Purdue University – Emerging Green v016 Final

8/9/2019 Purdue University Emerging Green v016 Final

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T e a m 1 P A S T E W r i t e r sG r e g R u s h , B r a n d o n G a r d n e r , M a r c T r o m b e t t a , A a r o n C o p e l a n dE n g l i s h 4 2 1 T e c h n i c a l W r i t i n gP r o f e s s o r F r a n c i s T o b i e n n e , J r .

A White Paper

Summer

10

Purdue University Emerging Green


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PURDUEUNIVERSITYEMERGINGGREEN 2

Table of ContentsExecutive Summary ................................................................... 3Wade Power Initiative ................................................................ 3Overview ..................................................................................................................... 3

New Coal Boilers.......................................................................................................... 4

Opposition .................................................................................................................. 5

Wade Energy Saving Tips ............................................................................................. 5

Purdues Strategic Plan .............................................................. 6Overview ..................................................................................................................... 6

Site Considerations...................................................................................................... 6

Water Resources .......................................................................................................... 7Built Environment ........................................................................................................ 7

Materials Management................................................................................................. 8

Food Systems .............................................................................................................. 8

Academics and Research ............................................................................................. 9

Community Relationships ............................................................................................ 9

Big Ten. Measuring Up............................................................... 9Table 1 Comparison .................................................................................................. 11

Administration ....................................................................................................... 11

Climate Change and Energy.................................................................................... 11Food and Recycling ................................................................................................ 12

Green Building ....................................................................................................... 13

Student Involvement .............................................................................................. 13

Transportation ....................................................................................................... 13

Endowment Transparency ...................................................................................... 14

Investment Priorities .............................................................................................. 14

Shareholder Engagement........................................................................................ 14

Table 2 Comparisons................................................................................................. 14

AnnotatedBibliography ........................................................... 16Appendix ............................................................................... 19An interview with Robin Ridgway, 16 July 2010.......................................................... 19


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Executive Summary There are many reasons that a lot of the world has been pursuing this

ever-changing definition of going green. The most prevalent reason is to

preserve our planet and its function to mankind. With the definition of green

changing with advancements of new green technologies, it is difficult to

measure ones efforts toward this goal. A culture can use ethnocentrism, using

ones self for a measuring stick, to evaluate their efforts or a cultural could

compare their efforts to another cultural. In this white paper, we will explorehow Purdue University compares to others in the university culture in America.

We will give examples of Purdues efforts toward sustainability and also dive

into how Purdue plans to continue its efforts toward leading the way with green

standards. A contrast to how Purdue compares to other Big Ten schools, as well

as a brief history of how Purdues green report card grade has changed over the

last four years is also discussed.

Wade Power Initiative

OverviewPurdue Universitys current

power source is generated from Wade

Power Plant in West Lafayette. The

power plant has three boilers that are

coal-fired and one boiler that is

gas/oil fired as a backup. The boilers

that use Indiana coal used about

66,937 tons of high-sulfur coal,

101,113 tons of low-sulfur coal, and

11,647 tons of limestone in 2009,

while the gas-fired boiler used about

2,805,600 Therms of natural gas. All

these fuels came out to a cost of

about $3.10/Mbtu. The coal is

delivered by a truck and is dumped

onto a conveyor belt or bucketelevator system at the Wade Power

Plant. The designed transport capacity

is 100 ton/hr for each handling

system. All of these boilers generate

steam for two steam driven turbines,

ExecutiveSummary

Wade PowerInitiative


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and one diesel engine to generate

electricity to Purdue University while

also heating and cooling the campus

in the winter and summer months.

The power plant can generate 40 MWusing three generators, 39 MW using

one turbine generator, 10MW with one

other turbine generator, and 1.75 MW

using a diesel generator as a backup.

Wade Power Plant also contains nine

centrifugal chillers, four turbine driven

chillers, and five electric driven

chillers for Purdues own refrigeration

system. Purdue has a constant

demand for chilled water all year for

cooling process and environmental

control systems. The heat rejection

load for summer cooling comes out to

around 26,900 ton-hr while a total of

90,104,767 ton-hr of cooling is

produced.

