2016

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

MORAINE VALLEY

COMMUNITY COLLEGE “Climate change is a collective issue, whereby the responsibility to generate solutions is not isolated to policy makers and scientists. At Moraine Valley, sustainability is a serious issue for every department and discipline, as well as the student, and we want to make an equal impact on our community and the world at large.”

By Dr. Sylvia Jenkins CONTENTS

1 Executive Summary 4

2 Moraine Valley’s Climate Commitment: A Message from the President 6

3 Introduction 8

3.1 History 3.2 Moraine Valley Climate Action Plan 3.3 Why This Matters 3.4 Second Nature Climate Action Plan Reporting Requirements

4 Moraine Valley’s GHG 18

4.1 Glossary of Terms 4.2 Data Analysis

5 Strategies 25

M.0 Strategy 01: Mitigation R.0 Strategy 02: Renewable Energy AR.0 Strategy 03: Adaptation and Resilience E.0 Strategy 04: Engagement

6 Implementation 40

7 Conclusion 44

8 Bibliography 44

9 Acknowledgments 45 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Formerly known as the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), the Carbon Commitment is focused on reducing emissions of harmful greenhouse gases to zero, thus alleviating higher education institutions’ contributions to climate change. This effort is supported by Second Nature, who has maintained the ACUPCC in some capacity since 2006, retaining sole responsibility in 2011.

Moraine Valley Community College signed the ACUPCC in 2013. And in 2015, the ACUPCC further evolved into three commitments: Carbon Commitment (again, formerly ACUPCC); the Resilience Commitment: a newly developed commitment to address the critical need for resiliency planning; and, Climate Commitment, which combines the two. Moraine Valley is currently involved in efforts supporting the Climate Commitment; however, Moraine Valley has chosen to continue the ACUPCC/Carbon Commitment to meet the requirements of our pledge to Second Nature, and more accurately to our common future.

The Carbon Commitment defines climate neutrality as having no net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a certain date. Signatories also commit to taking “actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students,” and “actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality.” The implementation of the Carbon Commitment involves:

• Setting up an institutional structure (committee, task force, office, etc.) • Completing an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. • Creating and implementing a climate action plan (that includes a target date and interim milestones for achieving campus climate neutrality). • Taking two of seven tangible steps specified in the commitment to reduce GHG emissions. • Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience. • Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available on an annual basis.

Climate change is a global challenge that necessitates a global response, as well as requisite individual and community action. Preventing problems, reducing emissions and implementing adaptation strategies are much more efficient than responding to catastrophes. Through awareness, education, and thoughtful action, Moraine Valley must both limit its contribution to climate disruption as well as equip its community to do the same. The college also must provide the leadership and develop strategies to ensure campus and community resilience and adaptability as we face inevitable change.

Through signing the Carbon Commitment, Dr. Jenkins took action and pledged the college to be carbon neutral by 2042.

4 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan To achieve this goal, the president developed a task force through which this Climate Action Plan was developed. Prior to developing the plan, it was Moraine Valley necessary to analyze the current state of climate impact of the college. This analysis Community College is sometimes called a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, or a carbon footprint. The current carbon footprint of the college is 25,775 metric tons of CO2e (“carbon is proud to have a dioxide equivalent” representative of all the greenhouse gases). The majority of Center for those GHG are the result of activities of the college, but occur from sources not necessarily controlled by the college; for example, waste, business travel and Sustainability, commuting of students, staff and faculty. which is made possible in part by How will we achieve carbon neutrality? the IGEN. The task force identified five major strategy categories to begin to meet the goal of carbon neutrality: mitigation, renewable energy, transportation, waste, and engagement. The college’s progress will be measured through annual greenhouse gas inventories, strategy implementation evaluation by the task force, and integration into the development and review of the campus master plan, which occurs every five years.

Achieving carbon-neutral operation requires appropriate funding, continuous implementation of identified emissions mitigation strategies, administrative and community support, planning flexibility to address future technological developments, and time. Furthermore, as a community college, Moraine Valley is built on the foundation of existing as a brick-and-mortar resource to the community, as well as being a convenient commuter campus. These needs and challenges will not change and will take a long time to address.

The task force will focus initial efforts on implementing procedures to reduce physical plant energy consumption, create renewable energy sources, and develop curriculum and activities to educate its community on climate change. Further along the journey, a greater focus will be given to the more challenging emission sources, potentially through the purchase of carbon offsets or other innovative strategies.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 5 A Message from the President

As a community college, it is our mission to serve our community, to be a steward of its health through education, workforce development and service. It is our responsibility to be aware of changes and emerging challenges so we may develop solutions that drive community wellness. Now, more than ever, we recognize that not just our community, but our world, is facing serious challenges due to climate change and disruption. Clearly, the Moraine Valley district is not exclusive of these threats. Many are trying to find solutions to these challenges; however, I recognize it is our students will bear the greatest burden of finding solutions to these global problems.

Climate change is a collective issue, whereby the responsibility to generate solutions is not isolated to policy makers and scientists. At Moraine Valley, sustainability is a serious issue for every department and discipline, as well as student, and we want to make an equal impact on our community and the world at large. As an institution of higher education, we recognize our greatest impact on climate change can be through our primary asset — teaching our students how to interpret and react to pressing issues of our time. Students are the next generation of problem-solvers; however, it is also our duty to demonstrate examples of solutions.

Therefore, in the fall of 2013, I made a significant commitment on behalf of Moraine Valley Community College when I signed the Second Nature Carbon Commitment (formerly, the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment). This commitment is the beginning of a journey through which we will achieve campus carbon neutrality, support community resilience, and provide climate change education and global citizenship opportunities for our students.

By signing this commitment and upholding the promises within, Moraine Valley is leading by example; we are showing our community that we are responsible stewards and recognize our duty to do everything we can to mitigate climate change disruption because it’s necessary and because it’s the right thing to do.

As a matter of fact, through our participation with the South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC), we are working directly with our community to make the Chicago Southland the greenest and most resilient region through sustainable practices. We have partnered with key community stakeholders, including municipal, manufacturing, non-profit, health care and other leaders, to provide a platform to link and leverage resources throughout the area. Through this effort, we will raise up the region’s ability to adapt to a changing climate while also mitigating carbon emissions and other unsustainable practices, fostering a healthy future for us all.

I am honored to say that at Moraine Valley we recognize and fully support this effort as a necessary cooperative and unified action that will make positive change for today and tomorrow.

Furthermore, by joining the Carbon Commitment, Moraine Valley also aligns with a specific, ambitious goal adopted by hundreds nurturingof other higher education institutions; united, the kind of shared vision across institutions wethat are is needed nurturing the kind to achieve transformationalof shared vision across institutions that is needed to achieve changetransformational changes s to avoid climate disaster.to avoid climate disaster. To do this, we have developedTo do this, this Climatewe have Action developed this Climate Action Plan; a plan that is flexible and Plan; a plan thatadaptive is flexibleover and time and which will lead adaptive over time and whichto the institution’s climate neutrality. will lead to the institution’s climate neutrality.

