Celebration
Live music and 350 Competition
Actions taken towards sustainability
Propane
Gasoline
Freon type R-22
5,451,102
3415.48
180,000
172,000
22,803
240
7,012
2006
652,852
1,666
5,498,501
3300.42
190,000
150,297
27,650
150
6,996
2007
2008
653,812
1,683
5,281,058
3137.88
184,079
175,770
25,963
90
676,812
1,684
5,389,779
3200.58
183.03
38
105.97
Calendar yr
Carbon dioxide
producedmTeCO2
Oil
1,596
Solid waste landfill short tons
kwh/student
649,352
Solid waste
incinerated - short
tons
kwh
2005
Sq. ft
FT students
Data
8,642
3637
Energy
Newest & Most exciting initiative: Wood Pellet Energy
1. We will be starting the first phase of replacing our fossil fuel boilers with wood pellet boilers
for heating campus buildings.
2. The 1st phase of this project will include the “Bubble” and the West Side Residence Halls.
3. We are hopeful that this project will begin shortly after commencement and be operational
for the fall of 2009.
4. For more information: link to woodpelletheatingatFP.pdf, and link to company’s website
This will save 49,000 gallons of oil per year, reducing greenhouse gas production by 493 metric
tones of eCO2, and 109,000 gallons of propane per year, reducing greenhouse gas production by
618 metric tonnes of eCO2 (Carbon dioxide equivalents). This reduces FPU’s greenhouse gas
production by 1111 mT eCO2, or 13%!
Link to article on pages below: UNIVERSITY GOES A TAD GREENER
Photo of pellet storage and boiler:
Insert picture here WFGreenEnergySystem.jpg
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Reviewing opportunities for Wind, Solar, and Geo-Thermal energy.
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Cheshire Hall, Cheney Hall, Lakeview Townhouses, lobby addition at the Field House as
energy efficient structures with thermo-pane windows, fluorescent lighting, and energy
efficient HVAC equipment.
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Built Lakeside Educational Center with thermo-pane windows, fluorescent lighting, and radiant
heating system.
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Built Petrocelli Hall as an energy efficient structure with thermo-pane windows, fluorescent
lighting, and energy efficient HVAC equipment which qualified for a PSNH energy efficiency
program rebate.
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Replaced the furnace and air handling system at the Northfields Activity Center with energy
efficient equipment; replaced the hot water and heating boilers at the Campus Center with
energy efficient equipment; replaced the heating boiler at the Field House with energy efficient
equipment.
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Replaced the air conditioning chillers at Marcucella Hall with an energy efficient air cooled
chiller.
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Installed high efficiency T-5 fluorescent fixtures in the Warehouse/Facilities building which
qualified for a PSNH energy efficiency program rebate.
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Changed most of the old incandescent exit signs throughout campus to energy efficient LED
exit signs.
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Changed most of the lighting inside campus buildings from incandescent to fluorescent
fixtures.
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Installed new thermo-pane windows at Granite, New Hampshire and Mount Washington, and
in the coaches’ offices at the Field House.
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Instituted an Energy Star Purchasing Program for all appliances, refrigerators, washers,
dryers, water heaters, heating & cooling equipment and vending machines.
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Instituted a water conservation program that has installed low flow shower heads, faucet
aerators and low flow toilets in all campus buildings.
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Instituted a Four Day Work Week during the summer of 2008 which involved turning off or
adjusting the A/C in all buildings. Also, employees saved some gasoline in their commute
during this initiative.
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Switched to Bio-Diesel – 20 % mixture for use in our shuttle bus, tractors and dump truck.
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Soda Machines: Pepsi soda machines are energy star rated. The graphic lights have been shut
down to reduce electricity and the compressor cycles off when not in uses.
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Washer-Dryers: MacGray Company supplies washer and dryer machines for students to do
washing and drying within the dorms. All machines are energy star rated and front load washers
use less water.
Environmental Services
 Switched to greener cleaning products.
 Unbleached paper towels in all bathrooms and labs
Recycling
 Glass, aluminum, plastic #1, #2, and all paper and cardboard are recycled at Franklin
Pierce: 72 tons of these materials were recycled in 2007-08, roughly 20% of the total solid waste.
Recycling bins are located throughout campus.
