Carbon Emissions Reduction Report for
University of Minnesota Buildings
DRAFT
December 1, 2008
Andrew Edwins
David Grandall
Luke Hollenkamp
Patrick Santelli
Amy Scheller
Final Project for
PA5721: Energy and Environmental Policy
Executive Summary
Some very drafty initial thoughts…
Carbon emissions associated with the use of the buildings on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
campus are substantial, and meeting the American College and University President’s Climate
Commitment will be require that the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from building operations be
reduced.
There are two primary sources of emissions: the generation of electricity that powers the buildings and
the generation of the steam that provides heat …
Although the Presidents Climate Commitment was signed in 2008, the University has been working to
make its buildings more efficient for much longer:
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The Facilities Management’s Energy Management group is tasked with managing the
University’s energy budget. They make use of a revolving fund to fund energy efficiency
projects….
University joining the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) in 2004, making legally binding
commitments to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
Also in 2004 the University of Minnesota Board of Regents adopted the “Sustainability and
Energy Efficiency” Policy requiring that each campus set sustainability targets in the area of
buildings, infrastructure and operations.1
In April of 2008 President Bruininks appointed the Sustainability Goals and Outcomes and hired
the Twin Cities’ campus first Sustainability Coordinator….
Problem analysis and models
Policy Recommendations
Conclusion
Issue Definition
American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
“On January 8, 2008 Mr. Bruininks added the University of Minnesota system to the list of signatories
(to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, making Minnesota the first Big
Ten University to commit. He did so without a lot of fanfare. Although student groups celebrated the
signing, the university never even issued a news release about it.”2
“Sustain_Energy_Efficiency.pdf.”
http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/administrative/Sustain_Energy_Efficiency.pdf.
2
http://chronicle.com/blogs/architecture/1509/the-greening-of-the-university-of-minnesota
1
The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment is a collaboration of college and
university presidents recognizing global warming is real and largely attributed to human actions. The
commitment notably states its goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 80% by mid century.
The belief behind the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is based on the
belief that universities and colleges have a unique role in society. Higher education has a duty to become
a leader in the sustainability movement. The universities have a responsibility to demonstrate ways to
reduce carbon emissions and communicate these ideas with the public. With the knowledge and the work
force colleges and universities have the ability to become carbon neutral and transmit the “know how”
into their communities. The Climate Commitment also includes a segment on curriculum development
and teaching for colleges and universities.
Several general standards and benchmarks are set forth for colleges as a whole. The roadmap to reach
lower carbon emissions is left to the colleges to decide how to best lower their own emissions. The full
text of the Climate Commitment is in Appendix A, and the overall structure is in shown in Figure xxx.
Accordingly, we commit our institutions to taking the following steps in pursuit of climate neutrality:
1. Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as
possible.
a. Within two months of signing this document, create institutional structures to guide the
development and implementation of the plan.
b. Within one year of signing this document, complete a comprehensive inventory of all
greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting, and
air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter.
c. Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan for
becoming climate neutral.
2. Initiate two or more items from a list of tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while the
more comprehensive plan is being developed. (See appendix for complete list)
3. Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available by providing
them to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for
posting and dissemination.
Figure x: Structure of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
By entering into this commitment, the University has agreed to the following actions:
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Complete a Greenhouse Gas inventory by January 2009
Develop and Action Plan by January 2010
(move this?) As of December 3, 2008 the University’s Sustainability Coordinator reported that the GHG
inventory for electrical and steam use is nearly complete while other categories of emissions are still
being gathered. The Action Plan is not complete, but short term goals for reductions in energy use have
been set and the investigation of renewable energy options is underway.3 (Need to find a place to
mention that the University is watching Xcel’s progress in meeting state goals for renewable as their
decisions impact the University’s emissions)
3
Short, Amy. Letter. “Climate Commitment Progress,” December 3, 2008.
In this report we will investigate a suite of Green Building Policies as one of many needed strategies for
the University to meet the Presidents Climate Commitment for the reduction of greenhouse gases. This
policy would address the following two items of tangible actions required under item two above, as well
as other actions that would reduce the greenhouse emissions associated with the use of the University’s
buildings:
Item a: Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the
U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.