MoraineMoraine Valley could Valley could notnot fulfill fulfill its obligation its obligation to createto create a Climate Action Plan without the input and effort a Climate Action Plan without the input of a strategically coordinated andteam effortof many influential stakeholders of a strategically coordinated teamof of its campus community. many influential stakeholdersTo that effort, I organized a campuswide representative task force, in its campus community.with members grouped To that effort, I intoorganized four keya campus-wide focus areas: operations, community engagement, students, and academics. representative task force, with members grouped into four key focus areas: operations, community engagement, students, and academics. Carbon neutrality is a lofty goal, and we know it will not happen overnight. However, as evidenced within this Climate Action Plan, Carbonthe tremendous work neutrality is a loftyof goal, this task and weforce know has it willset not us on the right path happen overnight. Howeverto eventually achieve , as net zero emissions. I am grateful for their evidenced within this Climate Action Plan, the tremendous work of this task force has set us on efforts. the right path to eventually achieve net zero emissions. I am grateful for their efforts.

NowNow with with our plan in place, I am excited our plan in place, I am excited to leadto our lead our Moraine Valley community and fully support the efforts Moraine Valley community and fully support of our implementation theteam as efforts weof our begin applying strategies implementation team as weto begin mitigate our climate footprint; continue applying strategies to mitigate our climateto support the growth of resilient campuses and footprint;communities; and develop curriculum continue to support the growth of resilientto educate our students about climate change while providing opportunities campuses and communities; and develop for them to curriculumbecome engaged, empowered, solutions-minded global citizens to educate our students about climate change while providing opportunitiesof today and tomorrow. for them to become engaged, empowered, solutions-minded global citizens of today and tomorrow. To a healthy future, sincerely, To a healthy future, sincerely,

Sylvia M. Jenkins, Ph.D. PresidentSylvia M. Jenkins, Ph.D. President

6 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan MORAINE VALLEY’S CLIMATE COMMITMENT

“By joining the Carbon Commitment, Moraine Valley also aligns with a specific, ambitious goal adopted by hundreds of other higher education institutions; united we are nurturing the kind of shared vision across our institutions that is needed to achieve transformational changes to avoid climate disaster.”

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 7 INTRODUCTION HISTORY

BEGINNINGS 2008

Sustainability efforts at Moraine Valley • Sustainability was adopted into the began in the mid-1970s when the revised Strategic Plan of 2007. college, understanding the importance • 2008-2009 Year of Sustainability: of natural resource preservation, set One Book, One College – “Garbage aside 40 acres of its campus to be Land” by Elizabeth Royte with preserved as a Nature Study Area to use special events and guest speakers as a living learning lab. throughout the year.

2002-2014

New roofs sustainably designed for extended period (25-35 years) with increased roof insulation – 13 out of 15 buildings.

2003-2014 2007

90% of all HVAC pumps and VFDs been have been replaced • The College created a Green Team with or newly installed. representation from staff, faculty and students. • College President Dr. Vernon Crawley signed the first version of the Illinois Sustainable University Compact. • The College Board of Trustees made a 2004-2015 commitment to seek LEED certification for one of the referendum projects, the Southwest Education Center in Tinley Park and directed sustainable • New air handlers building practices in all other new building and replacements projects. - 13 buildings out of 15 have new air handlers. • Classroom remodeling - 90% of classrooms are automated with sensors for occupancy and air quality.

1970 1980 1990 2000 2002 2003 2004 2007 2008

8 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 2009 2011

• Moraine Valley hired a part-time Sustainability Coordinator. • College achieves STARS . • Academic Affairs created a faculty release time Bronze • College hosts first Earth position, sustainability coordinator of teaching Month celebration. and learning, responsible for encouraging • Volunteers donate faculty to green their curriculum. community garden produce • Official Moraine Valley Greening Your to local food pantry. Curriculum incentivized faculty professional development launched. • Joined the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network, now IL Green Economy Network. 2012 • New boilers (40 MBTU) and new centrifugal chillers (3000 tons) installed. • Began a community garden, donating produce to those in need. • Student involvement through charter of new Student Green Club. • The new Democracy Commitment brings civic action and sustainability together [collaboration with Student Services]. • Added as a new resource for our hungry, financially disadvantaged students called Project Care [collaboration with Trio Services and Student Life]. • Sustainability general education learning outcomes, specifying measuring sustainability literacy. • Increased number of network printers to eliminate desktop printers. • Catalogued several departmental efforts to reduce paper use, 2010 including emailed library overdue notices. • Piloted internal sustainability solutions mini-grant, providing duplexers for public printers in library to allow for double-sided • Became AASHE STARS printing. Charter Members. • Received an innovation award from the Moraine Valley • Developed and offered Foundation to install a bike-fix station. more green community • Completed and received recognition for achieving gold in the V2 outreach and workforce Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact. programs, i.e., Green for Business, LEED Green Associate training. • Reclassified the sustainability coordinator to a full time sustainability manager position. • Opened the Center for Sustainability. • Committed to reach GOLD in the new V2 Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact. • Solar panels provide domestic hot water for 30% of the campus building area.

2009 2010 2011 2012

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 9 2013 2014

• Moraine Valley was recognized as a Tree Campus USA for • Moraine Valley was recognized as a Tree Campus fourth year in a row. USA for fifth year in a row. • The Moraine Valley community garden grew and moved to • Greening Your Curriculum (GYC) program involves the main campus. over 65 faculty, resulting in over 75 course • Runner up in 2012 Green Genome Award in category of sections infused with sustainability. Governance, “[the college] has a rich history of accomplishments • IL EPA intern developed a recycling and waste and initiatives in sustainability. The development of their management pilot project with recommendations leadership team has brought the college closer to an integrated to help Moraine Valley become a zero waste institutional approach to sustainability.” campus. • Partnered with Wellness initiative to offer first CSA-Farm • College president was named to the Leadership Fresh Produce Drop-Off program. Team of IGEN. • Green Team launched a Green Initiative Mini-Grant Pilot • College president signed the ACUPCC, pledging Program: up to $1,000 to support a new campus green carbon neutrality. initiative. • Moraine Valley became a member of Community • In partnership with the South Metropolitan Higher Education Green, USGBC Center for Green Schools, to Consortium (SMHEC), hosted two Student Sustainability provide 15 students free access to LEED Green Summits. Associate materials. • Partnered with Energy Impact Illinois to offer three home • In partnership with SMHEC, hosted third annual energy performance and savings personal development Student Sustainability Summit, “The Food We Eat.” programs for staff and faculty (Fall Staff Development Day; • Earth Week 2014 events: Implementing Behavior Spring Learning College Day and April Green Team meeting) Change for Energy Efficiency; Lunch and Learn • Earth Week 2013 events Sustainability Around the Globe— Series: Go Local, Green Home and Body, Breathe For Folks with Short Attention Spans; “Half the Sky: Turning Easy, and Earth Salutations Yoga; Treasure from Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide”; “Toxic Trees—Arbor Day Celebration; Bill Kurtis—Death by Culture: How Materialistic Society Makes Us Ill”; Arbor Day, Food: How the American Diet is Killing You; Campus Tree Campus USA and Sustainability Walking Tour; ActOut! Conservation Nationals Energy Reduction Contest Service Learning Fair. and After Party; Household Hazardous Materials, E-waste and Textile Recycling Event.