 All administrative, academic and recreational buildings have recycling bins next to every garbage
can and in most offices and classrooms. Residence halls have recycling bins next to the vending
machines and/or in the laundry rooms, or in specially-marked dumpsters outside. Students are
expected to bring their recycling to the bins or the dumpsters. Recyclable materials are picked up
by the student-led Recycling Team, and take to the storage containers behind the Facilities
building. Recycling dumpsters are collected by Monadnock Disposal Services. When the
Recycling dumpsters are contaminated by trash, all of the materials are thrown away, so students,
faculty and staff need to be careful not to throw garbage into the recycling containers!
 Kitchen Oil: Baker Commodities is an environmentally focused green company, with over 100
years of experience in the rendering of used cooking oils. Baker recycles 100% of this material
into bio-fuels. Baker Commodities is currently paying forty cents per gallon for our cooking oil.
 Computer & Electronics: User-Friendly Recycling handles all recycling of computers and
electronics for Franklin Pierce. There is no charge for this service.
Land Protection
Franklin Pierce is one of only a handful of institutions of higher learning to place permanent, legal
restrictions on undeveloped land near campus. In 2005, a 46-acre parcel of wetlands and upland
forest, creating a wildlife corridor connecting Pool Pond and Pearly Pond, was protected with a
conservation easement, which is held by the Monadnock Conservancy Land Trust. The Institution was
recognized for these efforts by the National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology program.
These efforts continue, on a larger scale. On the basis of a study by David Graham-Wolf for the
Rindge Conservation Commission, a 300-acre parcel of land owned by Franklin Pierce was identified
as having high-quality habitat and conservation value.
(put map jpg here)
Sustainability Report Card link (under Data)
Purchasing
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Energy Star purchasing policy: Instituted an Energy Star Purchasing Program for all
appliances, refrigerators, washers, dryers, water heaters, heating & cooling equipment and
vending machines.
Office Supplies: Franklin Pierce has contracted with W.B. Mason as it’s supplier of office
supply products. Both the University and W.B. Mason strongly recommend the use of recycled
items. All recycled items are branded with the recycled symbol. Last year the University used
35% of recycled items.
Printing:
 LVI, the commercial printer of our Admission flyers and view book has earned the Forest
Stewardship Council’s chain of custody certification for meeting international standards for
environmentally responsible use of paper and other forest products.
 All of our printers use a soy base ink for printing.
 Our Copy Center encourages double-sided copying. Photocopying jobs sent to the Copy
Center use less energy and less ink than those that are done on smaller photocopiers around
campus, so we encourage departments to send all copy jobs larger than 35 copies to the Copy
Center.
Sodexho Food Services:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMGnjBUalAI
Locally grown Food:
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Sodexo buys from large distributors that can provide safety practices and insurance to help
eliminate the spread of any food borne illness outbreaks but our distributors purchase products
from local vendors.
In 2007-08, Sodexo at Franklin Pierce purchased more than 65 different kinds of fruits and
vegetables from local farmers, mostly in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Much
of this was also organic. Locally- or regionally-grown produce reduces pollution from shipping,
and supports a healthy agricultural community.
Reducing solid waste:
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Change from Individual Bottled Condiments to Bulk Pumps
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Change from Baskets of napkins to holders that dispense one at a time: One napkin-at-a-time
dispensing provides up to a 25% reduction in napkin usage. Made from 100% recycled fiber
and a Bleach-free process and 90% post-consumer content. Meets EPA guidelines for postconsumer content (Minimum 40% Post Consumer Content).
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Implement Recycle Mug program and eliminate disposable cups from cafe
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Most catering Paper goods have been changed to bio-degradable: Little or no styrofoam!
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Going Trayless: Sodexo and the ECO Club have studied the effect of removing trays on the amount
of food wasted. Patrons using trays, threw away 0.186 lb per person on a normal day, and 0.122
lb per person on a trayless day. Food that is thrown in the garbage goes into the garbage disposal,
then into wastewater treatment system, where it must be treated at high cost in order to prevent
pollution from entering Pearly Pond. Wasted food also represents wasted resources in growing,
processing and shipping food, and wasted money! Sodexo does not plan on going completely
trayless in the immediate future, because of concerns related to dishwashing.
Composting: Sodexo, Facilities and the Environmental Science Dept. have studied composting of
pre-plate food waste. After a year of collecting data and identifying different systems of
composting, the decision was made to do off-site composting when funds for pick-up and
transportation become available. This was seen as cheaper and more beneficial than on-site
composting, since local farmers would be able to use the compost at their farm. (Post-plate waste
must be heated to kill any germs, and therefore must be shipped to special facilities).