Item E: Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least
15% of our institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources. (ARE WE
ADDRESSING THIS ADEQUAELY IN THE REPORT TO INCLUDE IT HERE?)
GRE EN BUI LDING POL ICY: Establishes a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at
least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent. (This is an option of several
to choose from in the commitment. However The U of MN had already been mandated to build to
LEED Silver standards by B3. Any building that receives public money is subject to the Minnesota
Sustainable Building Guidelines (B3—Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond).
Historical Context
Current University Policies and Practices
In July of 2004 the University of Minnesota Board of Regents adopted the “Sustainability and Energy
Efficiency” Policy. (See Appendix A.) Although this policy doesn’t address carbon directly, it states that
the University “shall undertake a process to increase energy efficiency, reduce dependence on nonrenewable energy, and encourage the development of energy alternatives through research and
innovation” and requires that each campus set sustainability targets in the area of buildings, infrastructure
and operations.4
The Facilities Management’s Energy Management group is tasked with managing the University’s energy
budget. Its $90 million annual budget supports the electricity and steam infrastructure that providing
lighting, heating, and cooling to the Twin Cities Campus. To address the Regents’ policy, Energy
Management has set a goal of reducing total energy consumption by 1.5% (of what year’s usage?) by the
end of FY09 and by 5% of FY10. 5
The University furthered its sustainability commitment by joining the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
in 2004. By joining the voluntary program, the University has made legally binding commitments to meet
greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. (Further explained in section 1-b-ii)
The University is making incremental progress toward its goals of reduced energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions. In its annual report, Facilities Management reported that the Twin Cities
“Sustain_Energy_Efficiency.pdf.”
http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/administrative/Sustain_Energy_Efficiency.pdf.
5
“Facilities Management - University of Minnesota.” http://www.facm.umn.edu/Sites/About_FM/energy.html.
4
campus lowered its total carbon footprint by 5.7 percent since 2002.6 During this time, total campus
square footage actually increased, but also shutdown a high-emitting coal power plant. Figure 1 shows
the actual CO2 emissions due to both electrical and steam systems.
Figure 2: Twin Cities campus CO2 Emissions (Only due to buildings, not other carbon emitting activities… Cut out of:
http://www.facm.umn.edu/Sites/FM_News/PDFs/FM_YearInReview_Web.pdf )
The reduction in energy use is attributable to a number of projects and programs over the last several
years. (Include some, but not all of these… or put in table or appendix.)
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The Southeast Steam Plant was retrofitted to burn biomass fuels such as oat hulls in addition to
natural gas. The plant started burning oat hulls in 2006 resulting in fuel cost savings and
reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, 3.8% of the steam was generated by oat hulls,
moving toward the goal of 5%.7
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More details on coal plant shut down?
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With funding from the Minnesota State Legislature, a Central Chiller Plant was constructed on
the St Paul campus, reducing CO2 emissions by 3,300 metric tons annually.8
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The University participates in Xcel Energy’s Energy Design Assistance to assist in implementing
energy efficient strategies on new construction and major renovation projects on campus.
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A formal building recommissioning program was adopted in 2004. Outside consultants were
hired to examine the heating, cooling and control systems to identify opportunities for efficiency
improvements.
“FM_YearInReview_Web.pdf.” http://www.facm.umn.edu/Sites/FM_News/PDFs/FM_YearInReview_Web.pdf.
Malmquist, Jerome, October 13, 2008.
8
“2008_Sustainability_&_U.pdf.” http://www.uservices.umn.edu/sustainableU/2008_Sustainability_&_U.pdf.
6
7
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Lighting retrofits… One such project replaced bulbs with LED lights, reducing energy
consumption by 92,242 kilowatt hours per year and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 76
metric tons per year.
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Consolidation of compressed air systems.