2013 2014

10 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 2015 FUTURE

• Sustainability Scholars Program (SSP) (formerly GYC program) involve over 80 faculty and 90 course sections infused with sustainability. • Sustainability Scholars Program received Green Genome Program Delivery Award from AACC SEED Center. • Removed bottled water systems and promoted use of the hydration stations and on-faucet filters. • Achieved a 20.3% reduction in landfill waste from the 2011 audit. • Moraine Valley continued to work with the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) as a member college and representative, where the college president was named to the leadership team and the sustainability manager is an IGEN affiliate. • Received a grant for new cybersecurity + smartgrid technology equipment to prepare the workforce in these areas. • IL EPA intern conducted campus water audit and identifies strategies to reduce water demand and spending • The GHG Report was submitted to Second Nature and plans to develop the Climate Action Plan task force were finalized. • Participated in Electric Vehicle (EV) Road Trip to host a charging car and highlight the value of building the EV network. • Hosted SMHEC Link and Leverage Forums, inviting community stakeholders to convene, share needs and resources, and identify areas of opportunity to collaborate with one another and to create the most sustainable and resilient region • Earth Week 2015 events: Go Green! Club Mini-Movie Marathon: The Story of Stuff Movies; E-Waste, Textile and Pharmaceuticals Collection; Arbor Day Trees Are Important Tags. MEMBERSHIPS

• AACC SEED (Sustainability Education and Economic Development) Center • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and Advisory Council • The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Citizens Advisory Council • Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) • Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council, Green Universities and Colleges • South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC) Sustainability Task Force • US Green Building Council (USGBC), Illinois and National: - USGBC, Center for Green Schools Community Green - USGBC IL, Higher Education Roundtable • Arbor Day Foundation – Tree Campus USA • Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Next Century Conservation Plan • National Wildlife Federation (NWF) - Campus Ecology • Chicagoland Network for Sustainability in Higher Education • Second Nature – Carbon Commitment

FUTURE

2015

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 11 INTRODUCTION MORAINE VALLEY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

The purpose of Moraine Valley’s Climate Action Plan is to provide a rational and holistic process that will address climate change, provide sustainability leadership, systematize activities aimed at reducing Moraine Valley’s emissions and The purpose of respond to Second Nature’s reporting requirements. Moraine Valley’s

The changes needed to mitigate climate change go beyond policy Climate Action Plan is adjustments. Cultural and operational transformations will fuel economic growth, to provide a rational protect our communities and maintain a desired quality of life. and holistic process Many of the technologies and tools necessary for achieving climate that will neutrality and resilient communities already exist and are in continual development. address climate Climate Action Plans allow higher education institutions to prioritize, plan change. and put these elements together in a way that creates a new foundation for future growth, prosperity, and social and economic stability in their communities and beyond. By creating and implementing coordinated plans to neutralize the college’s climate impact and strengthen resilience within a generation, Moraine Valley will be able to drive public education and leverage the scientific innovation necessary to catalyze rapid change.

Successful efforts to make a institution wide carbon neutral operation require broad-based institutional support as well as commitment from senior administrators.

Climate Action Plan Task Force Process and Membership

The process to develop a climate action plan for Moraine Valley identified key stakeholders from across the community college to form the Climate Action Plan Task Force. The task force was organized into a core team of the executive vice president of Administrative Services, director of Campus Operations and the sustainability manager plus, four subgroups: Operations (buildings and grounds, purchasing, finance, IT, and police); students (student representatives and student services); Academics (faculty and administration); and Community (marketing and communications).

Over the course of two comprehensive, and two of each subgroup, meetings the task force discussed potential activities, where primary consideration was given to emissions reduction strategies and alternative energy options, climate change education and community awareness, and campus and community resilience.

12 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan The Task Force:

Explored potential actions that reduce the college’s GHG emissions:

1. Energy efficiency (heating and cooling buildings and processes to reduce energy loads) 2. Off-campus renewable energy (purchase electricity from clean sources with renewable energy credits) 3. On-campus renewable energy (geothermal, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind turbine) 4. Carbon offsets (purchase offsets for activities we can’t reduce or have alternatives for) 5. Carbon sequestration (evaluation of campus tree canopy and native prairie as carbon sinks)

Explored opportunities to promote climate change education and community engagement; and

Explored initiatives to prepare the campus and community for a changed climate.

Further discussions among the core team organized the task force’s considerations and summarized them as representative within this plan. This task force was administered by Stephenie Presseller, sustainability manager and supported by Vuk Vujovic, Loren Johnson, Matt Scott and Ines Bolivar of Legat Architects.

Over the course of two comprehensive, and two of each subgroup, meetings the task force discussed potential activities, where primary consideration was given to emissions reduction strategies and alternative energy options, climate change education and community awareness, and campus and community resilience.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 13 INTRODUCTION WHY THIS MATTERS

“The impacts of climate change are already being felt worldwide. Nineteen of the 20 hottest years on record occurred in the past two decades. Countries and communities around the world are already being affected by deeper, more persistent droughts, pounded by more severe weather, inundated by bigger storm surges, and imperiled by more frequent and dangerous wildfires. Rising temperatures can lead to more smog, longer allergy seasons, and an increased incidence of extreme-weather-related injuries, all of which imperil public health, particularly for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, the sick, the poor, andsome communities of color. No corner of the planet and no sector of the global economy will remain unaffected by climate change in the years ahead.”

– The White House

Why should Moraine Valley Community College act on climate change?

Climate change is a global challenge that demands a global response, as well as an individual and community response. Moraine Valley Community College must act on climate change both to limit its contribution to disruption as well as equip its community to also lessen their impact through awareness, education, thoughtful action and reflection. The college must also provide leadership and develop strategies to ensure campus and community resilience and adaptability in the face of inevitable change.

We know from studying Antarctic ice the atmospheric concentration of CO2e is 40% higher than it was at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution – by far the highest it has been during the past one million years – World Economic Forum. And, CO2e concentration is a direct contributor to global warming, which in turn is affecting the significant climate changes we’re experiencing today and can anticipate to experience even more in the future.

