Chandler-Gilbert Community College 2007 Campus Sustainability Leadership Award Application
Category
Community College or other Two Year Institution
An abundance of native desert plants are featured throughout the campuses of Chandler-Gilbert Community College. It's an opportunity to conserve water resources, as well as exhibit the natural beauty and adaptabilty of the Sonoran desert.
Contact
Bruce Scharbach
Facilities Supervisor/Sustainability Coordinator
2626 E. Pecos Road,
Chandler, Arizona
480-857-5560
bruce.scharbach@cgcmail.maricopa.edu
Governance & Administration
In its commitment for continuous improvement in sustainability, Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) has launched an array of initiatives within its governance and administration. CGCC is a signatory participant in the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. CGCC has plans to develop several new buildings at two of its campus locations during the next eight years.
The college has established an architectural standard that requires all new development to include LEED Silver certification. Beginning with the ‘07/’08 fiscal year a sustainability account was created within the college operating budget. The sustainability account will assist with the purchasing of additional green power for the college from the local utility provider. The college will purchase 15% green power by November of ‘07, in keeping with the Presidents Climate Commitment.
The Maricopa County Community College District also supports its ten individual colleges with a generous allocation of $10,000,000.00. This allocation is dedicated to energy and water conservation projects at the various colleges during the next seven years. CGCC is proud to be a member of AASHE, and is also a registered EPA-Energy Star partner.
Operations
Chandler-Gilbert Community College has established a number of operational standards in conjunction with its continuing efforts of sustainability. During the past several years virtually all areas of the campuses have been converted to T8 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts. EXIT signs have also been converted to low energy LED displays. Most campus locations are served by direct digital controls (DDC), which in conjunction with an energy management system (EMS), are utilized to continuously optimize HVAC needs throughout the college.
In the Fall of 2007, CGCC will launch a formal energy audit to further explore potential energy conservation for its three campuses.
Approximately one year ago, CGCC’s largest campus developed a reclaimed water infrastructure, which established reclaimed water service (from the city of Chandler) to irrigate the various athletic fields, along with the majority of the landscaped areas. All areas of the campus are complimented by native desert plants and trees, which require low levels of irrigation. The reclaimed water conversion has resulted in a reduction of potable municipal water by hundreds of thousands of gallons. With a continued focus on water conservation CGCC is in the process of installing thirty-four waterfree urinals. The industry standard for water savings (per fixture) is 40,000 gallons annually. Applying this factor will offer the college an estimated 340,000 gallons in annual water conservation for restroom fixtures.
In early 2007, an expanded recycling program was implemented at CGCC. Prior to that, CGCC had established a paper only recycling program, which had been occurring for about two years. The expanded recycling program had been proposed by a student honors organization; Phi Theta Kappa. For the expanded recycling program, aluminum cans and plastic bottles are now included in the college recycling program. Students also participate in the collection of the recycled materials, which are ultimately collected by a local recycler that returns a monetary reward to the college based on the tonnage collected. The monetary returns from the recycling programs are utilized to fund the colleges’ recycling scholarship program.
With consideration to transportation, the college is on the local municipal bus route, and also has a park and ride program. Local metro buses provide frequent stops directly to and from the college. Special parking areas reward carpool participants at the college. CGCC maintains a continuous communication with Maricopa County, in conjunction with its Regional Trip Reduction Program. This program provides information regarding busing, alternative fuel, vanpooling/carpooling, compressed work schedules, and telecommuting options for students, staff and faculty.
CGCC has recently evaluated its vendor resources, to determine each vendor’s sustainability profile. Whenever possible, CGCC is committed to align itself with vendors that exhibit best business practices towards sustainability.
Curriculum & Research
At this point in time Chandler-Gilbert Community College is in the early stages of introducing a formal curriculum in sustainability practices. Currently CGCC is offering Environmental Biology (BIO 105) which features sustainability as the theme of the course.
Several of the CGCC History and English faculty are also incorporating sustainability themes into the college courses.
The college has also introduced as the Spring 2008 book selection - Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte.
In 2006, CGCC established the Global Learning Team. The GLT is a blend of staff and faculty that frequently meet to strategize on continuous ways to engage and prepare the general student population in all dimensions of today’s global connection.
The CGCC faculty is continually developing curriculum and programs to better prepare future graduates for the increasing importance of a more global society.
Campus Culture
Chandler-Gilbert Community College has a strong campus culture in sustainability practices. Sustainability practices are encouraged and supported by key members of the college staff, including the college president, the vice president of administrative services, and the associate dean of administrative services. College events such as Sustainability Day, and Recycling Awareness Week are encouraged and supported by the Administrative Services staff.
A student from the graduating class of 2007 recently founded the H.E.A.T. club (Hands-on Environmental Action Team). The H.E.A.T. club is involved with a number of campus environmental projects, including support of the expanded recycling program.
Beginning with the graduating class of 2007, a student environmental and sustainability pledge was incorporated into the commencement ceremony, and will continue hereafter.
Community Service & Outreach
Chandler-Gilbert Community College engages the local community, as well as a global community in a number ways, and on a continual basis. As a few recent examples during 2007, CGCC hosted Eric Schlosser, author of the best seller Fast Food Nation. Mr. Schlosser’s visit to the college was open to all members of the local community. With standing room only attendance Mr. Schlosser presented noteworthy segments from his best selling book, and also conducted a question and answer segment about various issues within the domestic food industry.
During the Spring semester Chandler-Gilbert Community College also conducted its Nothing But Nets campaign. Members of the faculty, staff, and student body organized the campaign. For several weeks the college hosted a number of events, which eventually raised a significant sum of money towards a global anti-malaria bed nets program for several African regions.