According to the director of Energy Management, Jerome Malmquist, building profiles are used to help
detect facilities with high energy use to target for energy efficiency projects.9 To fund such projects they
utilize a $6 million dollar revolving fund which was established in 1992. Each year, they seek to spend
$1 million on projects expected to have a five year or less payoff period, thus constantly replenishing the
fund. Projects that have been funded this way include:
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Lighting upgrades – replacing T12 florescent bulbs with T8 and now T5 bulbs. T5 lamps use
about 34% less energy than the T12s. Also LED lighting in hallways and exit signs (2 year
payback)
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Variable frequency drives (on what? DG:Air handling systems )
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Digital controls (DG: DDC)
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Heat recovery systems
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(also some of the above list might have been funded this way…)
One challenge toward increased energy efficiency mentioned by Malmquist is the increased energy needs
of today’s buildings. A remodel of Walter Library resulted in the energy use increasing 4 fold due to the
shift from print to electronic media.
In January of 2008, President Bruininks signed the American College and University Presidents Climate
Commitment. Through this commitment, the University will complete a greenhouse gas inventory by
January 2009 and will complete an action plan toward climate neutrality by January 2010. (See section 1a-i.)
In April of 2008 President Bruininks appointed the Sustainability Goals and Outcomes Committee to
advance the university’s sustainability program and to implement the Regents Policy. The committee is
comprised of faculty, staff, and students. The requirements of the Presidents Climate Commitment will
be integrated into this committee’s broad sustainability activities. 10 Also in April, the University hired
the Twin Cities’ campus first Sustainability Coordinator. The position is currently funded for two years
and will be responsible for facilitating all sustainability related operations within University Services,
including coordinating the Universities participation in the Chicago Climate Exchange and other national
organizations as well as serving on the Sustainability Goals and Outcomes Committee.11 The University
9
Malmquist, Jerome, October 13, 2008.
“Senate Committee on Finance and Planning, Meeting
http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/44753/1/08-10-07%20SCFP.pdf.
10
Minutes,”
October
7,
2008.
Steinke II, Andrew. “New position filled to aid 'green' efforts.” Minnesota Daily, April 15, 2008.
http://www.mndaily.com/2008/04/15/new-position-filled-aid-green-efforts.
11
Services Sustainability Steering committee is developing operational goals and collecting detailed GHG
emission data.
An inventory of the University’s efforts to meet the Regent’s Sustainability Policy on campus is
summarized by the “Sustainability and U” campaign which produced a report in 2008 and a website
(http://www.uservices.umn.edu/sustainableU). The site does not yet contain data concerning results and
outcomes, and as of December 2008, does not mention the signing of the President’s Climate
Commitment. According to the site, future plans in the area of energy efficiency include “detailed
reviews for energy reduction opportunities in capital projects; optimizing building room and equipment
schedules; re-commissioning existing university buildings; increasing awareness and encouraging
behavioral changes for energy usage on campus.”
Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is a cap and trade system launched in 2003. It is the world’s first
and North America’s only active voluntary, legally binding integrated trading system to reduce emissions
of all six major (Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, perfluorocarbons and
hydrofluorocarbons) greenhouse gases (GHGs), with offset projects worldwide. CCX is operated by the
public company Climate Exchange PLC, which also owns the European Climate Exchange.
The CCX states an organization must create a baseline emission. The baseline is an average of the years
from 1998– 2001, or as an option for Phase II participants, the year of 2000. Organizations are given a
number of numbers relative to their baseline emission. Organizations then have the ability to buy, trade,
or bank permits for future use. An organization that will not meets its emissions reduction goal must buy
permits from an organization that has met its goals and is willing to sell the permits. An organization
meeting its goals has the option to sell some or all of its permits for a profit, or it can choose to bank
permits for use if the future. Banking is often used if a member believes they permits will go up in value
or if they believe in the future they may have trouble meeting its reduction standards.