New Coal BoilersPurdues current sustainability director

Robin Ridgway is currently working on

a project that involves the installation

of new clean coal burning boilers that

contain fluidized beds and one more

natural gas-fired

boiler to replace one

of the 50 year old

boilers. This project is

to help reduce the

amount of impact

Purdue causes to the

environment. These

new boiler additions

will reduce the

amount of carbon

emissions from 43%to 90%. The budget

for the two new clean

coal boilers comes out to about $60

million, which is sourced from

students tuition and fees.

Purdue University boilers

generate around 25,000 to 30,000

tons of ashfrom the burning of coal.

There are two kinds of waste that are

produced fromcoal-fired boilers. The

first type is called fly ash, and

comprises 80% of the ash captured,

http://www.purdue.edu/utilityplant/plantoperation.htmFigure 1 Wade Power Plant Boiler Process Diagram


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which is generally captured by

pollution control equipment in

chimneysof the power plant. This coal

waste is usually disposed of in

landfills. In recentyears coal waste hasbeen used for other purposes and not

just disposed of. Itcan be used in

construction fill, dry wall, cement, and

mine reclamation and isalso used in

agricultural processes such as helping

soil to hold water. Thiswaste can also

be used to remove snow and ice on

roads when used with salt. The second

type of waste is bottom ash, and

comprises the remaining 20% of

captured material. This coal waste is a

granular byproduct of coal and is

usuallyretrieved from the bottom of

coal furnaces. Some other uses for

bottom ashare similar to the uses of

fly ash, but bottom ash is commonly

used as an element ofasphalt.

OppositionMany environmental organizations do

not like the idea of continuing to use

coal-fired boilers. The Sierra Club, a

grassroots environment organization

in the United States, feels that Purdue

should be using alternative energy

sources to power the campus of

Purdue University. They claim that

while these new boilers are cleaner

they still release toxic chemicals,

hazardous carcinogens, and heavy

metals into the environment. Purdue is

known for their research of alternative

energy sources, and should consider

using this research in geothermal,

wind, or solar energies to power itscampus. Purdue University says that it

is too invested in coal power that it

really isnt financially feasible for them

to completely switch over to an

alternative energy source. It would

cost too much money to completely

replace the previous power system

with a new one without drastically

raising the cost of tuition for Purdue

University students. Purdue believes

that they are still doing what they can

to help the environment by using

clean coal boilers to reduce a good

amount of the emissions released out

into the environment.

Wade Energy Saving TipsPurdue offers many suggestions to

save energy and money for those

exploring the Wade Utility Plant web

site. This is a reflection upon Purdue

to perform a small amount of

education on energy conservation to

the general public. One of their first

suggestions is to make sure doors and

windows are kept closed to reduce the

amount of energy lost to the

environment. It is important not to

change the thermostats often and


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keep them at constant temperatures in

the winter and summer months. In the

winter it is recommended to leave the

thermostat at around 68 to 70

degrees Fahrenheit and 74 to 76degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. If

the window blinds are closed in the

summer the room will stay cooler and

in the winter the window blinds should

be kept open to allow sunlight in to

warm the room. Lights should be shut

off if there is enough natural light to

do work and they should also be off if

the room or building is not being

used. One last thing to remember is to

conserve water, use it only when

needed and do not leave it running

when it is not being used. These small

things can greatly reduce the amount

of energy used each year.

Purdues Strategic Plan

OverviewThe Purdue University

Sustainability Strategic Plan was

developed in January of 2010 and

presented on Earth Day of the same

year. It highlights future plans and

ideas the university has determined it

needs in order to go green. In the

plan, eight sustainability program

areas are enumerated that give brief

details about current university

policies as well as opportunities for

the university to improve its

environmental awareness. The latter,the opportunities, are an integral part

of Purdues mission to remain a

recognized leader among its peer

universities and a proud example of

commitment to the world and its

environment. Seven of the areas are as

follows: Site Considerations, Water

Resources, Built Environment,

Materials Management, Food Systems,

Academics and Research, and

Community Relationships.

(Endowment and Development is

omitted) The following will highlight

the contributions likely to have the

greatest effect on the sustainability of

the university.

