SUNY Goes Green--Implements Task Force Recommendations

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor John R. Ryan today issued a comprehensive report from the SUNY Energy Task Force containing recommendations that will propel SUNY into a national leadership role in energy sustainability, education, technology, economics and public policy through a transformational integration of practice, teaching, and research.

 

"I applaud SUNY's strong commitment to reducing pollution through smarter energy use.  SUNY will lead the way in showing how investments in energy efficiency can help the environment and the bottom line," said Senator Clinton who supports SUNY’s role as a model for alternative energy and conservation.

 

“As one of the largest energy users in New York State, SUNY has a responsibility to act now to reduce energy consumption, increase its use of renewable energy resources and leverage its vast intellectual resources to help address the energy challenges facing New York and the Nation,” said Chancellor Ryan.

 

Chancellor Ryan said, “All of us at SUNY commend the members of the Energy Task Force for their hard work in developing realistic solutions to complex problems and for emphasizing the need to expand on the good work being done on all our campuses.”

 

The chancellor also noted that SUNY has reduced its energy use per square foot by more than 38 percent compared to 1973-74, SUNY’s cumulative cost avoidance through 2005-06 exceeded $1 billion, and SUNY has invested more than $100 million in energy conservation since 1992, and currently has $80 million in energy conservation projects in design or construction.

 

Energy Task Force Co-Chair and SUNY ESF President Neil B. Murphy Jr., said, “"The issue of transforming society from a petroleum carbon base to a renewable energy base together with the associated global warming implications, is one of the most important challenges of the 21^st century.  I am excited that SUNY is prepared to take a leadership position."

 

Energy Task Force Co-Chair and SUNY Morrisville President Raymond W. Cross said, "The State University of New York is taking bold and aggressive steps to lead the nation in conserving energy, producing and using green energy, performing energy research, and educating the public about energy-related issues.  This effort will have a positive impact on all New Yorkers."

 

Energy Task Force member and SUNY Faculty Senate President Carl P. Wiezalis said, “The transformational opportunities outlined in the report will enable SUNY students and faculty to address the challenges of renewable energy head on.  At the same time SUNY faculty are pleased to participate in meeting the aggressive conservation goals.  Working together, we will have a very positive impact on our environment.”

 

The Task Force outlined goals for SUNY in areas of conservation and sustainability, transformational opportunities, and management and planning.

 

Conservation/Sustainability

Goals for conservation and sustainability identified by the Task Force include:

 

§       Establish campus targets for reduction of energy use by 2010, so total University energy use is 37 percent lower than 1989-90 use,

 

§       Cap green house gas emissions at current levels and decrease emissions 20 percent by 2014,

 

§       Increase the use of renewable energy purchased or generated on campus to 30 percent by 2014,

 

§       Develop five new combined heat and power (CHP) projects by 2010, and

 

§       Design and construct new buildings or rehabilitate existing buildings using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and life-cycle-cost analysis.

 

Transformational Opportunities

Specific Transformational Opportunities for advancing SUNY’s educational mission in energy and the environment include:

 

§       Creating and improving academic programs to address the current and future challenges associated with the energy, environment and economic nexus,

 

§       Developing work force programs at the technical level and through continuing education programs to meet the needs of energy users, energy service companies, regulators, and public and investor-owned utilities,

 

§       Expanding energy-related research to achieve national leadership in the development of renewable energy, conservation, and the efficient use and conversion of energy,

 

§       Raising awareness by utilizing the capabilities of SUNY to educate students, faculty, staff, local community and global community about the nexus between energy and the environment, and

 

§       Building strategic alliances with public and private sector partners by providing research and analysis to regulators, elected officials, private industry and New York’s citizens.

 

Management and Planning

Specific management and planning goals identified by the task force include:

 

§       Optimize “System-ness” by encouraging and facilitating greater inter-campus communication and cooperation regarding best practices, campus-based initiatives and externally funded projects.

 

§       Procure energy and fuels at the lowest cost, while managing price risk in accordance with a prudent, clearly defined and documented University Risk Management Policy that utilizes financially sound market-based products.

 

 

In addition, the Task Force identified areas of success, which are the foundation upon which SUNY will build a new university-wide energy economic and educational paradigm.  Successful SUNY energy efforts identified by the Task Force included:

 

§       SUNY has reduced its energy use per square foot by more than 38 percent compared to 1973-74, 

 

§       The cumulative cost avoidance through 2005-06 exceeded $1 billion, and

 

§       SUNY has invested over $100 million in energy conservation since 1992, and currently has over $80 million in energy conservation projects in design or construction.

 

SUNY Energy Facts

SUNY is one of the largest energy users in New York State.

 

§       The University’s State-operated campuses contain more than 90 million overall gross square feet in 2,829 buildings.

 

§       Total annual energy consumption is approximately 11,445.9 trillion BTUs, the equivalent of 67,000 homes.

 

§       Projected 2006-07 utility costs are over $300 million, comprising nearly 10% of SUNY’s core operating budget and, in many cases, 50% of a campus’ non personal service-related expenditures.

 

To view a copy of the report, please follow either of these links:

 

http://www.suny.edu/files/sunynewsFiles/Pdf/energytaskforcereport.pdf

 

http://www.suny.edu/files/sunynewsFiles/txt/energytaskforcereport.txt

 

To view a copy of the powerpoint, please follow this link:

 

http://www.suny.edu/files/sunynewsFiles/ppt/ENERGYTASKFORCE.ppt

 

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 417,500 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses.