University of New Mexico
Taos Campus
Climate Action Plan
University of New Mexico
Taos Campus
Climate Action Plan
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………..3
BACKGROUND………………………………………………………………………………..4
SUSTAINABLE PROACTIVE ASSESSMENT……………………………………………….5
Commuting and Travel
Facilities and Plant Operations
Purchasing and Waste Management
Learning
KEY PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………………………………….11
0 to 5 years
6 to 10 years
11 to 20 years
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………12
I. Introduction
In June 2007, President David J. Schmidly signed the American College & University
President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), committing the University of New Mexico
(UNM) and its branches to carbon neutrality. UNM–Taos as part of the University
of New Mexico is committed to protecting our environment and recognizes that we can
be a model of sustainability to the community we serve with curriculum and operations
reflecting an integrative approach to learning and practice.
II. Executive Summary
The process of becoming a sustainable campus began with taking stock of current
conditions. Evaluating today’s educational and operational practices against an ideal,
provides the college’s leadership with an opportunity to assess what is appropriate and
achievable at UNM-Taos.
By setting goals and establishing sustainable practice policies based on this evaluation,
the administration can impact the college’s footprint through business decisions
concerning new building design, repair and renovation projects, building operations and
maintenance, procurement practices, landscaping, recycling and waste management,
energy management, transportation, food service, and instruction. This plan examines
current practices, identifies obstacles to achieving ideal practices, and establishes goals
for future practices to assist in the transition to a sustainable college campus.
Vision: UNM–Taos will achieve a net zero carbon emissions campus while
ensuring and improving its economic strength, community cohesiveness, and a moderate
environmental footprint, along with the well-being of individual community members.
Mission: Outline a feasible plan to drastically reduce emissions produced by the three
biggest carbon sources on the UNM-Taos campus: electricity, transportation, and
heating. This plan will provide a direction for further efforts to reach net zero carbon
emissions.
UNM – Taos Climate Action Plan Page 3
III. Background
A. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Those schools that sign onto the ACUPCC are required to keep an inventory of the six
green house gases (GHGs) recognized by the Kyoto Protocol. In accordance with this
requirement, The Director of Facilities Operation for UNM - Taos conducted a
baseline GHG Inventory analyzing UNM-Taos’s emissions for the fiscal year 2009.
We will be using the 2009 inventory as the baseline measurement for further reductions.
The methodology for the analysis was adopted from the “Greenhouse Gas Protocol”
developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World
Resources Institute. Gases are measured by using a scale of Carbon Dioxide equivalents.
The inventory includes emissions from UNM-Taos’s Campus only.
The total GHG emissions from UNM - Taos for fiscal year 2009 were 4,327 metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Figure 1 clearly highlights the three greatest
contributors to GHG at UNM-Taos; electricity, commuting, and heating. These
three causes account for 98% of the total. The effort to reduce GHG emissions at UNM -
Taos will require focus on these three areas.
Figure 1 UNM-Taos GHG Emissions Sources
Commuiting 2,355,061 miles
Electricity 511,044 KWH
Heating 24,330 Therms
Solid Waste 18,760 lbs.
Air Travel
Vehicle fuel $4,779.27
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 4
IV. Sustainable Practice Assessment
1. Transportation
Encourage Alternative Transportation
Impact of issue – The occurrence of single-occupant vehicles (SOV) as the predominant
mode of transportation to campus has consequences in the amount of fossil fuel
consumed and the amount of green house gases (GHG) produced per FTE to provide a
community college education to Taos County residents. This ratio will become an
issue for UNM–Taos as we strive to reduce carbon dioxide emission in order to slow
climate change. The SOV predominance also has an impact on the amount of
undisturbed native habitat that must be converted to paved parking to accommodate
single-occupant vehicles, and the investment in providing security oversight at the
parking areas.
Current practices
Public transit is provided to campus by North Central Regional Transit District three
times each day.
Currently, bicycle racks serve as the special facilities for bicycle commuters.
Barriers to sustainability
Most students are “re-careering” and travel to campus directly after leaving their place of
employment. This tendency produces erratic schedules and travel routes to campus,
making carpooling difficult and undesirable.
Roads linking campus to population centers are dangerous for bicycles; there are
no shoulders on roadways, and the distances are more than 5 miles to Taos and
surrounding communities.