Site ConsiderationsSite Considerations reflects upon the

land owned by the university, how it is

used and occupied, and how it has

developed. This is a rather broad topic

and focuses mainly on the elements of

campus immediately visible to thepublic. One large concern is

transportation on campus. According

to the sustainability plan, a

transportation demand management

study is currently underway studying

PurduesStrategic Plan


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bicycle paths, bicycle use, and how to

integrate the system with the

Lafayettes shared-use trail system.

The use of bicycles is an important

means of transportation and iscausing the demand for racks to lock

bicycles to increase. Protecting the

open space west of campus is also a

concern that was addressed, and was

made realizable by the suggestion to

increase the Universitys density on

the currently developed footprint.

Transit to and from the university is

also a concern. Evident concerns

include mass transit incentives and

the expansion of alternative transit

systems. Also important to Purdues

somewhat spread out campus is the

identification of a central loop for

bus routes, which is currently

underway. Another mentioned project

suggests converting Purdues airport

runway light fixtures with LED

replacements that will consume

seventy-five percent less power than

the current fixtures and historically

require much less maintenance.

Reportedly, all of the funding may be

subsidized by the federal government.

Water ResourcesWater resources refer mainly to the

water availability, water usage by

buildings, and the irrigation system

utilized by Purdue University. One of

the concerns relating to the irrigation

system is that approximately fifty

percent of the current irrigation

system would benefit from upgradesto a smart irrigation system. Such a

system would use sensors and

environment data to maximize the

efficiency of the system by reducing

waste by means of enhancing soil-

water retainment. The strategic plan

also suggested developing minimum

flush and flowing guidelines for all

water-using fixtures in dormitories

and university buildings.

Built EnvironmentThe built environment primarily

details all university buildings and

their energy use. It also briefly covers

the Wade Utility Plant, which sourcesmost of that energy. The utility plant

currently houses four generators and

a circulating fluidized bed boiler (a

clean coal boiler) that produces an

average of sixty percent of Purdues

electricity. One of the less efficient

boilers is currently being replaced with

a second fluidized bed boiler to makethe plant more environmentally

friendly. The plant also has plans to

become certified as a high-efficiency

system, similar to an Energy Star

rating. The Strategic Plan discusses


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details about a Krannert student

group that conducted a business

analysis and found that if railroad ties

were used as an added fuel, a second

fuels feed system that costs $2 millioncould pay itself off in two years,

suggesting a $1 million per year

savings after the initial two-year

period. The university is also currently

in the second year of retro-

commissioning of buildings aimed to

reduce energy usage, and more

recently water usage. Also of note,

many air-conditioning and heating

systems are being analyzed and

retuned for greater efficiency. A

process is already in place for

replacing residence halls

showerheads and faucets for

substitutes that use thirty to seventy

percent less water. It is planned for

the future that most exterior lighting

projects as well as some interior

lighting projects will use lower energy

LEDs. Mann Hall, as well as other

university buildings, is also being

evaluated for possible green roof

installations similar to that atop

Schleman Hall. A number of wind

turbines for the generation ofelectricity have also been proposed

including one at the Animal Sciences

Research and Education Center that,

according to data collected, could

provide ten to twenty megawatts of

power. That is approximately half of

the peak demand of the Purdue

campus. This wind turbine combined

with Wades power output capabilities

could provide power to 100% ofcampus.

Materials ManagementMaterials management refers mainly

to the use and disposal of any waste

products. The recycling program

recently implemented by the university

is a primary concern of the document.

Also mentioned is reviving a recycling

application of the Wade Utility Plant,

using coal ash for compost

enhancement and sludge stabilization

as well as other uses. The storage and

tracking of chemical waste is also a

recurring subject. Improving research

lab practices and chemical sourcereduction and substitution are

suggested to help this.

Food SystemsThe food systems category covers the

procurement, use, and waste of food

and food-related items used by the

university. The primary concern is the

compost generated by the university.

It is proposed that a grinder costing

$50,000 would allow food preparation

waste to be diverted to the wastewater

treatment facility. It is also suggested


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that the university collaborate with

other organizations with which it does

business to reduce the waste of the

products of these other organizations.