Specifically, the Chicago region can expect an annual average temperature increase ranging from 3 to 4°F under lower emissions, representative of those in the 1930s to 7 to 8°F under higher emissions, as in today’s current emission behaviors. The Midwest is known to have a high variability in weather from season to season and year to year. Under these increased temperatures, that variability is expected to continue; it is anticipated shifts from very hot to very cold will become more extreme, frequent and last longer. - CMAP

Hot daytime temperatures are not the only concern. In fact, over the last few decades higher overnight minimum temperatures, particularly in the summer months “Direct effects [for when overnight temperatures over 70°F, are becoming more common. Elevated overnight temperatures increase heat stress in humans, livestock, and vegetation, which can be Chicagoland] will incredibly detrimental to their health. - CMAP include increased The average high temperature of the hottest day of the year in Chicago is heat stress, flooding, expected to increase from the present-day value of around 99°F to between 107°F and drought, and late 117°F. We can anticipate more frequent heat waves similar to the catastrophic 1995 heat wave. And the average coldest day of the year could warm by 4 to 6°F through this spring freezes.” century, with final spring frosts occurring 20 to 30 days earlier on average. - CMAP – NBC5

14 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan

Clearly, these changes in our regions climate have serious negative “The typical Chicagoan implications. They will cause catastrophic shocks and stressors on our built environment can expect to and infrastructure as well as the living beings inhabiting these spaces, people and experience more days animals alike. Less snow and more rain, i.e., an extremely variable water cycle, will stress our storm water systems, increase threats of new pests and diseases in both urban and above 95°F by 2050 rural areas, and rising temperatures will increase demand on our power plants as air than the average Texan conditioning demands escalate. does today.” We also can anticipate more frequent extreme-weather-related injuries, – IGPA, U of IL elongated allergy seasons, increased air pollution, and longer droughts, all of which endanger public well-being. Furthermore, Midwestern agriculture will likely experience a “15% average yield loss in the next five to 25 years, and up to a 73% average yield loss by the end of the century.” – IGPA, U of IL

All of this will lead to increased demand on economic resources necessary to react to these threats; feasibly in higher taxes and a shift in prioritizing municipal spending, potentially impacting cultural and social resources and services.

Preventing problems, reducing emissions and implementing adaptation strategies is much more efficient than responding to catastrophes. Therefore, it is vital to our region’s viability that we act on climate change. Now. We must put forth significant and intentional effort to stave off what we can through emissions mitigation, while also preparing for the inevitable changes we’re facing now and will face in the near future, through adaptation and resiliency planning.

Moraine Valley Community College has begun this journey through the development of this Climate Action Plan. We will remain diligent in our efforts, communicate our successes and be transparent in our processes, and support the surrounding community in joining us on this journey.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 15 SECOND NATURE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Carbon Commitment defines climate neutrality as having no net GHG emissions by a certain date, which for Moraine Valley is 2042. The following text is the official Carbon Commitment outlining necessary actions and reporting requirements to satisfy the commitment. The remainder of this document explains how Moraine Valley Community College will fulfill its obligations.

Carbon Commitment We, the undersigned presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities, believe firmly in the power, potential, and imperative of higher education’s key role in shaping a sustainable society. Not only are we deeply concerned about the increasing pace and intensity of global climate change and the potential for unprecedented detrimental impacts, but we also understand that technology, infrastructure, global interconnectedness, and our greatest asset – engaged, committed, smart students – allow us to explore bold and innovative solutions and to lead in climate action and sustainable solutions.

1. Develop a Climate Action Plan to achieve carbon neutrality *

a. After signing this document, create internal institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the Plan.

b. After the implementation start date, complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and identify near term opportunities for greenhouse gas reduction. Report these in the first annual evaluation of progress.

c. After the implementation start date complete the plan, which will include: • A target date for achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible • Interim target dates for meeting milestones that will lead to carbon neutrality • Mechanisms and indicators for tracking progress • Actions to make carbon neutrality a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students • Actions to expand research in carbon neutrality

d. Review, revise if necessary, and resubmit the climate action plan not less frequently than every five years.

2. Submit an annual evaluation of progress:

a. After the implementation start date, and every year thereafter, complete an annual evaluation of progress.

b. Make the action plan, annual evaluation of progress (including greenhouse gas inventory), publicly available by submitting them to Second Nature’s reporting system for posting and dissemination.

* The Moraine Valley’s CAP was created in alignment with the Campus Master Plan, further substantiating the importance of this plan as well as providing additional support to achieving the goals within by integrating with an established college process.

- Carbon Commitment, Second Nature Requirements

16 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan Carbon Commitment Timeline, Second Nature

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 17 MORAINE VALLEY’S GHG: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Carbon dioxide equivalent - A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP). Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as “million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents “A consistent (MMTCO2Eq).” The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of approach to the gas by the associated GWP. measure and

MMTCO2Eq = (million metric tons of a gas) (GWP of the gas) report GHG

Carbon footprint - The total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the emissions in the atmosphere each year by a person, family, building, organization, or company. A carbon corporate value footprint includes greenhouse gas emissions from fuel that a person or entity burns directly, such as by heating a building or using a vehicle. It also includes greenhouse gases chain and product that come from producing the goods or services in use including emissions from power life cycles are in plants that make electricity, factories that make products, and landfills where trash gets sent. great demand.” Steve Leffin, Carbon Sequestration - Terrestrial, or biologic, carbon sequestration is the process by Director of Global which trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, release the oxygen, and store the carbon. Sustainability, Geologic sequestration is one step in the process of carbon capture and sequestration UPS (CCS), and involves injecting carbon dioxide deep underground where it stays permanently.

Emissions - The release of a substance (usually a gas when referring to the subject of climate change) into the atmosphere. US EPA Glossary of Climate Change Terms

CO2 emissions (kt) - Carbon dioxide emissions are those stemming from the burning of fossil fuels and the manufacture of cement. They include carbon dioxide produced during consumption of solid, liquid, and gas fuels and gas flaring.

CO2 The WorldBank BIOMASS AND NUTRIENT STORAGE

Greenhouse gas (GHG) - Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the

atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, water vapor, ABOVE carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, ozone, Litter fall GROUND hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Gaseous loss Nutrient uptake Decomposition BELOW GROUND Soil organic matter pools Climate change - Any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time, including major changes in temperature, Mineralization precipitation, or wind patterns, among others, that occur over several decades or longer. US EPA Glossary of Climate Change Terms Carbon Sequestration - Know Climate Change

18 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan Global warming - The long-term warming of the planet, since 1880 the average surface temperature has gone up by about 0.8 °C (1.4°F), relative to the mid-20th-century baseline (of 1951-1980).

What’s the difference between climate change and global warming?

“Climate change” encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet. These include rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic, and shifts in flower/plant blooming times. These are all consequences of the warming, which is caused mainly by people burning fossil fuels and putting out heat-trapping gases into the air. The terms “global warming” and “climate change” are sometimes used interchangeably, but strictly they have slightly different definitions.

Changes in Animal Changing Rain Migration and Life Cycles Less and Snow Snow and Ice Patterns Reflected back to space HIgher Temperatures and more Heat Waves Incoming More Droughts Re-radiated and Wildfires Thawing solar radiation Stronger out to space Permafrost Absorbed by Storms atmosphere

Reaches surface Heat radiated back Rising Warmer from surface Damaged Re-radiated Corals Sea Level Oceans Changes in back to surface Plant Life Cycles Earth Atmosphere

Climate Change - Bass Coast Global Warming - Elements SRM

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 19 MORAINE VALLEY’S GHG DATA ANALYSIS

Scope 1 Emissions

These carbon emissions are a result of equipment used to maintain campus grounds (for example, maintenance vehicles, lawn mowers, snow blowers/plows). Additional sources of scope 1 emissions are attributed to building boilers, steam production, use of lab equipment, campus shuttles, and any other equipment that is located on campus and operated by the college.