Purchasing of campus fleet vehicles is limited to those available through the state GSA
purchasing.
Replacement schedule does not call for new vehicles in the near future.
Alternative fuel for alternative fuel vehicles is hard to come by in the county.
Goals for future practices
Work with surrounding housing developments, Taos County, and Bike
Coalition of New Mexico to extend existing bike pathways and develop new
ones to create safe bike routes to campus. Work with the same partners to create
bicycle awareness programs.
Create an incentive program for carpooling and alternative/hybrid vehicle use.
Investigate any changes in state fleet purchasing that may allow for the exchange of
existing vehicles for low-emission vehicles, such as alternative fuel or hybrid.
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 5
2. Facilities and Plant Operations
Optimize Energy Efficiency of Mechanical Systems
Impact of issue – Heating, cooling, hot water and ventilating systems that are not running at
maximum operating efficiency will have the effect of increasing utility cost; increasing fossil
fuels consumed, and increasing GHGs produced. Utilizing commissioning services to ensure
that systems are always running at top efficiency will save energy costs associated with
inefficient systems.
Current practices
Electrical efficiency is maximized by utilizing electricity at off
peak hours which creates efficiency at the power plant and provides the college
with 30-40% discounted cost of electricity (a benefit provided by Kit Carson Electric for
night time electrical use). These systems never operate at less than 80% efficiency.
UNM staff provides on-call efficiency level checks.
Barriers to sustainability
Passive solar technology has not been proven to be dependable.
Goals for future practices
As funding permits, conduct a report to determine where efficiencies can be
increased in all mechanical systems and establish schedule for retrofits.
Optimize Energy Efficiency of Electrical Systems
Impact of issue – The generation of electricity is a major contributor of greenhouse gas
emissions. This is due to energy wasted during the process of generating electricity along with
transmission losses as electricity travels long distances from centralized power plants
to user. The direct impact to UNM-Taos is the high cost of electricity.
Increasing efficient use of electricity on campus can produce significant savings in
utility bills.
Current practices
New buildings have motion sensors in occupied spaces that turn off lights when
rooms are vacant.
Barriers to sustainability
Cost of retrofitting low-efficiency fixtures
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 6
Goals for future practices
Replace low-efficiency lamps with high-efficiency lamps. Replace all
incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps. Replace older linear T-12
or T-8 fluorescent tubes and magnetic ballasts with high-efficiency T-5.
Replace older exit signs with LED exit signs.
Incorporate natural lighting in the design of future facilities to decrease demand for
electricity for daytime lighting.
Conduct campaign to turn off lights in empty rooms where sensors are not
located.
Seek funding to install motion sensors to turn off equipment in unoccupied
areas.
Generate Energy On Campus through Renewable Sources
Impact of issue – Generating power on site saves energy wasted from transmission
losses. Generating power on site from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and
biomass preserves the availability of non-renewable sources. This method of generating
power greatly reduces the pollution caused by traditional power generation to only
pollution caused by the initial production and transport of mechanisms needed to
capture the renewable sources (such as photovoltaic panels and wind turbines). If
the initial capital investment in these materials can be amortized within an acceptable time
frame, the net energy cost savings to the college and reduction of carbon dioxide
pollution over the life of the materials can be significant. Further savings can be
realized through discount and grant programs for renewable energy generation.
Current practices
No current practices for this issue
Barriers to sustainability
Initial capital outlay to set up renewable power generation
Objections to high-tech equipment from local agriculture-based/ no-growth
neighbors
Potential for vandalism
Goals for future practices
Research performance, costs, and opportunities to install building-integrated
photovoltaic (BIPV) solar modules at existing facilities (shade structure mounted,
exterior wall-mounted, canopy-mounted, roof-mounted) and replace
out-of-warranty membrane roofing with integrated photovoltaic membranes.
Research membrane roofing
Take advantage of PNM’s renewable energy credits program to recoup some
cost of installation of renewable systems
Research applicability of NM Legislation passed in 2005: HB32 Energy
Efficiency & Renewable Energy Bonding for funding of renewable energy
system.