Academics and ResearchAcademics and research involves

both the students and the faculty of

Purdue University in contributing to

the universitys environmental

awareness. The document points to

introductory engineering courses and

the fact that these courses introduce

sustainability and problem solving

associated with sustainability to

incoming engineers. It also points out

a need for classes that promote

sustainability awareness. Making it

easier for faculty to sponsor such

learning is also suggested. At the very

least, a formalized process forkeeping an accurate list of courses

was suggested that covers

sustainability at several levels so that

interested students may participate.

Community RelationshipsThe community relationships portion

discusses Purdues outreach to the

surrounding community with a

sustainability goal in mind. Currently

one student internship is availability

with Purdue University in Sustainability

that is a ten-hour per week

commitment. It is proposed that

Purdue follow Indiana Universitys

example and fund several

Sustainability internships for students.

In addition, it suggested that theDepartment of Sustainability at Purdue

employ graduate students as research

assistants. A household hazardous

waste program, now defunct, could

also be restarted, allowing community

members a safe place to dispose of

potentially dangerous, hard-to-

dispose-of items. This area is

important to Purdue. It is pointed out

because of its role as an advisor to the

state of Indiana through the

Cooperative Extension Services.

Big Ten. Measuring UpOverview

When considering the

contributions and efforts of a college

or university to sustainability, a

measurable means in which to gauge

an institution is needed. A grading

system to apply to educational

institutions would be nice to have to

see if they were meeting the needs of

the present without sacrificing the

ability of future generations to meet

Big Ten.Measuring Up


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Table 1 ComparisonAdministrationThe College Sustainability Report

Card was used to create a couple of

tables to examine how Purdue has

performed against other Big Ten

schools as well as other Indiana

college institutions. Table 1 compares

the grades of the Big Ten schools. As

shown, Purdue University and

Northwestern University both got the

lowest grades (C) in theAdministration category (green

report). Purdues Office of

Sustainability was created in 2009,

and employees three full-time

staffers. Therefore, it is a relatively

new organization. Northwestern

University indicated that they do not

have an Office of Campus

Sustainability. According to the report

card, there are some areas thatindicated why Purdue obtained such a

low grade. In the survey, Purdue

indicated that it does

not have a formal

purchasing survey

(green report). The

survey also indicated

that Purdue had not

signed the Talloires

Declaration, which is a

ten-point action plan

for incorporating

sustainability and

environmental literacy

in teaching, research,

operations and

outreach at colleges

and universities.

Another reason for a

low mark could be

because Purdues president had not

yet signed the American College and

University Presidents Climate

Commitment.

Climate Change and EnergyIn the area of Climate Change and

Energy, Purdue also got average marks

with a C in the Green Report Card.


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Purdue was in the same arena with

Northwestern University and the

University of Wisconsin for this

mediocre grade. Purdue has a few

areas that shined in the survey reportthough. For instance, Purdue retro-

commissioned three buildings on

campus last year and are currently in

the process of retro-commissioning

three additional buildings. Purdue is

also currently reviewing their

programming code (sequences of

operation) for HVAC systems in

sixteen buildings to analyze if

opportunities exist to improve system

efficiencies. Utilizing an outside

vendor to review the actual

performance of three additional

buildings to identify deficiencies in the

current operation is something being

accomplished for future development.

Purdue University is also adjusting

HVAC system operation to correspond

with actual occupancy periods through

equipment scheduling programs and

night setback/up algorithms. Some

issues with the report indicate that

Purdue University has not made a

commitment to reduce green house

gasses by any specific amount. Purduehas conducted a study though to

determine its carbon footprint, and

will utilize this in the future as an

initiative to create a green house gas

emission inventory. In comparison, the

University of Wisconsin has reduced

73,000 tons of CO2 emissions since

April 2006 as the result of

conservation measures (53,000 tons)

and switching 28% of the heatingplants fuel source from coal to natural

gas (20,000 tons) (green report).

Food and RecyclingIn the Food and Recycling category,

Purdue received a grade of B. This is

an average score with all Big Ten

schools being in the A to B range. The

Food category is not specified in the

survey, so specific information about

it is not available. Having a tray-less

day in the dining facilities is

mentioned. In the recycling program

though, Purdue boasts that 100% of

its landscaping is composted or

mulched, 396 pounds of batterieswere recycled along with 1,361

computer monitors and 26,000

fluorescent lamps. When comparing

the Rate of Waste Diversion, Purdue

ranks in the middle on average at 34%.

