GREEN AND LEAN Fredonia has initiated the drilling of three natural gas wells on campus. The first well was drilled in August 2007 and two additional wells will be drilled in 2008. The savings to the campus are expected exceed $500,000 over the next five years. Alfred State has recycled electronic materials for many years. While in past years a vendor was paid to provide this service for the college, this year a new program was implemented that has a vendor now paying the college to recycle electronic material, such as computers, monitors, TVs and lab equipment. This new program changes electronic recycling from expenses to revenues. Oneonta is conserving water with an aggressive water leak detection program. Cumulative savings of about 10,000 gallons per day have been achieved through this ongoing program. In addition, the replacement of all residential laundry equipment with energy-saving front load washers contributes to both water and electrical savings. The college has generated substantial savings in both dollars and gallons in the water/sewer system over the last several years. Estimated recurring reduced consumption is about 35.6 million gallons annually, or 34 percent, as compared to base year usage in 2002-03. This reduced consumption generates an estimated 30 per-cent annual savings on water and sewer bills. MORRISVILLE EXPLORES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES Alternative energy projects combine two of Morrisville�s traditional strengths: agriculture and technology. The college is developing leaders, experts and professionals for this fast-growing, high-demand industry. The New York State Senate awarded $4 million for the creation of the New York Liguids for Biofuels at Morrisville. The grant for the center will help fund a biodiesel infrastructure in the state through the construction of an oilseed crushing and biodiesel processing plant and extensive research in the use of biofuels and byproducts. RUNNING ON BIODIESEL AT ESF At the College of Environmental Science and Foresty, 17 percent of the vehicles now operate on biodiesel, including buses, trucks and bulldozers. A third of the ESF fleet runs on some form of alternative fuel (for example, electric, hybrid elec-tric, compressed natural gas, and flex fuel, which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gas). Senior Greg Boyd works with a processor installed in forme greenhouse on the campus. He uses waste vegetable oil (fryer oil) from a hall at neighboring Syracuse University, strains it and then pumps it into the bioprocessor. Mehanol is added to produce biodiesel. Sodium hydroxide is added as a catalyst for the methanol. POTSDAM STUDENTS LEARN BY SERVING THE ENVIRONMENT Is that smoke? In June, on his first day perched in a 90-year-old Pokomoon-shine steel-framed fire tower, high above New York's highly prized Adirondack Park, that is exactly the question that went through Potsdam student Kevin Chlad�s head. Chlad�s immediate alert to state agencies resulted in the avoidance of a potentially devastating forest fire in the nation�s largest publicly protected park. Chlad is one of many Potsdam students occupying the fire towers to fulfill requirements for the college�s interdisciplinary Environmental Studies major. The internship weaves together a unique three-way partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Potsdam and non-profit environmental organizations. The students spend several weeks serving as the de facto interpreter for the mountains where more than 100,000 visitors hike and climb annually. UALBANY RESEARCH DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR NY The Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center at the University at Albany�s College of Nanoscale Science and works with companies in the emerging energy and environmental industries, supporting technology development leading to the integration of nanoscale science and engineering know-how that will drive advancements in a host of alternative energy applications � including fuel cells, solar photovoltaic cells, ultracapacitors and power electronics. ALFRED STUDENTS FUEL THE FUTURE In a building hidden away on the �back lot� of the Applied Technology campus of Alfred State College, amazing things were happening during the spring 2007 semester. Four seniors enrolled in the robotics and computerized control technology program in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Service the semester researching, building, and testing theory that used frying grease can be transformed into a viable, �greener� fuel to run diesel engines. All the effort and hard work paid off: On the final two days of classes, the test batches turned used dining hall grease into fuel that was used successfully to run a diesel engine in the Automotive Trades Department. The four seniors presented their project to Tom Massara, executive director, Auxiliary Campus Enterprises and Services (ACES), the campus dining and vending corporation, and Leo Lejeune, manager, Lake Lodge, Maintenance and Transportation, ACES, which was the major funding source for the project supplier, along with the Culinary Arts Department on the Applied Technology campus, of the used fryer grease). In addition, a grant was secured for the project by State Sen. Catharine Young. The project also help stu-dents in other disciplines who created the mechanical drawings for the welders to follow to create the necessary biodiesel reactor tank. Students in auto body repair painted the tank with special epoxy paint. Chemistry and agricultural science students also contributed their expertise. Alfred State College�s biodiesel fuel reactor. Next semester, the biodiesel fuel reactor will be moved to the Alfred campus where the greener fuel will gradually be introduced into some of the fleet�s diesel vehicles. The college also hopes to obtain a generator that will run on college-produced biodiesel fuel. TAKING THE LEED The SUNY Board of Trustees took a significant step toward improving the environment and reducing energy costs by directing that all new buildings, additions and major renovations will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating requirements. The policy follows Governor Eliot Spitzer�s comprehensive energy and environmental agenda. In 2007, the Governor unveiled his 15 x 15 plan to reduce energy use by 15 percent from forecasted levels by the year 2015 through new energy efficiency programs intended to reduce energy bills, greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. The policy follows the recommendations of the SUNY Task Force on Energy and directs that all new buildings, additions and major renovations undertaken by the SUNY and new residence halls and major renovations managed by Dormitory Authority of the State of New Silver rating requirements. The Board also recommended that each of the 30 community colleges adopt similar policies. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the national benchmark for high performance green buildings.