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 7
Purchase green Power From Electric Utility
Impact of issue – Purchasing green power from the local utility usually costs more than
the price of coal-produced electricity. However, as regulatory requirements become
more stringent, the price of green power will decline and the desire to reduce pollution
in the environment of the power plant region will increase. Purchasing green power
increases demand, which decreases price.
Current practices
No current practices for this issue
Barriers to sustainability
Cost of green power is currently greater than the cost of standard power.
Goals for future practices
Purchasing green power is not currently financially feasible for the college, nor
is it a policy requirement. However, if UNM policy changes, the college will
need financial assistance to meet the requirement of purchasing green power.
Reduce Heat Island Effect
Impact of issue – The heat island effect is caused by the absorption and re-radiation of
heat (caused by solar gain) to spaces around dark colored objects, such as black colored
roofing and asphalt paving. Heat gain transferred to buildings increases the
cooling load, which increases costs, use of energy, GHG emissions, and wear on HVAC
equipment. Heat gain by dark objects contributes to a warmer environment and reduces
the benefit of diurnal cooling at night due to stored heat.
Current practices
All new facilities are equipped with TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin membrane)
roof coverings, which has a high albedo (reflectivity).
One of the older modified bitumen membrane roofs has been resurfaced with
light grey-colored mineral-surfaced cap sheets with a high albedo.
Barriers to sustainability
Cost of resurfacing or replacing parking lot paving
Goals for future practices
Continue to replace low albedo roofing materials at end of useful life with high
albedo roofing materials.
Resurface asphalt paving with light colored coating.
Pave new parking areas using materials that have high reflectivity ratings such
as fly-ash concrete and light-colored gravel.
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 8
3. Purchasing and Waste Management
Recycle waste and Reduce Material Use
Impact of issue –Managing waste through landfill dumping involves expending energy
resources and producing GHGs to collect, dump, and maintain waste, although there is
no recoverable product. Likewise, mining virgin materials reduces resource availability,
expends energy, produces GHGs, and creates other environmental degradation, such as
toxic mining tailings, requiring further energy use to rectify. Reducing materials used by
college activities decreases the amount of material requiring disposal. Recycling waste
reduces demand on municipal landfills as well as the demand for virgin materials.
Although these environmental consequences may not have a direct impact on campus
quality of life, the economic consequences do, including the cost of utilities and the price
of goods utilized in college activities.
Current practices
Facilities Operations Department does recycle plastic, paper and aluminum.
Barriers to sustainability
Scarcity of local companies available to haul off the materials collected
Goals for future practices
Encourage recycling of construction materials in future facilities renewal or
remodeling and new facilities RFPs, including asphalt paving, structural building
materials, insulation and finish materials.
Create ongoing partnership between student organizations and administration,
with staff providing continuity.
-provide containers for metal, plastic, paper
- create teams to collect, separate, and pack
- provide place on campus for storage until pick up by recycling companies
- contact haulers operating in Taos County, as well as the Town of Taos
Solid Waste Department to arrange collection
- Partner with UNM – Albuquerque recycling department to replicate
established techniques and services.
Green Purchasing Policies
Impact of issue – Green purchasing practices include purchasing goods with the
following characteristics: reduced packaging, recycled content, local/regional
materials, rapidly renewable materials, certified wood. These practices reduce nonrenewable
resource depletion and save energy costs due to reduced resource extraction,
reduced transportation, reduced landfill dumping. As with waste recycling, the direct
impact on campus quality of life includes the cost of utilities and the price of goods
utilized in college activities.
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 9
Current practices
No current practices for this issue
Barriers to sustainability
Purchasing policies are controlled by UNM Main.
Sources for green purchases are not readily known and no centralized database
gathers this information, requiring additional research on the part of college
purchasing agents.
Goals for future practices
Create standards for green purchasing, based on guidelines established by
LEED.
Compile inventory of products that do not meet the above green standards and
conduct a search of suppliers for alternatives.
Conduct cost comparisons of green products versus products in current
purchasing inventory.
4. Learning
Sustainability Concepts On Campus
Impact of issue – Climate change has become recognized, within the last few years, as
one of the most pressing issues facing nations around the world. The environmental
consequences of human activities, most notably global warming due to buildup of
GHGs, will have profound effects on regional economies, agricultural processes,
availability of water resources, and quality of life. It is the responsibility of educational
institutions that prepare young people for productive futures to provide the
knowledge and skills they will need to cope with these environmental changes. At UNM-Taos,
incorporating into the curriculum an awareness of the environmental
consequences of human activities and developing skills for dealing with these consequences will
provide positive background for students to take leadership roles in fostering the move
toward sustainable practices.