Michigan State reflected the lowest

rate at only 16% while Penn State and

Illinois University ranked the highest

at 53% and 50% respectively (Big Ten

24).


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Green BuildingIn the category of Green Building,

Purdue received a grade of D, which

was the lowest of any listed Big Ten

school. According to the EPA;buildings account for 68% of total

electricity consumption, 12% of total

water consumption, 38% of carbon

emissions, and 39% of total energy

consumption (Big Ten 7). Therefore,

having green buildings is an important

aspect of a schools overall grade. A

building is considered green if it has

inherited that definition through

design, construction, or operation.

Purdue University does not actually

have any buildings that meet the

criteria to be considered LEED

(Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design) certified on its

campus. This finding is the largest

reason that Purdue received such a

low score. This score should improve

on the 2011 college green report card

because Purdue is currently under

construction on the Gatewood wing to

the Mechanical Engineering Building,

and it is registered to be LEED

certified. In comparison, the University

of Minnesota decided to create thefirst LEED certified football stadium in

the country and Indiana University had

11 LEED building projects underway in

2009 (Big Ten 8).

Student InvolvementStudent Involvement was a category

that Purdue performed fairly well in.

Purdue received a B in this category,

with the University of Iowa and theUniversity of Wisconsin getting a C

(green report). Purdue has several

student organizations that reflect a

large amount of student involvement.

Greenreportcard.com reported in its

published survey that Purdue

mentioned Boiler Green Initiative (BGI),

Net Impact, Purdue Air & Waste

Management Association (PAWMA),

Purdue Green Build, Purdue Energy

Club, and PUGWASH as student

organizations on campus.

TransportationIn the Transportation category,

received a grade of B, which was nottoo bad. Purdue reported in the 2010

greenreportcard.com survey that they

have 178 vehicles in their fleet with 28

being hybrid, 9 being biodiesel, 2

being smart cars, and 114 being flex

fuel capable. Ohio State reported 996

vehicles in their fleet, which seems

extremely high compared to Purdue.

Of that inventory, 13 are hybrids, 12

are electric, and 124 are biodiesel.

Purdue offers free transportation

around campus to students and staff

utilizing City Bus. This service reduces


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the overall green house consumption

of those who would drive individually.

Endowment TransparencyIn the category of Endowment

Transparency, greenreportcard.com

gave Purdue University a grade of A.

Although no specific information is

listed, the web site mentions that,

With the exception of information

exempt from public open record law

by Indiana statute, a list of all

holdings and a list of votes cast on

proxy resolutions on a company-

specific level, including the number of

shares, are made available to the

public and sent to individuals per a

public record request. In contrast, the

University of Iowa received an F

because the university makes neither a

list of endowment holdings nor itsshareholder voting record public.

Investment PrioritiesAn A was the grade that was given to

Purdue for the Investment Priorities

category. Purdue University aims to

optimize investment return and is

currently invested in renewable energyfunds. Some of Purdues Endowment

investment managers invest in clean

energy, alternative fuels, and

renewable energy funds. All the Big

Ten schools received an A or B in this

category except for the University of

Illinois. Although the University of

Illinois foundation aims to optimize

investment return, it does not invest

in renewable energy funds.

Shareholder EngagementIn the Shareholder Engagement

category, the majority of the Big Ten

schools received Ds and Fs. The

University of Minnesota is the only

school that received an A in this

category. At the University of

Minnesota, the Social Concerns

Committee annually reviews and

recommends votes for shareholder

resolutions concerning social issues

for which the university holds stock.

Table 2 ComparisonsTable 2 shows Purdues green report

card from 2007 to 2010 (green

report). This table reflects several

things. The most obvious item that is

noticed is that there is information

that is missing. There are several

reasons for this. First of all, there is

currently more pressure for colleges

and universities to report in multiple

categories that may not have been

particularly established yet. As

colleges have evolved in the green

arena, the desire to have measurable

results has increased. It is also


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possible that the development of

green initiatives was in its infancy, and

more time was needed to procure the

necessary data. Table 2 is also an

indicator of how Purdue has changedthrough the years. As can be seen,

Purdues overall grade went from a C

in the first two years, to a B- in the

last two years of 2009 and 2010.