CCX has an aggregate baseline of 226 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, which is equal to the United
Kingdom’s annual allocation under the EU ETS. This would make the CCX market comparable to one of
the larger countries in the EU CO2 market, or 4% of U.S. annual GHG emissions. 12
Phase I Members committed to reduce emissions a minimum of 1% per year, for a total reduction of 4%
below Baseline. Phase I took place between 2003 and 2006. Phase II CCX Members commit to a
reduction schedule that requires year 2010 emission reductions of 6% below Baseline at minimum. Phase
II started in 2007 and runs until 2010.
The U of MN joined CCX in 2004, only the third university to do so. In Phase I, the University included
only the emissions from the production of steam on the Twin Cities campus. Other data such as
electricity, air travel, vehicles, small sources, and other campuses (Morris, Duluth, and Crookston) were
not included.
12
http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/content.jsf?id=821
The U of MN did well in Phase I, most due in large part to the new, efficient boilers brought online, and
the retiring of less efficient plant. 13 In 2007 the U of MN had a balance of approximately 187,000
credits from a total of 316,788 credits. The average sale price was $4.08 per metric ton for the sale of
their 123,300 credits.
The U of MN is currently trading in phase II.
Problem Analysis
Define parameters of our analysis (twin cities campus only, excluding ____, etc
Briefly explain:
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how we obtain electricity
steam system (how it works, what is it’s purpose, and how much of campus is on this system)
BAU Steam Consumption Model
Pull from David’s Report once he reposts it
BAU Electricity Consumption Model
Pull from David’s Report once he reposts it
Emissions Wedges
Is this cut completely or replaced with something else?
Recommended Policies
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New Construction Standards
Energy Star
Retrocommissioning
Commissioning
Renewable Energy
Behavioral Policies – Patrick is merging Amy and his stuff together on this one
Conclusion
Works Cited
Patterson, Romanchek, Silver; EVALUATING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S PERFORMANCE IN
PAHASE II OF THE CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE.
13
Appendix 1: American Colleges and Universities Climate Commitment
We, the undersigned presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities, are deeply
concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of global warming and its potential for largescale, adverse health, social, economic and ecological effects. We recognize the scientific
consensus that global warming is real and is largely being caused by humans. We further
recognize the need to reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases by 80% by mid-century at
the latest, in order to avert the worst impacts of global warming and to reestablish the more
stable climatic conditions that have made human progress over the last 10,000 years possible.
While we understand that there might be short-term challenges associated with this effort, we
believe that there will be great short-, medium-, and long-term economic, health, social and
environmental benefits, including achieving energy independence for the U.S. as quickly as
possible.
We believe colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and
throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing
the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality. Campuses that address
the climate challenge by reducing global warming emissions and by integrating sustainability
into their curriculum will better serve their students and meet their social mandate to help create
a thriving, ethical and civil society. These colleges and universities will be providing students
with the knowledge and skills needed to address the critical, systemic challenges faced by the
world in this new century and enable them to benefit from the economic opportunities that will
arise as a result of solutions they develop.
We further believe that colleges and universities that exert leadership in addressing climate
change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and
faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local
communities.
Accordingly, we commit our institutions to taking the following steps in pursuit of climate
neutrality:
1. Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as
possible.
a. Within two months of signing this document, create institutional structures to
guide the development and implementation of the plan.
b. Within one year of signing this document, complete a comprehensive inventory of
all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating,
commuting, and air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter.
c. Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan
for becoming climate neutral, which will include:
i. A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible.
ii. Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality.
iii. Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the
curriculum and other educational experience for all students.
iv. Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate
neutrality.
v. Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions.
2. Initiate two or more of the following tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while
the more comprehensive plan is being developed.
a. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the
U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.
b. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of
ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
c. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air
travel paid for by our institution.
d. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff,
students and visitors at our institution
e. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least
15% of our institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources.
f. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability
shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is
invested.
g. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania
competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.
3. Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available by
providing them to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher
Education (AASHE) for posting and dissemination.
In recognition of the need to build support for this effort among college and university
administrations across America, we will encourage other presidents to join this effort and
become signatories to this commitment.
Signed,
The Signatories of the American College & University
Presidents Climate Commitment
Appendix 2: University of Minnesota Board of Regents Policy Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
In pdf format.