Introduction
This Sustainability plan is a living document intended to inspire conversation about how North Seattle Community College (NSCC; North) will choose to shape its future through a lens of sustainability. The decisions we make everyday will influence our college for decades. This is why we will need a clear plan to move forward with the objectives and strategies that steer our college. Supporting current strategic planning work at North, this plan is designed to be an addendum to the existing Long Range Campus Plan and provide a clear definition for our ultimate goal – sustainability. This plan also utilizes a triple bottom line definition of sustainability, which includes not only environmental considerations but social and economic elements as well. A sustainable campus using a triple bottom line approach could help consolidate existing initiatives such as diversity, affordability, and professional development into one framework.
This plan will serve as a road map for our ultimate target goal of sustainability, as well as identify intermediate benchmarks that will help us realize our target in a stepwise fashion. Joining in leadership along with many other colleges across the United States, NSCC became a charter participate in the Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS), a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability. The STARS framework provides the foundation for this plan structure as well as previous sustainability input by our campus, which culminated in the NSCC Sustainability Charrette on April 22nd, 2010. The Charrette was a day long facilitated discussion by representatives of students, faculty, staff and administrators to discuss strategies and goals to achieve campus sustainability. This Sustainability Plan is the product of campus input over the last year from these representative groups as well as best practices used at other colleges trying to achieve sustainability. Combined with existing strategic and long-range campus planning, this Sustainability Plan seeks to not only illuminate a clearer path forward but establish dynamic systems for introducing exciting new initiatives for the future.
Definitions
Sustainability – Resource management that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Net Zero– A system that creates as much a given commodity as it consumes on an annual basis
Carbon Neutral – Achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference
Charrette — Meeting at the beginning of an integrative design process that sets the stage for cooperation and collaboration among all participants, including the design team, engineers, contractors, clients, and any others involved in the project.
Core Competencies – The integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in complex ways that require multiple elements of learning which are acquired during a student's course of study at an institution.
Stewardship Model: A structure of management in order to care for our natural, cultural and other resources so future generations may also use them
WaterIndependentCampus– a decentralized rainwater management system which is designed to harvest and treat sufficient water to meet the needs of occupants, while respecting the natural hydrology of the site, the water needs of neighbors and the ecosystem it inhabits.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Definitions
Sustainability Plan Overview
Plan Foundation
Process Recommendations
Objectives and Strategies
Education
Co-curricular Education
Curriculum
Undergraduate Research
Operations
Buildings
Climate
Dining Services
Energy
Grounds
Purchasing
Transportation
Waste
Water
Planning and Administration
Coordination and Planning
Diversity and Affordability
Human Resources
Public Engagement
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North Seattle Community College Sustainability Plan Part I: Introduction
Sustainability Plan Overview
Prepared by O’Brien & Company, December 23, 2010;
Updated by Christian Rusby for content May 10, 2011
This overview describes the process of developing a 30-Year Sustainability Plan, as well 2-year Strategic Actions. The Plan consists of sixteencore sustainability objectives organized in three categories including: Co-Curricular Education, Operations, and Planning, Administration & Engagement. Not all sixteen of these objectives will be adopted by the college in 2011 given our limited resources but are intended to provide a vision for a sustainable future for NSCC. At this time, the five most supported objectives have been included in this plan with specific 2-year strategic actions toward those objectives. It is the intention of the Sustainability Office to consider adoption of additional objectives when the campus community reviews the Sustainability Plan every two years.
Plan Foundation
On the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2010, North Seattle Community College held a day-longCharrette with students, staff, and faculty to develop the vision of a sustainable campus by the year 2040. The Charrette was part of a campus wide sustainability initiative, which includes:
American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
North Seattle Community College is one of 676 institutions that have signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which commits the school to initiating the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. Meeting this commitment requires a holistic approach to design, operations, and programs.
STARS
North Seattle Community College is using the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a voluntary, self‐reporting framework for recognizing and gauging relative progress toward sustainability for colleges and universities. It is designed to:
- Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education.
- Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
- Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
- Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.
- Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.