Purdue has also shown growth in the

categories of Administration, Food

and Recycling, Student Involvement,

Transportation, Shareholder

Engagement, and Endowment

Transparency (since 2008). Also, note

that the Climate Change and Energy

category grade has not changed in

four years. Unfortunately, this table

also reflects that Purdue University has

dropped from a C to a D in the GreenBuilding category. It would be

expected that once Purdue finishes up

its current studies and the

construction to the Mechanical

Engineering wing is complete,

Purdues score in this category should

improve and better support its overall

score.

2010 B- C C B D B B A A D

2009 B- C C B C C B A A D

2008 C C C B C -- C C A FPurdue University

2007 C D C C D -- -- A A F

Table 2 Purdues 2007-2010 green report card


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AnnotatedBibliography

Boren, Eric, and Brown, Graham, and Flores, Nicole, and Gondalia,Rahul, and Haven, Celia, and King, Jillian, and McMullen-Laird,Lydia. Big Ten Sustainabilty Report. University of Illinios. Web 12July, 2010http://sustainability.illinois.edu/BigTenSustainabilityReport.pdf This report documented the comparison of Big Ten conference schools. The

following categories were discussed: administration, infrastructure, energy use,

transportation, recycling, and food. The goal of this report was to highlight the

efforts that are already happening at each school while encouraging

collaboration and friendly competition to accelerate sustainability initiatives. It

will be used to elaborate on how Purdue compares to the other Big Ten schools

in our paper.

Gateway building on its way to LEED certificat ion; InsidePurdue 27August 2009: 10. Print.This article is about the new addition to the Mechanical Engineering Building at

Purdue becoming the first LEED certified building on campus. It mentions the

standards the building must meet and the steps it takes to become LEED

certified. This will be used in the writing of our white paper to show the

necessary steps Purdue University is taking to become "green." The Mechanical

Building will also provide us with a good example of Purdue's intentions for

"going green."

AnnotatedBibliography


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Leedy, Aaron. Some 'fired-up' over PU coal power. WLFI. July 6,2010. Web. May 11, 2010.http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/some-fired-up-overcoalpower

This describes the frustration of environmental organizations with PurdueUniversity's decision to replace coal-fired boilers with clean coal technology

boilers and a natural gas boiler. The Sierra Club Student Organizer thinks that

Purdue should use Geo-thermal, wind, and solar technology rather than the

clean coal technology boilers. The Vice President of Physical Facilities at Purdue

believes that Purdue should consider looking into these alternative energy

sources but right now they are invested in using coal as a source of power. This

article provides information that can be used for our white paper about

Purdue's plan to improve their heating and cooling systems even though

organizations don't think they are doing enough.

Purdue Sustainability Strategic Plan Report. Collaborative ProjectConsulting.25 January 2010.

This report documents the results of the Purdue Sustainability Strategic Plan

development process through January 2010. This report provides percentages

of headlines in the sustainability program areas as well as brief comparisons topeer colleges and universities. The College Sustainability Report Card was used

as a basis for comparison. It also provides some Wade Utility Plant statistics.

The latter part of the document cites many opportunities for the future Purdue

may have for 'going green.'

Purdue University Utilities. Purdue University, 2009. Web. 6 July2010.The Purdue University Utilities website shows all the data recorded for Wade

Power Plant that services the building on Purdue's campus. It lists the daily

utility expenses, the power plants operations, safety, and ways to save energy.

This website provides us with the information needed to analyze Wade Power


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plant for our white paper. The data the site provides can be used to back up

any claims stated in our white paper.

Ridgway, Robin. Questionnaire via e-mail. 15 July 2010.Robin Ridgway is the Director of Sustainability for Purdue University. Her

interview was very helpful in providing clear answers to some of the questions

we had about Purdue and how it is 'going green.' She has a great understanding

of the project to 'go green' as a whole and is in contact with many other project

leaders throughout the university. She was very helpful in pointing out the more

important topics and helping us narrow down our analysis.

