Furman University

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Furman University

• A Case Study for Climate Action Planning

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• Background and Context Where is Furman and How
  Did We Get Here?
• Furmans s consumption and carbon emissions
  profile
• Discussion/Questions and Answers

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Where is Furman and How Did We Get Here?

• Early Commitments/Activities
• Strategic Plans (e.g., from Engaging the Future
  2004)
• To strengthen our commitment to the environment
  by promoting sustainability through educational
  programs, campus operations/construction
  practices and public awareness initiatives.

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• LEED policy
• Multiple but disconnected activities
• Biodiesel
• ECOS
• Sustainability Intern/Sustainability Liaison
• Cliffs Cottage
• Organic Garden

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• Multiple activities (continued)
• Sustainability features of Townes Science Center
• Recyling
• Green Bikes
• Environmental Studies Concentration
• etc.

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• Turning the corner
• Sustainability as integral to our
  institutional identity. It is what we are as an
  institution and not simply a program or set of
  programs.

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Ramping Up Significant Next Steps

• New curriculum
• Humans and the Natural Environment
• First Year Seminars

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First Year Seminar Examples

• The Energy Future of America
• Evaluating the Science of Global Climate Change
• Global and Green Computing
• Nuclear Power Pros and Cons
• Sustainability of Natural Resources
• Global Climate Change Fact, Fiction, or Fantasy
• Global Water Issues
• To Walk the Land

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• ACUPCC
• President as signatory
• Carbon inventory
• Sustainability Planning Group (SPG)
• Office of Sustainability/Director
• Andrew W. Mellon grant
• Staffing
• Programming

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• Sustainability Planning Council (SPC)
• Core Committee
• Four Subcommittees
• Conservation
• Infrastructure
• Behavioral
• Renewables
• Offsets
• Transportation

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Furmans Consumption and Carbon Emissions
ProfileJeff Redderson
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Discussion/Q and A(based on SPC subcommittees)

• Conservation
• Infrastructure
• Behavioral
• Renewables
• Offsets
• Transportation

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Conservation

• Points of focus
• Physical plant improvements
• Policy changes
• Behavioral/cultural changes

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Considerations/Questions

• Any more low hanging fruit?
• Lowest electric rates in the country (.05 KWH)
• Students as lagging cohort
• How to create incentives for behavioral change?

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Renewables

• Primary focus
• Biomass
• Solar

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Considerations/Questions

• Long term availability of biomass materials?
• Scale issues cost/size of facility
• Is solar cost efficient given low PV efficiencies
  and large land area needed?

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Carbon Offsets

• Premises
• Want to minimize use as part of strategy
• Preference for local projects

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Considerations/Questions

• Can we identify/encourage local offset programs?
• How can we ensure integrity and accountability?
• How can we encourage partnership with other
  entities?

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Transportation

• Goals
• To reduce use of automobiles by students, faculty
  and staff
• To evaluate air travel by faculty and staff

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Questions/Considerations

• Inadequate mass transit system
• Suburban campus car culture
• Faculty travel Impact on scholarship and
  professional interaction
• Staff Loss of professional development
  opportunities?