Chemicals
 Changed to Apex system which is more eco-friendly and uses less packaging than old system.
Apex Power machine detergent: Low phosphorus formula with only 7 grams of plastic packaging.
Sodexo could save an estimated 125,000 lbs. of plastic production and waste, based on Sodexo’s 2007
detergent volumes. The Apex system not only features non-caustic, low-phosphorus* chemistry, but a
data collection and reporting feature that helps Sodexo staff operate our clients’ dish machines more
efficiently—often by 10% or higher. This operational efficiency translates into a significant savings of
water and energy.
UNIVERSITY GOES A TAD GREENER
By MELANIE PLENDA
The Union Leader
updated 1:46 a.m. ET, Sun., Feb. 8, 2009
KEENE - A local university plans to convert several major campus buildings to biomass energy in a
continuing effort to go green.
Franklin Pierce University in Rindge this summer will begin phase one of a three-phase project to
convert its major campus buildings to wood pellet heating as a way of cutting costs and reducing its
carbon footprint.
The first phase of the project will convert 180,000 square feet of space in four buildings -- currently
burning 158,000 gallons of oil and propane -- to a wood pellet-burning system to heat water and air.
"There are several advantages to heating a portion of our campus with biomass such as wood
pellets," said university President George Hagerty. "The first advantage is cost savings and the
ability to more accurately project energy costs. Another important benefit is that wood pellets are a
community-based, local and renewable resource."
Over the past year, university officials created a sustainability committee made up of faculty, staff
and students as part of an effort to make the university a greener place. As a result, the committee
inventoried the university's greenhouse gas emissions and has taken steps to reduce cafeteria waste
and encourage recycling.
"We've also already started using a biodiesel blend in campus vehicles and heavy equipment as part
of the effort," said Doug Lear, director of facilities.
To continue this effort, the university will replace an oil-burning boiler at Granite Hall and a propane
gas-burning boiler at Northfields Activity Center with wood pellet-boilers. Once tied into the piping
systems, those new energy sources will supply heating for FPU's Granite, New Hampshire and
Mount Washington halls, the Northfields airframe and the sports and recreation facility, Lear said.
"The existing boilers will be left in place for redundancy," Lear said. "The silos (feeding the wood
boilers) will be filled with a two-week supply of fuel. . . . The system will be metered, kind of like
electric use, so we will pay for only what we use."
International WoodFuels LLC of Portland, Maine won the heating contract and has agreed to provide
equipment for free, said Bruce Kirsh, university vice president. He declined to give further details on
the contract, but said the only cost to the university will be purchasing the wood pellets.
Kirsh said that the university will move forward with converting other buildings to more efficient and
environmentally friendly heating sources as capital budgets and technology permits.
Neither Lear nor Kirsh would say what the university spends yearly for oil and propane, or how much
emissions would be reduced by making the switch. Kirsh did say they anticipate saving about 7 to 10
percent on fuel costs.
Jon Strimling, owner Pelletsales.com, headquartered in Goffstown, pointed out that the cost and
environmental savings can be immense.
"Heating represents a substantial fraction of our energy use in this country," said Strimling. "Even
now with oil prices going down, bulk pellets are still cheaper."
Both propane and oil top out around $40 per million BTUs according to the Energy Information
Institute, a division of the U.S. Department of Energy. Bulk pellets generally cost a little more than
$15 per million BTU, according to the Pellet Fuels Institute, a non-profit association that serves the
pellet industry.
As for the environment, pellet heat is considered carbon neutral, meaning it has little to no effect on
the environment.
According to the Pellet Fuels Institute, using biofuel eliminates 75 percent of the carbon emissions
associated with fossil fuel heating and has three times the impact of driving a hybrid car.
"The University's commitment to green energy heating systems will be a significant step in the move
towards climate neutrality, said Dr. Catherine Owen Koning, professor of environmental science at
Franklin Pierce. "While burning any form of wood does release carbon dioxide, the dense and
healthy forests of New Hampshire take in this carbon dioxide. . . . So as long as the forests regrow
as fast as they are cut and burned, this form of heating is sustainable and adds no net carbon to the
atmosphere."
UnionLeader.com (click for link):Your source for stories and breaking news from New Hampshire.