STARS is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada – from community colleges to research universities, and from institutions just starting their sustainability programs to long‐time campus sustainability leaders. STARS encompasses long‐term sustainability goals for already high‐achieving institutions as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability.[1]STARS is organized around three broad categories: Co-Curricular Education, Operations, and Planning, Administration & Engagement.
As with every institution, there is a tension between the vision and constrained resources. The challenge is getting between the “here and there” One of the benefits of STARS is that it provides a framework to set a benchmark and to measure continuous progress, which both rewards and motivates. In the case of an institution like the North, steady progress is the goal.
Long Range Plan
In 2007, North Seattle Community College adopted a Long Range Campus Plan to guide the next 25 years of development in sync with its mission and values. Although sustainability is a fundamental component of the Long Range Plan, the Plan focuses on the physical development of the campus through building renovations, new building construction, and site development. In order to achieve climate neutrality the Plan must broaden its focus to all components of its organization including programs, curriculum, operations, student life, transportation, campus environment, and community interaction. The purpose of the sustainability Charrette was to develop a vision that comprehensively addresses all of components of sustainability. The outcome of the Charrette is a five year sustainability plan that will serve as an addendum to the Long Range Plan and mobilize actions toward achieving a healthy, just, and stable campus by the year 2040.
Charrette Process
The participants began the day by envisioning how a sustainable campus would look and function. During the afternoon, participants worked in groups to create a sustainability plan to set the direction toward the ultimate vision of a sustainable campus. Each group was assigned a main category (Co-Curricular Education, Operations, and Planning, Administration & Engagement) of STARS and was asked to develop a plan within each category’s framework that would support the ultimate 30 year vision. Then, each group developed a one year plan of actions required to initiate the work required by the plan. By the end of the day, the participants collectively established a 30 year vision plan and developed strategies to initiate within the next five years.
Process Recommendations
Sustainability Committee
Never to lose sight of the resource this Committee represents. The Committee’s role is to provide consistent oversight to guide The Plan to fruition. The Committee should provide review all capital projects, operations, major college planning processes and major changes to instruction to provide input through a lens of sustainability.
By its very nature, the student body is constantly graduating and moving on. The Committee itself should remain vital. The keys to keeping the Committee viable include:
- Stable leadership
- Diverse group of students, staff, faculty and administrators
- Constant recruitment and mentorship
- Create an institutional memory by documenting progress and passing along the history of group’s actions, so that any new member can pick up and continue the work of the Committee
Integrated Design Process
To build on the significant groundwork of the Charrette, we recommend using the Integrated Design Process for all major sustainability projects. Fundamentally, the Integrated Design Process develops concepts in an iterative fashion with regular feedback from multiple stakeholders. This approach accelerates communication, information sharing, and brainstorming to yield cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally-responsible solutions. The key to success is to regularly reference the overarching project goals and evaluate if the concepts are achieving the goals. This method of testing concepts against goals helps identify synergies and overcome conflicts early in the process when there is the greatest flexibility to make changes. In addition to the benefits it provides with regard to projects it is directly aligned with the inclusive nature of the Sustainability Planning Process.
Goal Setting for Buildings and Site Improvements
For all new construction and major renovation projects, we recommend conducting a goal-setting workshop during pre-design phase with the project team, a sustainability advisory group, and other stakeholders. During the workshop participants should collectively set performance metrics that will support the project goals. We recommend utilizing multiple sustainability rating systems and initiatives, such as LEED-NC v2009, Living Building Challenge (especially the energy, water, and material petals) and AIA’s 2030 Challenge, as a framework for setting performance metrics.
Since reduction of energy use is the college’s greatest opportunity and challenge, we recommend a follow up working session or series of meetings to explore how the building design and systems can work together to create an energy-efficient building. Emphasize the use of passive strategies including super insulation, natural daylighting and ventilation; and high-performance glazing to create buildings that are energy efficient and simple to operate. Gain rewards by measuring what you manage by installing meters in every building to monitor electrical, water, and fossil fuel consumption and pinpoint maintenance needs. Once the energy demands of the building have been minimized as much as possible, strive for net-zero energy with the use of on-site renewable power such as solar hot water, biomass plants/aerobic digesters, photo-voltaics, and wind or micro-hydro (as technology advances).