Sustainable Endowments Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.College Sustainable Report Cards. Web 12 July, 2010..This web site gives tremendous value to the ability to not only compare

individual schools, but develop an understanding what colleges and universities

are doing as a whole. It allows a comparison chart to be made in which a user

can compare the grades each school got in several categories, but also in the

years from 2007 to 2010. This site will enable our group to discuss how

Purdues grades are comparing to the rest of the collegiate community, but also

what categories Purdue is improving or degrading in.

Sustainablility director ready to build partnerships, promotestewardship; InsidePurdue 27 August 2009: 10. Print.This article describes the partnerships Purdue's director of sustainability and

environmental stewardship (Robin Ridgway) is making to increase Purdue's

sustainability efforts. Purdue is adding a green roof at Schleman Hall, replacingthe old coal boilers with new clean coal boilers, and Qualified Energy Savings

projects in Brown Laboratory in Chemistry, Stewart Center, and in the expansion

of Mackey Arena all in the sustainability effort. The information found in this

article is almost the foundation of our white paper. The sustainability effort

Purdue is doing is the most important part in the writing of our white paper.


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"Wade Utility Plant: Boiler 5 Project." Net Impact @ Purdue. Web. 20January 2009.

This is a project plan for a carbon neutral fuel source to be used at Purdue. Thereport describes the process of the project and the financial budgets needed to

complete this task. Robin Ridgway is the person who is analyzing the system to

see if a biomass based alternative fuel can be used in one of the coal-fired

boilers. This website gives us a clearer view of the plan and goals of one of the

projects Purdue completed to help "go green."

Appendix

An interview with Robin Ridgway, 16 July 2010.Me: I know you are quite busy, so I will try to keep my questions brief andcover only the most pertinent questions.

Robin: Okay. What do you have for me?Me: First of all, what are some significant programs Purdue has started topromote sustainability?

Robin: Well, the biggest thing was that the President incorporatedSustainability into the University Strategic Plan. The next step is a sustainability

strategic plan requested by senior administration. We are waiting on approval of

this strategic plan. Putting this plan into action is the biggest step. As far as

programs, recycling is a big one; our dual stream recycling program is a big

step. Also the transportation services use of flex-fuel and hybrid vehicles

almost exclusively. Youll have to look at the strategic plan for figures. TheWade Utility Plant is probably the biggest part on the energy side, and weve

been using it for years. Its primary purpose is to generate steam for heating

campus, but before this steam gets sent to campus, its used to make

electricity. This is called combined heat and power and is very efficient, and

thats what makes it so important.

Appendix


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Me: Okay. What are the largest contributors to Purdues carbon footprint?Robin: There was a class that studied this, and energy generated onsite andpurchased from off site is about 75% of the Universitys carbon footprint. The

class was taught in 2007 by professors Raymond and Nies. You can find the

report on our website.Me: On the sustainability website?Robin: Yes. It is a PDF.Me: Alright. When did Purdue first recognize the need to be environmentallyresponsible?

Robin: Well, there really isnt a good answer. Purdue has always been strivingto be a good steward of the environment since it was instituted. I cant give you

an exact answer; Im sorry.

Me: Okay. That answer is perfectly acceptable. Is there a published number indollars to indicate Purdues annual savings from the employment of green

technology?

Robin: Im not really sure. I dont think anyone has done the analysis. Youcould certainly look at Wade Utility Plants distribution infrastructure on

campus; its one of the most important. Looking at how much the system costs

to maintain versus what it would cost to get from the outside, you could do the

figures.

Me: Speaking of Wade, we are very interested in the plant. Is there a betterperson to contact about the plant?

Robin: Well, if you need any specific details about the maintenance or cost, EricVan Meter or Bruce High would be the people to talk to, but general questions I

can address myself.

Me: Thank you. Can you tell me what the Mechanical Engineering addition,Gatewood, as a LEED certified building means to the Sustainability Council?

Robin: Well, its mainly been a learning opportunity to see what goes intomaking a LEED certified building. Its been a big help preparing us for what may

come in the future.Me: On this topic, are there any plans to update other buildings to LEEDstandards?

Robin: The new Marriot Hall will be LEED certified at least somewhat, and therenovation of Harrick Labs. Luci Keazerr would be able to give you more

information. Shes actively involved with all of that.


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Documents

Purdue University – Emerging Green v016 Final