Although scope 1 emissions represent the smallest share of the three scopes, it presents some of the easiest methods to reduce the amount of carbon emitted by the college each year. Since these emissions arise directly from sources that are owned and/or controlled by the college, proposed changes and procedure updates only need to be accepted by campus administration and faculty. Strategies that address this emissions category are covered later in this document.

Scope 2 Emissions

Since most of the energy purchased by the college is derived from non-renewable resources, all of the carbon generated during the energy production is recorded under this category. While the college cannot control how the purchased energy is produced, there are many alternative options such as the production of renewable energy on campus or the purchase of renewable energy certificates.

Scope 3 Emissions

The largest, and most difficult, category to address is scope 3 since these are emissions are produced by sources outside of the college’s control. This category includes students, faculty, and staff commuting to the campus on a daily basis. Commuting emissions also extend beyond the everyday commute to include business trips, field trips, or any other travel needs of the college’s population. While they do not account for the majority of the category, the emissions released due to the handling and disposal of solid waste and water treatment are other factors that are included in the college’s carbon footprint.

20 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan EMISSIONS DATA FY 2014: Metric Tons of CO2e SCOPE 1 EMISSIONS Stationary Combustion...... 3,134 Mobile Combustion...... 237 Process Emissions...... 0 13 % Fugitive Emissions...... 6 Subtotal ...... 3,377

SCOPE 2 EMISSIONS Purchased Electricity...... 7,849 Purchased Heating...... 0 Purchased Cooling...... 0 30 % Purchased Steam...... 0 57% Subtotal ...... 7,849 SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS Commuting...... 13,246 Air Travel...... 472 Solid Waste...... 831 Sub-total...... 14,549

TOTAL EMISSIONS Total...... 25,775

The FY2014 total of CO2e emitted by Moraine Valley and activities associated with the college amounts to 25,775 metric tons. To put this number into perspective, the college’s total annual emissions are equivalent to the use of 4,295 automobiles every year!

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 21 22 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan CARBON FOOTPRINT COMPARISON:

14 % 24 % 13 % 34 % 30 % 56 %

42 %

KANKAKEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HARPER COLLEGE

11,912 CO2e 30,528 CO2e

6 % 30 % 13 % 57 %

39 % 53 % 41 % 48 %

PARKLAND COLLEGE LAKE LAND COLLEGE

28,518 CO2e 9,860 CO2e MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

25,775 CO2e

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 23 24 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan STRATEGIES

MITIGATION M.1 ENERGY EFFICIENCY M.2 TRANSPORTATION M.3 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE M.4 WASTE

RENEWABLE ENERGY R.1 WIND R.2 SOLAR R.3 GEOTHERMAL R.4 PURCHASE R.5 RESEARCH

ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE A.1 SAFETY A.2 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL A.3 LANDSCAPE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

ENGAGEMENT E.1 LEADERSHIP E.2 CURRICULUM E.3 STUDENT ACTIVITIES E.4 OUTREACH

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 25 MITIGATION

STRATEGY M.1 ENERGY EFFICIENCY

“Buildings have a life-span of 50-100 years during which they continually consume energy

WHY? and produce CO2 emissions. If half of new commercial buildings were built to use 50% less energy, it would save over 6 million metric tons of CO2 annually for the life of the buildings—the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off the road every year.” - USGBC

GHG EMISSIONS

43% emissions due to Moraine Valley’s BUILDING PORTFOLIO

26 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan BUILDING

R VALUE Recommend envelope and glazing Review POTENTIAL for RENOVATING all R-VALUES for new buildings to exceed existing buildings to LEED O&M. current energy code.

Recommend all new buildings to be AUDIT CLASS SCHEDULING with regards designed to LEED Silver or higher. to building utilization. Set goals for higher Green building standards to be reviewed utilization rates. periodically for their campuswide adoption.

EQUIPMENT

Review the long-term facilities plan to Set AGGRESSIVE IT GOALS for machine include setting increasingly HIGHER visualization. STANDARDS FOR FIXED-EQUIPMENT energy efficiency.

CULTURE

Utilize the cultural energy of the campus Continue to RETAIN AND HIRE to REDUCE ENERGY use through class/ knowledgeable and qualified people to departmental COMPETITIONS, or implement new systems. incentives.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 27 MITIGATION

STRATEGY M.2 TRANSPORTATION

“The environmental impact of transport is significant because it is a major user of energy, and burns most of the world’s petroleum. “

WHY? - Center for International Climate and Environmental Research

“EPA’s vehicle greenhouse gas rules will save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump by 2025, and eliminate six billion metric tons of GHG pollution.” - Environmental Protection Agency

STRATEGIES WITHIN/IN-BETWEEN CAMPUSES

Create on-campus infrastructure and economic models in order to encourage the use of ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION (electric charging stations, preferred parking for alternative fuel vehicles, increased bike paths and racks, carbon credit purchasing).

Coordinate with purchasing to set FUEL EFFICIENCY or alternative fuel standards for FLEET VEHICLES (with exception for Police emergency vehicles). Review the potential of electric ATV or golf carts for on-campus use by IT or Campus Operations.

28 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan STRATEGIES TO/FROM CAMPUS

Review feasibility of inter-/intra-campus SHUTTLE SERVICE. Also review feasibility of a shuttle to/from Worth/Palos Heights Metra stations, or Red Line at 95th/Dan Ryan.

NEGOTIATE with local municipalities, institutions, and adjacent stakeholders to improve the conditions for alternative transportation.

Create DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL/SERVICE MODELS which encourage off-campus learning or services. Make virtual services and classes available to students, especially between campuses (virtual advising, virtual financial aid, virtual lectures).

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 29 MITIGATION

STRATEGY M.3 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

“By improving your energy efficiency, you reduce the size (and cost) of the renewable energy system needed … Improving your energy efficiency is the first and most important step toward adopting renewable energy.”

WHY? - The American Solar Energy Society

OPERATIONS

Audit all departments for PRINTING frequency and recommend reductions or decommissioning of redundant print stations.

Recommend a 250-MILE RADIUS FOR FOOD OPERATIONS PRODUCE as a preferred first source of food items.

Set increasingly HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS for all new office/campus equipment.

30 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan GROUNDS BUILDINGS

Establish aggressive IT mandates to CUT DOWN Establish campus as an ARBORETUM. Create on computer station and peripheral ENERGY USE sequestration monitoring program. Plant when not in operation. resilient, climate-ready trees around campus for shading buildings and parked cars. Audit office departments for REDUNDANT PERIPHERALS and create a decommissioning plan (space heaters, personal printers, etc). Create a goal of transferring 100% of EXTERIOR LIGHTING to LED by 50% of the CAP completion date. AUDIT existing buildings for POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS in electrical loads through LED fixtures, dimmer switches, and occupancy/ vacancy sensors.

