Columbus State Community College Takes First Step to Developing a Climate Action Plan, Tackling Energy Efficiency First
by Paul Goggin, Interim Director, Facilities Services, Columbus State Community College
Columbus State Community College is currently in the process of completing its comprehensive Climate Action Plan. Rather than wait until September 15, 2009 when its CAP is due, the College decided to roll up its sleeves and begin planning and executing projects on an incremental basis to help achieve its goal of carbon neutrality. The first important goal of the 24,000-student community college is to cut energy use by 20 percent by 2014, compared with 2004 levels.
In November 2008, College President Val Moeller presented an ambitious Energy Efficiency Plan to the Board of Trustees. The plan calls for projects in 12 different categories to be completed by 2014 at a cost of $6.1 million. If successful, the College will achieve an annual savings of approximately $850,000 and a reduction in mmBTU of 45,371, or 24%. These and other efforts will help Columbus State Community College make incremental yet significant progress towards reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in a timely fashion.
Coordination for the planning and implementation began with informal discussions and was followed quickly by the creation of an official "Sustainability Committee" with a charter that was adopted in October of 2007. The 11-person committee, which includes faculty, representatives of each department, and a student, provides a forum for the college community to suggest sustainability activities and creates awareness and participation on campus. In the summer of 2008 the Sustainability Committee reported on 26 proposals received from the campus community. These ran the gamut from basic recycling and carpooling to vegetation management and using biodegradable utensils in the cafeteria. Some of the 26 suggestions have already been adopted while others are being put through a cost-benefit analysis.
Because Columbus State is a commuter campus, most of its greenhouse gas emissions come from students going to and from classes. So far the college has expanded on-line learning for students and it now has more online courses than any college in Ohio. When Columbus State's Delaware County campus opens in 2010, drivers of fuel-efficient vehicles will receive priority parking spaces. On the main campus, the college already offers easy bus access along with new bicycle and motorcycle parking slots. Faculty efforts have also been significant. Professors and instructors have integrated sustainability into courses including geology, geography, biology and chemistry.
For similar programs to be successful at other community colleges support from the top is a key factor. President Moeller was the sponsor of the charter and she led the call for sustainability improvements. Terri Gehr, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, helped oversee the Sustainability Committee. The Energy Efficiency Plan is one large step in Columbus State's commitment to achieving climate neutrality.
