ACUPCC

 

On February 10, 2010. Chancellor Rufus Glaper Signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Please find below the mission of this commitment.

Mission

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Its mission is to accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.

The ACUPCC provides a framework and support for America’s colleges and universities to implement comprehensive plans in pursuit of climate neutrality. The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in educating the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming and help create a thriving, civil and sustainable society.

ACUPCC institutions have agreed to:

• Complete an emissions inventory.
• Within two years, set a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.
• Take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions.
• Integrate sustainability into the curriculum and make it part of the educational experience.
• Make the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

Through the help of the districts Sustainability Action Council, two of the seven tangible action items are currently being pursued district wide

• Green Building PolicyEstablish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S.
  Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.To achieve this option, signatories must adopt and implement a written policy stating the
  institution’s intention to meet or exceed LEED Silver standards or equivalent for all new
  buildings and major renovations. Signatories are encouraged, but not required, to apply
  for LEED Silver certification from the USGBC. An internal system of evaluating all new
  buildings to ensure that they meet LEED Silver standards is also acceptable. The policy
  may include a qualifier limiting application of the policy to new buildings over 5,000
  gross square feet.

  To ensure that the green building policy results in more energy efficient buildings,
  signatories are encouraged to incorporate requirements to achieve specific energy
  points. For instance, in addition to requiring LEED Silver standards, the policy could
  also mandate the achievement of LEED points related to optimizing energy
  performance, advanced commissioning, and measurement and verification.
  A signatory institution wishing to use an alternate green building standard may do so as
  long as they provide in their ACUPCC reporting a clear rationale as to why the alternate
  standard should be considered equivalent with LEED Silver.

• Energy Star Procurement Policy

  Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY
  STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
  To achieve this option, signatories must adopt a written policy stating the institution’s
  intention to purchase ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such
  ratings exist. The policy may include a qualifier limiting application of the policy to
  “whenever financially possible,” “when the extra cost is less than or equal to the
  “resulting energy savings,” or “wherever practical.”