Install submeters on all buildings to TRACK specific and relevant ENERGY USE to target energy and envelope renovations.

Audit and REPLACE inefficient or “high-flow” PLUMBING FIXTURES.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 31 MITIGATION

STRATEGY M.4 WASTE REDUCTION AND HANDLING

“The disposal and treatment of waste can produce emissions of several greenhouse gases (GHGs), which contribute to global climate change. Waste

WHY? prevention and recycling help address global climate change by decreasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and saving energy.” - Environmental Protection Agency EPA

HANDLING

Create PACKAGING REDUCTION/ 3 - DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES for Moraine Valley vendors. Promote biodegradable products and packaging. Mandate no college 4 - USAGE funds to be used for the purchase on non-

2 - MANUFACTURING recyclable, non-biodegradable office/kitchen MOST PREFERRED products. REUSE RECYCLE/COMPOST ENERGY RECOVERY LANDFILL LEAST PREFERRED Create a plan to begin COMPOSTING 5 - END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT 1 - MATERIALS preconsumer waste (Sodexo and Culinary) EXTRACTION with intentions to follow through on post- consumer as the market continues to develop.

32 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan REDUCTION

Negotiate for COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC Develop process forms for REQUESTS WARE and REUSABLE METAL FLATWARE as AND APPROVALS ONLINE (example: HR only available options (no non-recyclable “nice vacation/sick/leave forms). plastic”) for catered events on campus.

Plan STRATEGIC SCHEDULING OF . Extend mailroom summer Reduce use of PAPER COPIES in office or DELIVERIES eliminate completely. Create a print code to hours to the rest of the year. track individual printing. Limit copies. Mandate using Reprographics. Investigate the use of ARTIFICIAL COST MODELS to incentivize the use of green- rated products.

CULTURE

BAN WASTEFUL PACKAGING FOR all Encourage CULTURAL CHANGE THROUGH FOOD sold or purchased for on-campus use COMMUNICATION and strategic changes (Culinary, vending machines, catered events, aimed toward waste management and waste promote reusable bottles, etc.) reduction. Integrate with existing Moraine Valley events with signage, booths, and events geared toward awareness and cultural Identify local partners and create of a change. COMMUNITY ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING DAY hosted by Moraine Valley - encourage community members to not throw their old electronics in a landfill.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 33 RENEWABLE ENERGY

“A 20 percent national standard would reduce the projected growth in power plant CO2 emissions under a business-as-usual scenario by 63 percent, or 223 MMT per year by 2020. This level of reductions is equivalent

WHY? to taking 36.4 million cars off the road.” - Union of Concerned Scientists

BACK more energy OFFSET than needed FOR TO GRID is produced SCOPE 3 SCOPE 1 SCOPE energy used energy to keep covering covering keep to

produces energy SCOPE 1 to cover SCOPE 1 SCOPE 1 + and supply SCOPE 2

SCOPE 1 = 0

34 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan PURCHASING RESEARCH

Annually increase purchasing of clean energy Assign an interdepartmental committee, from a renewable energy electricity provider coordinated by the Center for Sustainability, by 1% each year through negotiations with to annually review renewable technologies, local power companies. battery technologies, and novel technologies and their feasible applications or testing on Moraine Valley campuses.

SOLAR PV WIND ENERGY

1. Install photovoltaic panels on campus. 1. Install a 30’ wind turbine on campus. Create short-term, mid-term and long term Create short-term, mid-term and long-term installation plans to offset a determined installation plans. Determine a suitable area percentage of electricity use by the halfway and plan in tandem with PV installation plans. mark of the climate action plan. 2. Coordinate with communications 2. Coordinate with communications and curriculum development to create and curriculum development to create opportunities for academic study. opportunities for academic study. 3. Investigate solar heating water panels to produce hot water in areas which have suitable solar exposure and structure to support solar water heating. GEOTHERMAL

Investigate the potential for on- or near- campus geothermal energy.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 35 ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCY

“It is increasingly essential that in addition to greenhouse gas reduction actions, we must also ensure that our decisions are smart in the face of

WHY? expected and unexpected changes and extremes. These decisions should not only reduce our vulnerability, but also increase opportunity and value. Sustainability and resilience often go hand in hand and mutually support each other.” - Second Nature

36 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan SOCIAL AND CULTURAL

Re-establishing the FARMERS MARKET and Utilize and improve the ORGANIZATIONAL increased use of the community garden could STRUCTURE of Moraine Valley to increase provide greater strength to this program. resiliency to sudden shocks and chronic stresses.

Include a mandate to utilize the online In coordination with the WELLNESS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. PROGRAM, encourage students/faculty to pack healthy lunches/dinners to facilitate greater whole-person wellness among the faculty, staff and students.

SAFETY

Negotiate BETTER DESIGNED out-roads and Continue to evaluate PHYSICAL automobile exiting protocols. EMERGENCY SYSTEMS for redundancy and plan for their ability to respond to all types of extreme social/environmental events. LANDSCAPE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Continue sustainable STORM WATER Establish commitment to SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT initiatives and review new LANDSCAPE PROGRAM, with long-term technologies as they become available. landscape management plan, to include more native and climate-ready plant and tree species, reducing the need for the use of chemical fertilizers and reducing the need for Continue ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION for outdoor irrigation. campus prairie.

Create continual cycles of review and implementation of systems and processes Create ANTI-IDLING RESTRICTIONS to with regards to the predicted LONG-TERM reduce on-campus pollution (with exception EFFECTS of global climate change and their to emergency vehicles). impacts on the physical campuses.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 37 ENGAGEMENT

“When people discover what they have, they find power. When people join together in new connections and relationships, they build power. When

WHY? people become more productive together, they exercise their power to address problems and realize dreams.” - Mike Green, When People Care Enough to Act

STUDENT ACTIVITY

Create STUDENT BODY SPOKESPERSONS Continue to integrate initiatives to for Climate Action Plan to spread and create a COHESIVE APPROACH TO CO- organize student-body efforts. CURRICULAR student PROGRAMMING that fosters the global citizen.

CURRICULUM

Create a curriculum development team that develop sustainability certificates and academic programs to satisfy college/national requirements and emerging trends in job development:

1. Create the SUS-101 Introduction to Sustainability as a general education course. 2. Implement the Sustainability Scholars Program student component, with notation on transcripts and pre- and post-assessment. 3. Create new academic programs, like urban farming and solar or wind to make more opportunities for our students. 4. Encourage the Sustainability Scholars Program be taken by all faculty to broaden the list of sustainability and climate change-infused classes. 5. Develop graduate courses in sustainability and climate change for staff and faculty.