Current practices
No current practices for this issue
Barriers to sustainability
There are no barriers for this issue
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 10
Goals for future practices
Provide sustainability concepts in the curriculum:
Offer courses that provide basic understanding of sustainability concepts such as
conservation, alternative energy production, and how they may be practiced in
everyday life.
Incorporate sustainability concepts into existing courses, such as sciences and
Design, to prepare professionals for incorporating sustainability concepts into
their chosen career path.
Create partnership with UNM Main to provide training opportunities for staff
and faculty.
Encourage sustainable extracurricular activities, such as
recycling, xeriscaping, and alternative energy production through student clubs.
Provide sustainability education opportunities to the community through
personal enrichment courses, such as energy and water conservation projects.
IV. Key GHG Emission Mitigation Plan Recommendations
A. 0 – 5 years
Retrofit all T8 and T12 light fixtures on the campus to T5 fixtures.
Replace older exit signs with LED exit signs
Install motion sensors in offices and classrooms.
Expand campaign to encourage employees to conserve energy such as
turning off lights when not in use.
Seek and implement available technology to turn off computers during the
evenings and weekends in classrooms and staff and faculty offices
where appropriate.
Continue to develop and offer additional on-line classes to reduce
commuting.
All new appliances must be Energy Star compliant.
Evaluate the need for weekend classes and if necessary schedule weekend
classes so they can be held in one building instead of multiple buildings.
Implement recycling centers in each building on campus and in strategic
locations outside campus buildings
Undertake a xeriscape project to convert current landscaping to water
saving xeriscape. Vegetation that is highly dependent on water should be
replaced with native, drought-resistant plants.
Provide sustainability concepts in the curriculum.
Monitor mechanical systems regularly to maximize efficiencies
All new construction will be built to at least LEED Silver standards.
Develop incentives and partnerships to move commuters out of cars and
into mass transit, onto bicycles, or foot.
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 11
B. 6 – 10 years
Replace originally installed plumbing fixtures with low-water fixtures.
Upon failure, replace obsolete chillers, boilers, AC units and electrical
motors with more energy efficient models.
All renovation projects will be completed to at least LEED Silver
standards.
Whenever possible replace parking lot and security lighting with LED
photovoltaic lighting.
Seek funding to install renewable alternative energy sources on campus.
If budget allows, purchase green power from local utility provider
Over the next 15 years, replace all existing vehicles with
alternative energy vehicles. In addition, any utility vehicle replaced by
either Security or Physical Plant must be replaced with cars that run on
electricity.
C. 10 (+)
Establish a Revolving Loan Fund to capture and reuse savings and
earnings from sustainability projects to fund future sustainable projects.
.V. Conclusion
UNM – Taos is committed to the development of an institutional action plan to
achieve carbon neutrality. As confirmation of this commitment, sustainably has been
made part of the Campus Strategic Plan as well as the Facility Master Plan. In addition, the
Facilities Operation Department is actively advising administration on sustainability issues
including making recommendations on achieving “net zero” emissions as part of the Presidents’
Climate Commitment.
After completing the GHG emissions inventory, UNM–Taos Administrative Team
began to look at potential reductions strategies. Unfortunately the economic downturn
has effected the response time for mitigation of our carbon emissions. As a result, UNM–Taos
has taken a moderate approach in the development of its climate action plan.
Specifically, we anticipate that the measures proposed will reduce emissions by 25% in
the first five years, 60 % in years six through ten and an additional 15% in years eleven
and beyond.
While this plan does not yet reach carbon neutrality, we are committed to do what we can
with the resources available to move us in that direction The college has taken the
position that this Climate Action Plan is an active document and that our Facilities Operations
Department will review and revise our plan yearly and recommend appropriate measurable
goals for reducing our carbon footprint by incorporating new technologies while
considering current budget parameters. While dealing with numerous challenges, we will
continue to be innovative in working toward our goal of climate neutrality
UNM-Taos Climate Action Plan Page 12