Public Messaging/Education
Constantly win champions of The Plan by explaining why the College is undertaking any change. For interim solutions always point back to The Plan and explain how they fit into the bigger vision. Use the framework of the STARS progress reporting requirement as a communication mechanism to tell the story, show the value, inspire and motivate people.
Resources
Accomplish the ambitious and meaningful work of The Plan through volunteer efforts led by student activists and community volunteers. Leverage resources by exploring funding options such as ESCOs, City of Seattle technical assistance, grants, incentives, and funding early in the design process.
Living Document
The Plan should be considered a living document that is constantly improving and evolving. At a minimum, The Plan should be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure elements and target years are aligned. Additionally, keep stay updated on the latest science research, technologies, and innovations. Lastly, tap in the STARS network of colleges and universities to share successes and lessons learned.
Progress Recommendations
The Sustainability Plan presents a path of incremental progress toward achieving a vision of sustainable campus with sixteen objectives and directly implementable strategies for the next two years. In looking forward from a 30,000 foot view, we recommend keeping an eye on far reaching goals with every incremental step toward progress. Consider how each opportunity and action can accelerate the accomplishment of the following end goals:
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North Seattle Community College Sustainability Plan Part II: O’Brien & Company Sustainability Plan Overview
Objectives and Strategies
The following sixteen categories represent fundamental elements of collegiate sustainability. These are the categories NSCC has applied from the Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) to gauge our relative progress toward sustainability for our college.
Most categories have been greyed out as an indication that although they exist as part of a larger framework, they will not be the primary focus of sustainability efforts for the 2011-2013 biennium. The five emphasized categories represent the best candidates to focus on in the next two years given our current resources and opportunities. After this period it is the intent of the Sustainability Office that the campus community consider adopting additional objectives and strategies to make our campus more sustainable.
This document represents a living work that will evolve over time as our campus defines and re-defines what it means to be sustainable and “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Education
Co-curricular Education
North Seattle Community College (NSCC) seeks to provide students with sustainability learning experiences outside the formal curriculum. Engaging in sustainability issues through co-curricular activities allows students to deepen and apply their understandings of sustainability principles. NSCC-sponsored co-curricular sustainability offerings, often coordinated by the Sustainability Coordinator, help integrate sustainability into the campus culture and set a positive tone for NSCC.
Curriculum
North Seattle Community College is developing and expanding formal education programs and courses that address sustainability. One of the primary functions of colleges and universities is to educate students. By training and educating future leaders, scholars, workers, and professionals, NSCC is uniquely positioned to prepare students to understand and address sustainability challenges. By offering courses covering sustainability issues, NSCC helps equip students to lead society to a sustainable future.
NSCC’s Sustainable Curriculum Guiding Principle:
Sustainability curriculum engages students to think critically about aspects of our world within the context of environmental literacy, social justice, and economic systems that reflect these values.
Undergraduate Research
North Seattle Community College is seeking to conduct research related to or focused on sustainability. By researching sustainability issues and refining theories and concepts, NSCC can continue to help the world understand sustainability challenges and develop new technologies, strategies, and approaches to address those challenges.
Operations
Buildings
North Seattle Community College is improving the sustainability performance of its buildings. Buildings are generally the largest user of energy and the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions on campuses. Buildings also use significant amounts of potable water. NSCC can design, build and maintain buildings in ways that provide a safe and healthy indoor environment for inhabitants while simultaneously mitigating the building’s impact on the outdoor environment.
Climate
North Seattle Community College is measuring and taking steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Global climate change is expected to have myriad negative impacts throughout the world, including increased frequency and potency of extreme weather events, sea level rise, species extinction, water shortages, declining agricultural production, and spread of diseases. The impacts are expected to be particularly pronounced for poor communities and countries.
NSCC’s Sustainable Climate Guiding Principle:
Colleges and universities exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated campus community to achieve climate neutrality.
Dining Services
North Seattle Community College is helping build a sustainable food system on campus. Modern industrial food production often has deleterious environmental impacts. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture can contaminate ground and surface water, which has potentially dangerous impacts on wildlife and human health. Furthermore, the often long-distance transportation of food to institutions produces greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.