38 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan OUTREACH

Create department spokespersons for Marketing team to develop clear and Climate Action to share the progress of CAP consistent message for the Climate Action efforts. Plan, implementation and progress reports, multi-faceted and across different media including CAP presidential updates at all staff meetings. Continue to work with community partners to identify and implement community resilience strategies: Consistently communicate systems and processes to mitigate waste, redundancy, Develop programs to assist students, faculty and ensure maximum efficiency (example; IT and staff to upgrade their own residences LCM program, recycling initiatives). through improved energy efficiency and better utilization of solar energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as a home Integrate with the Moraine Valley energy audit kit that is available to check out communications team to document existing from the library. sustainability efforts, and encourage the use of waste-reducing strategies (water bottles, bag lunches, resource reuse).

LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY

Make SUSTAINABILITY and climate education ALIGN GOALS of the Center for a prominent/official COMPONENT OF Sustainability and other initiatives, like RECRUITMENT and orientation of new faculty The Democracy Commitment and Service and staff. learning, increasing impact on co-curricular student opportunities.

Create “BEST PRACTICES” GREEN OFFICE strategies challenge for use by administration and adopted by departments for recognition.

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 39 IMPLEMENTATION

Moraine Valley Climate Action Plan Implementation Committee will oversee the implementation of the Moraine Valley Climate Action Plan. The committee will streamline the process by engaging all participants, stakeholders and leaders within Moraine Valley’s organization, including students, staff and community. The Climate Action Plan is a flexible, living document that will be reviewed over time and adjusted to adapt to changes in technology, operations and culture.

Given this need for long-term vision and flexibility, the comments from the Moraine Valley CAP task force were collected, organized, and retained for future reference. The following strategies are the result of the much larger list of recommendations provided by the task force. All of those recommendations were given consideration and have been consolidated into this more condensed list of strategies. The larger recommendations document will be used to further inform the implementation of this Climate Action Plan.

10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041

CONVENTIONAL ENERGY 10% CONVENTIONAL ENERGY REDUCTION USE

NEW BUILDING RENEWABLE ENERGY USE RENEWABLE ENERGY OFFSETS CONSTRUCTION

40 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan IMPLEMENTATION

SHORT-TERM (0-5 YEARS)

MID-TERM (5-15 YEARS)

LONG-TERM (15-25 YEARS) MITIGATION Recommend envelope R-values for new buildings to exceed current energy code. Recommend all new buildings to be designed to LEED Silver or higher. Green building standards to be reviewed periodically for their campus-wide adoption. Review potential for renovating all existing buildings to LEED O&M. BUILDINGS Audit class scheduling with regards to building utilization. Set goals for higher utilization rates. Review the long-term facilities plan to include setting increasingly higher standards for fixed-equipment energy efficiency. EQUIPMENT Set aggressive IT goals for machine virtualization. Utilize the cultural energy of the campus to reduce energy use through class/departmental competitions, or incentives. CULTURE Continue to retain and hire knowledgeable and qualified people to implement new systems. ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENERGY

Establish campus as an arboretum. Create sequestration monitoring program. Plant resilient, climate-ready trees around campus for shading buildings and parked cars. GROUNDS Create a goal of transferring 100% of exterior lighting to LED by 50% of the CAP completion date. Establish aggressive IT mandates to cut down on computer station and peripheral energy use when not in operation. Audit office departments for redundant peripherals and create a decommissioning plan (space heaters, personal printers, etc). Audit existing buildings for potential reductions in electrical loads through LED fixtures, dimmer switches, and occupancy/vacancy sensors. Install submeters on all buildings to track specific and relevant energy use to target energy and envelope renovations. BUILDINGS Audit and replace inefficient or “high-flow” plumbing fixtures. Audit all departments for printing frequency and recommend reductions or decommissioning of redundant print stations. Recommend a 250-mile radius for food operations produce as a preferred source of food items. OPERATIONS Set increasingly higher energy-efficiency requirements for all new office/campus equipment. OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS

Create on-campus infrastructure and economic models to encourage the use of alternative transportation (electric charging stations, preferred parking for alternative fuel vehicles, increased bike paths and racks, carbon credit purchasing) Coordinate with purchasing to set fuel efficiency or alternative fuel standards for fleet vehicles (with exception to Police emergency IN vehicles) Review the potential of electric ATV or golf carts for on-campus use by IT or Campus Operations. Review feasibility of inter-/ intra-campus shuttle service. Also review feasibility of a shuttle to/from Worth/Palos Heights Metra stations, or Red Line at 95th/Dan Ryan. Negotiate with local municipalities, institutions, and adjacent stakeholders to improve the conditions for alternative transportation. Create digital educational/service models which encourage off-campus learning or services. Make virtual services and classes OFF available to students, especially between campuses (virtual advising; virtual financial aid; virtual lectures). TRANSPORTATION

Develop process forms for requests and approvals online (example: HR vacation/sick/leave forms) Negotiate for compostable “plastic ware” and reusable metal flatware as only available options (no non-recyclable “nice plastic”) for catered events on campus. Reduce use of paper copies in office or eliminate completely. Create a print code to track individual printing. Limit copies. Mandate using Reprographics. Plan strategic scheduling of deliveries. Extend mailroom summer hours to the rest of the year. REDUCTION Investigate the use of artificial cost models to incentivize the use of green-rated products. Create packaging reduction/management initiatives for Moraine Valley vendors. Promote biodegradable products and packaging. Mandate “No college funds to be used for the purchase on non-recyclable, non-biodegradable office / kitchen products”. Create a plan to begin composting pre-consumer waste (Sodexo and Culinary) with intentions to follow through on post-consumer as HANDLING the market continues to develop. Ban wasteful packaging for all food sold or purchased for on-campus use (Culinary, vending machines, catered events, promote reusable water bottles, etc). Encourage cultural change through communication and strategic changes aimed toward waste management and waste reduction. Integrate with existing Moraine Valley events with signage, booths, and events geared toward awareness and cultural change. Identify local partners and create of a community electronic waste recycling day hosted by Moraine Valley Community College. CULTURE Encourage community members to not throw their old electronics in a landfill. WASTE

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 41 RENEWABLE ENERGY Install a 30’ wind turbine on campus. Create short-term, mid-term and long-term installation plans. Determine a suitable area and plan in tandem with PV installation plans. WIND Coordinate with communications and curriculum development to create opportunities for academic study. Install photovoltaic panels on campus. Create short-term, mid-term and long-term installation plans to offset a determined percentage of electricity use by the halfway mark of the climate action plan.

Coordinate with communications and curriculum development to create opportunities for academic study.

