The Finger Lakes InstituteA Green Facility

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The Finger Lakes Institute A Green Facility

• Sarah A. Meyer
• Community Outreach Coordinator

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Efforts of the Finger Lakes Institute

• To promote research
• To educate
• To create an awareness
• To provide resources to learn
• To foster environmentally-sound development
  practices
• To share knowledge

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The Greenhouse Effect
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Signs of Climate Change in NY

• Average annual temperatures are increasing
• By 2100 temperatures in New York could increase
  about 4 degrees F in winter and spring, and
  slightly more in summer and fall (with a range of
  2-8 degrees F)
• Severe rainstorms are more frequent
• Precipitation is projected to increase by 10-20
• Winters are shorter
• Duration of ice cover is decreasing
• Increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere
  carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide
• may be signs of climate change

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Effect on the Finger Lakes

• Water resources affected by precipitation,
  temperature, humidity, wind, and sunshine
• Higher temperature increases evaporation and
  result in lower river flow and lake levels
• If streamflow and lake level drop, groundwater
  could be reduced
• Higher temperatures and lower flow could reduce
  water quality
• Intense precipitation causes severe floods

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CO2 Production

• Gas produces 11 lbs. of CO2 per Therm
• Electricity produces 1.4 lbs of CO2 per kWh
• Whole House Annual Energy Use
• for Geneva, NY
• produces 25,735 lb. of CO2
• About 12 tons
• In the Northern Hemisphere, an average tree will
  remove 1 ton of CO2 from the atmosphere over a 40
  year period.
• 480 years for one tree to absorb!
• Not too many trees live that long!
• One acre of forest can remove and store about
  19,000 lbs of CO2 each year.
• Start planting by the acre!

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Removal of CO2 by Trees

• All forests collect carbon dioxide (CO2) and
  store the carbon in the form of wood
• The amount retained per acre per year depends on
  the vigor of the trees, the quality of the site,
  and the amount of disturbance or mortality each
  year
• Comparison
• Northeast, maple-beech-birch
• 1,760 lbs of CO2 per acre per year
• Northeast, white and red pine
• 9,826 lbs of CO2 per acre per year
• Northeast, Willow Tree Hybrids
• 10.7 tons CO2 per acre per year
• Faster growing, produce more biomass per acre,
  per year are best!

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How much do you weigh?

• Alarm clock88 kWh/yr
• Coffee maker100 kWh/yr
• Toaster 46 kWh/yr
• Hair dryer 182 kWh/yr
• Aquarium 4,380 kWh/yr
• Personal computer 394 kWh/yr
• TV 21kWh/yr
• TOTAL 5211 kWh/yr
• 7,295 lb. CO2 per year!
• It would take 144 years for one tree to absorb it
  all!

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Solutions

• For residents, business leaders, and policymakers
• Reduce heat-trapping gas emissions
• Increase energy efficiency in buildings
• Reduce dependency on coal-fired utilities
• Switch to renewable energy sources, clean energy
  technologies
• Increase vehicle fuel efficiency
• And more

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Efforts made at the FLI

• Use of renewable energy sources
• 80 wind energy
• 20 solar energy
• 100 Geothermal heating and cooling
• Use of building materials that increase energy
  efficiency
• Education, creating an awareness

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History of Our Building

• Built before the turn of the century as a college
  chapter house for Sigma Phi. 
• Housed Sigma Phi until 1926
• Housed Lambda Phi from 1928-1934
• Housed Kappa Sigma from 1935-1951 or 1952
• Was vacant by 1955
• 1955 was sold by colleges and turned into
  apartments
• By 1987, fell into disrepair repossessed by city
  
• In 1991, the Colleges purchased the building
• Condemned until 2003
• Renovations began in Winter 2003 for the Finger
  Lakes Institute

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Finger Lakes Institute Building
W03

• A balance of historical renovation
• and energy conservation

F03
W04
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HWS Academic Efforts

• John Halfman and Tom Drennen
• Env. Studies 110 - Fall 2002
• More than 2 dozen students
• Many members of Campus Greens
• Proposed recommendations for energy conservation
  and sustainability in the FLI building
• To rely solely on renewable resources

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The Floor Plan
Second Floor
Attic
First Floor
Basement
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Wind Energy

• 80 of our power
• Grind grain, pump water, generate electricity
• Dependent on weather and location
• Source Fenner Wind Power Facility, Madison County
• Turbines lifted by wind, mechanical energy drives
  an electrical generator
• Generated by farm, delivered to NiMo, transmitted
  to FLI
• In 2003, HWS used 771,750 kWh of wind energy
  offsetting 1 million pounds of CO2 from entering
  our atmosphere.

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Solar Energy

• 20 of our power
• Clean, renewable, domestic
• Power satellites, calculators, road signs, buoys,
  street lights, etc.
• 24 solar photovoltaic panels installed today!
• Converts sunlight directly into electricity
• Leftovers? Sold back to power plant
• No noise, no fuel use, no greenhouse gases
  produced

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Geothermal Energy

• 100 of our heating and cooling
• Moves heat rather than converting chemical energy
  to heat
• 20 wells, 100 feet deep, closed loop system
• Uses earths constant temperature as a heat
  source or heat sink depending on the season

House Temp. 68 Outside Temp 95 Ground Temp 55
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Water Conservation

• Interior
• 1.6 gallon low flow toilets
• On-demand mini hot water tanks
• Exterior
• Landscaping which retains moisture and reduces
  the need to irrigate
• Highly decomposed mulch
• High density growth turf
• Composting yard waste
• No alteration of shoreline
• Use of slow release fertilizers

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Energy Conservation

• Interior
• Installed compact fluorescent light bulbs
• On-demand mini hot water tank
• Motion detector lighting system
• Use of Energy Star office equipment
• Programmable thermostats (6)
• Windows with insulating glass and low emissivity
  level
• Efficient Insulation
• Exterior
• Retain shoreline forest to supply shade and
  shelter during harsh weather

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Where Can you Conserve Energy?.AND Money!
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Resource Conservation

• Interior
• Back deck floor made of synthetic lumber
• Recycle bins batteries, paper, cardboard, etc.
• Use of recycled and recyclable office equipment
• Furniture made from recycled materials, and
  environmentally friendly manufacturing

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You can do your part

• Purchase Energy Star products
• Turn lights out
• Purchase wind power blocks of 100 kWh
• Promote the use and generation of renewable
  energy sources
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Lose some pounds. of CO2!

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Questions?

• http//fli.hws.edu/greenbuilding.asp