Department of Housing 2002 Progress Report

March 8, 2002

Submitted to: CU Environmental Center
Attn: Marya Hillesland
Campus Earth Summit Coordinator
303-492-8308
hillesla@ucsu.colorado.edu Submitted by: The Department of Housing
Sue Wallace, Environmental Coordinator
Ph: 303-735-3013
swallace@housing.colorado.edu

Creating a Climate-Friendly Campus

• The lighting quality in the Farrand lobby was very poor. Ten old fixtures with 150-watt incandescent bulbs were replaced with 15 fixtures, however because they used 32-watt, T-8 fluorescent lamps, energy savings were still realized.
• At the College Inn, boiler replacements have resulted in a conservative 50% energy savings estimate. Four large boilers were replaced with two smaller, more efficient ones, and the pumps were upgraded with energy-efficient models. Prior to replacement, the system design required the boilers to run all summer long, just to provide hot water. Now, the boilers are staged to operate only when there is demand. So in the summer, only one unit will be running to provide hot water.
• In Family Housing, low flow showerheads are being installed as bathrooms are being remodeled.
• Approximately 150 units have been retrofitted with fluorescent lighting to replace plug-in lamps. Additionally, over 5,000 compact fluorescent lamps have been installed throughout the three Family Housing areas. These measures have resulted in an annual energy savings of approximately $55,000.
• About 150 higher-efficiency refrigerators and stoves replaced older (on average 10-20 years old) appliances.
• Housing has a contract with a vendor to remove the CFC’s from all refrigerators that require disposal. The refrigerators and the reclaimed CFC’s are then recycled.
• At Marine Court, a domestic hot water loop will be added in July of 2002. This loop will provide hot water, and will allow for the steam line to be shut down four months out of the year. This is estimated to save approximately 20% in steam costs.
• 48 units at Athens Court will be retrofitted with individual zone controls to allow for more efficient heating.
• Housing is looking at the financial feasibility and impact to the central cogeneration facility of an energy-saving performance contract. Through a performance contract, the energy improvements are repaid from the resulting savings. The project is managed by an energy services company (ESCO), which oversees the installation and commissioning of equipment, and verifies the energy savings.
  
  Initial estimates indicate that Housing could reduce its electricity and steam consumption by 15% in the first year. The department is currently reviewing the cost-effectiveness of this potential $4-6 million dollar investment. Assuming the project is given the green light, Housing will issue an RFP to select an ESCO, with project implementation starting sometime in the summer.

Creating a Safe and Healthy Campus

Part I: Minimizing Hazardous Waste

• Housekeeping converted to a new line of cleaning products, which are less toxic and corrosive. This allowed for the department to reduce its inventory of cleaning products from 250 to 75. In 2001-02, this system saved about $16,000 per year.
• Housekeeping purchased cleaning rags made by 3M, which, due to the fiber and the weave, clean without any cleaning chemical—just water is needed.
• All spent fluorescent lamps containing mercury (those that are not green-tipped) are disposed of by Facilities Management through an EPA-approved lamp recycler.
• Housing is assessing the costs of providing a computer/electronic recycling program for its residents with Eco-Cycle, and may offer a program next fall. This type of waste generated in the residence halls is currently exempt from the State’s universal hazardous waste regulations. This means that these items may be disposed of in the trash dumpsters, but Housing is seeking a reuse/recycling alternative.
• Working with EH & S, Housing will participate in a pilot household battery recycling program starting in April, 2002. Batteries will be collected in April, September, and October from each residence hall main office. The costs for providing this program will be assessed to determine if a permanent program is feasible.
  
  All batteries generated by Housing Services—i.e., those from cell phones, palm pilots, hand-held tools, smoke detectors in Family Housing—are collected from the Housing Maintenance Service Center by EH &S.

Part II: Minimizing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals and Pesticides

• Housing will experiment with a corn gluten meal (CGM) pre-emergent treatment for dandelion control in the spring of 2002. CGM prevents seeds from germinating, and so, used over a period of several years, will help reduce the number of dandelions. An added benefit of using CGM is that it is 9% nitrogen in a slow-release form, being more available to the grass than quick-release, synthetic fertilizers.
• This summer, Housing will also experiment with a slow-release, alfalfa-based fertilizer to replace the high-nitrogen, quick-release type used in the past. Quick-release fertilizers tend to be lost to evaporation and run-off, making them more expensive and less effective. In addition, the high nitrogen residual gets carried into waterways where it can create a chemical imbalance.
• Housing continues to use the integrated pest management (IPM) services offered through Facilities Management for structural pest control. Additionally, the Assistant Director of Housing Services and the Environmental Coordinator issued a department-wide memo stating Housing’s policy against using or purchasing pesticides.

Greening Campus Consumption and Disposal Habits

Part I: Purchasing Environmentally-Responsible Products

• Recycled plastic picnic tables were used at Athens Park, a Family Housing area.
• Recycled carpeting was used in the entryway of the new Family Housing main office, and in the elevator at Marine Court. The product, made by Collins-Aikman, contains recycled content, and can itself be recycled at the end of its lifetime.

Part II: Capping Solid Waste Going to the Landfill at Today’s Levels

• During the Farrand kitchen renovation, roughly 10 tons of construction materials were recycled/reused. These materials included doors, dimensional lumber, decorative wood, metal, light fixtures, and flagstone.
• In February 2001, Housing adopted a pay-for-printing policy in all of its computer labs. The program is estimated to be saving 1,800 reams of paper per year.
• The Cheyenne-Arapaho and Darley Commons dock areas were improved to allow for easier access to recycling containers.
• Housekeeping is converting to a new toilet paper roll design without cores. Additionally, this product is packaged in a plastic bag, rather than a cardboard box, savings transportation fuel costs. The bag may then be used by Housekeeping as a trash liner. This product conversion is estimated to save almost $10,000 per year.
• In the fall of 2001, Housing began chipping its organic waste on-site for use on its grounds. It is estimated that about 200 yds3 of organic material has been diverted from the landfill.
• Pallets are reused by a pallet recycler; the broken ones are chipped up by Housing and used for mulch.
• All scrap metal generated by Housing Services is recycled.
• Refrigerators were donated to the CU Community Closet, for use by the Special Education Departments at CU, Broomfield and Niwot High Schools, and Superior Elementary.
• Old smoke detectors (those under 2 years old and still in good condition) were donated to Longs Peak Energy Conservation, a weatherization agency that assists low-income families.
• About 250 old beds and desks were given to Salvation Army and the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless when furniture was replaced in Sewall Hall last summer.
• Green Building
  In the last year, Housing has incorporated a small number of green building measures. As mentioned earlier, approximately 10 tons of construction materials from the Farrand dining renovation were reused or recycled. And recycled carpeting was used in the Family Housing office remodel. Small, but real, changes. Additionally, the project review process as outlined in the Project Manager’s Policies and Procedures Guidelines now includes an environmental review of each project by the Environmental Coordinator.
  
  Admittedly, there is some resistance to green building. This likely is due to project manager’s unfamiliarity with the approach, methods, products, costs, and benefits of green building. In addition, the network of product suppliers, and design and construction professionals is still early in its development. To facilitate expanding green building within Housing, a training program will be developed for project managers and area supervisors, and implemented in the summer or fall.