Investigate solar heating water panels to produce hot water in areas which have suitable solar exposure and structure to support solar SOLAR water heating. GEOTHERMAL Investigate the potential for on or near-campus geothermal energy. Annually increase purchasing of clean energy from a renewable energy electricity provider through negotiations with local power PURCHASE companies. Assign an inter-departmental committee, coordinated by the Center for Sustainability, in order to annually review renewable technologies, RESEARCH battery technologies, and novel technologies and their feasible applications or testing on Moraine Valley campuses. ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE Negotiate better designed out-roads and automobile exiting protocols. Continue to evaluate physical emergency systems for redundancy and plan for their ability to respond to all types of extreme social/ SAFETY environmental events. Utilize and improve the organizational structure and processes of Moraine Valley to increase resiliency to sudden shocks and chronic stresses including the mandate to utilize the online Learning Management Systems. In coordination with the Wellness Program, encourage students/faculty to pack healthy lunches/dinners to facilitate greater whole-person SOCIAL wellness among the faculty, staff, and students. AND CULTURAL Re-establishing the farmers market and increased use of the community garden could provide greater strength to this program. Create continual cycles of review and implementation of systems and processes with regards to the predicted long-term effects of global --- climate change and their impacts on the physical campuses. Continue sustainable stormwater management initiatives and review new technologies as they become available. Continue ecosystem restoration for campus Prairie and set goals for invasive species eradication.

Establish commitment to sustainable landscape program, with long term landscape management plan, to include more native and climate- LANDSCAPE ready plant and tree species, reducing the need for the use of chemical fertilizers and reducing the need for outdoor irrigation. AND INFRASTRUCTURE Create anti-idling restrictions to reduce on-campus pollution (with exception to emergency vehicles).

ENGAGEMENT Align goals of the Center for Sustainability and other initiatives, like The Democracy Commitment and service learning, increasing impact on co-curricular student opportunities. Make sustainability and climate education a prominent/official component of recruitment and orientation of new faculty and staff. LEADERSHIP Create “best practices” green office strategies challenge for use by administration and adopted by departments for recognition. Create a curriculum development team that develop sustainability certificates and academic programs to satisfy college/national requirements and emerging trends in job development: 1. Create the SUS-101 Introduction to Sustainability as a general education course; --- 2. Implement the Sustainability Scholars Program student component, with notation on transcripts and pre and post assessment with administrative support; --- 3. Create new academic programs, like urban farming and solar or wind to make more opportunities for our students; and, --- 4. Encourage the Sustainability Scholars Program be taken by all faculty to broaden the list of sustainability and climate-change- infused classes. --- CURRICULUM 5. Develop graduate courses in sustainability and climate change for staff and faculty. --- Create student body spokespersons for Climate Action Plan. Spread ideas and organize student-body efforts. STUDENT ACTIVITIES Continue to integrate initiatives to create a cohesive approach to co-curricular student programming that fosters the global citizen. Continue to work with community partners to identify and implement community resilience strategies.

Develop programs to assist students, faculty and staff to upgrade their own residences through improved energy efficiency and better utilization of solar energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (home energy audit kit available to check out from the library).

Marketing team to develop clear and consistent message for the Climate Action Plan, implementation and progress reports, multi-faceted and across different media including CAP presidential updates at all-staff meetings.

Consistently communicate systems and processes to mitigate waste, redundancy, and ensure maximum efficiency (example, IT LCM program, recycling initiatives, etc.)

Integrate with the Moraine Valley communications team to document existing sustainability efforts, and encourage the use of waste- reducing strategies (water bottles, bag lunches, resource reuse).

OUTREACH Create department spokespersons for Climate Action. Share the progress of CAP efforts.

42 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 43 CONCLUSION

Achieving carbon-neutral operation in a multi-campus higher education environment will require appropriate funding, continuous implementation of identified emissions mitigation strategies, administrative and community support, Climate change is a planning flexibility to address future technological developments, and time. global challenge that Moraine Valley Community College has chosen year 2042 as the target necessitates a global date to achieve institutional carbon neutrality. The proposed timeline starts in 2016 response, as well as with the creation of Moraine Valley’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), followed by the 26-year period for implementation of proposed mitigation strategies. We believe requisite individual this timeline allows sufficient time to foster culture change, implement necessary and community building upgrades, install renewable energy systems, and plan for and secure necessary funding resources. action.

While short-term strategies are easier to identify and implement, mid-term and long-term strategies will need to remain flexible to allow sufficient room for Preventing problems, adaptation for future changes in the political, social and natural environment. reducing emissions

Integration of Moraine Valley’s CAP goals and strategies into subsequent and implementing campus planning, operations, and maintenance activities is critical to success; adaptation strategies therefore, the CAP will be aligned with each consecutive campus master plan. is much more efficient While some of Moraine Valley’s GHG emission will be difficult to completely than responding to eliminate, such as those related to commuting, full carbon neutrality can be achieved catastrophes. through carbon offsets and/or of renewable energy credits (RECs) purchases. In the spirit of innovation, Moraine Valley will also strive to create community renewable energy systems, which will produce energy for surrounding communities. This clean energy production can be applied to offsetting scope 3 emissions. To achieve this, sufficient funding will be allocated, parallel to budgets developed for the implementation of the entire CAP.

Bibliography

Second Nature. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://secondnature.org/

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www3.epa.gov/ climatechange/ccs/

Bass Coast. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/Services/Environmental_ Management/Climate_Change_and_Sustainability/Climate_Change

Elements SRM. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www.elements-srm.com.au/tag/global-warming/

Glossary of Climate Change Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ glossary.html

World Bank Group. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www.worldbank.org/

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://unfccc. int/2860.php

Icons (contributing artists from the Noun Project) Sergey Demushkin, Igor Yanovsky, Nicholas DeForest, Bernar Novalyi, Lemon Liu, Ricardo Moreira Jaap Kneve, Creative Stall, and Yaroslav Samoilov.

44 Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Moraine Valley Community College Administration

Board of Trustees

Joseph P. Murphy Chair John R. Coleman Vice Chair Susan Murphy Secretary Kimberly A. Hastings Trustee Michael Murphy Trustee Eileen M. O’Sullivan Trustee Sandra S. Wagner Trustee Karim Awwad Student Trustee

President’s Office

Dr. Sylvia M. Jenkins, Ph.D. President

Climate Action Plan (CAP) Core Team

Stephenie Presseller Sustainability Manager Andrew Duren Executive Vice President of Administrative Services Rick Brennan Director of Campus Operations

Climate Action Plan (CAP) Task Force

Staff and Faculty: Jane Majewski Craig Slocum Jane Bentley Kent Marshall Chris Stech Steve Brasel Karen McGinnis Jana Svec Meghan Danaher Phil McNeff Troy Swanson Lynn Doulas Lorri Miskus Maura Vizza Panos Hadjimitsos Scott Murdoch Amy Williamson Bill Helmold Chief Patrick O’Connor LoShay Willis Abbas Jaffary Janet Polson Kyle Kane Mike Renehan Mike Loveday

Students: Mayranely Guillen John Rosales Sarah Amato Myah Lowry Viviana Sanchez Audai Awadallah Katie Parker Natalie Skinner Lauren Flores Scott Prenta Stephanie Guerrero

Consultants

Legat Architects, Inc.

Vuk Vujovic, LEED AP BD+C VP, Director of Sustainability and Energy Loren Johnson Sustainability Coordinator Matt Scott, LEED AP BD+C Sustainability Coordinator Ines Bolivar Sustainability Coordinator

Moraine Valley Community College / 2015 Climate Action Plan 45