Maryland Higher Education Commission

Carroll Community College Green Initiatives

Environmentally responsible projects and practices result in continuous benefits:

Information Technology Services:

• Turning off PCs at night and automatically turn them back on in the morning.
o Scope – college-wide with the exception of PCs that must remain on for remote access.
o Benefit – Conserve energy and reduce the cost of BGE bill for county.

• Using remanufactured print toner cartridges when possible
o Scope – College-wide for specific printers
o Benefit – Cost savings of approximately 40% off of OEM pricing; reduces the number of non-biodegradable plastic print cartridges potentially going to landfills.

• Duplex printing when applicable
o Scope – College-wide (printer must have duplex unit and user must not override default duplex setting)
o Benefit – Reduction in the amount of paper being used; cost savings.

• Printing in Econo-mode when applicable
o Scope – College-wide (printer must have econo-mode setting) for draft printing
o Benefit – Reduction in the amount of toner being used; cost savings.

• Server and Storage virtualization – Running multiple virtual servers on one physical server and consolidating storage in a SAN
o Scope – College-wide unless specific server is not supported in a virtualized environment
o Benefit – Reduce energy costs; more efficient use of resources.

• Print Management Software
o Scope – Student PCs in Library; eventually installing in more labs
o Benefit – Cost savings for supplies (paper, toner, etc); energy savings.

• PC power management
o Scope – Faculty/Staff PCs
o Benefit – Conserve energy.

• Recycling all PCs
o Scope – All Faculty/Staff/Student PCs
o Benefit – Reduces waste in landfills.

Facilities Management:

• Environmental Services Study.

• Scope – Campus wide.

• Benefit – identify opportunities for College to be more environmentally active.

• Recycle Paper and cardboard products
o Scope – Campus-wide
o Benefit – reduces waste in landfill, conserves resources.

• Recycle glass, plastic and aluminum
o Scope – Campus-wide
o Benefit – reduces waste in landfill, conserves resources.

• Recycle Batteries
o Scope – Campus wide
o Benefit – reduces waste and hazardous chemicals in landfills.

• All office printer and copier paper is 100% recycled product
o Scope – campus wide, all offices
o Benefit – conserves natural resources.

• All housekeeping and cleaning products used on a daily basis are “Green Seal” approved
o Scope – campus wide
o Benefit – safer for environment and for employees.

• Implemented a walk off mat program at all entrances to the college to reduce dirt coming into the buildings, reducing the frequency of cleaning
o Scope – Campus-wide
o Benefit – reduces tracking throughout facility, reducing need for cleaning using chemicals.

• Utilization of the HOST carpet cleaning system
o Scope – all carpeted areas of campus
o Benefit – conserves water, reduces chemicals being used.

• Purchase and implementation of Green Seal approved vacuum cleaners
o Scope – Campus wide
o Benefit – conserves resources, reduces harmful contaminants into air.

• In-house laundering of all cleaning rags, micro-fiber mops, etc.
o Scope – Campus wide
o Benefit – reduces wastes to landfills.

• Use of water conservation faucets, lavatories, toilets and urinals
o Scope – Campus wide
o Benefit – reduces water usage.

Classroom Building No. 4 – scheduled for opening in October 2009

Carroll Community College’s new Classroom Building No. 4 in Westminster, Maryland is designed to incorporate many environmental design elements that significantly reduce or eliminate the building’s impact on the environment, while providing an inviting, friendly, and comfortable place for the school’s students, staff, and visitors. These sustainable design features, systems, and materials include the following:

Siting and Building Orientation:

• The new classroom building is oriented on the site for optimum natural day lighting and solar control – classroom windows facing both north and south exposures and limiting the glazing to the east and the west to communal circulation spaces.

• Compact building footprint with both at two-story and three-story classroom wings is oriented along natural site contours to reduce site disturbance.

• Shade trees are planted strategically to shade paved walking surfaces and building facades as much as possible to reduce “heat island effects,” which contribute to higher summer temperatures. Heat island effects can result in increased cooling loads which require larger HVAC equipment and energy for building operations. These effects can be mitigated through the application of shading and the use of materials that reflect the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it.

• An approved erosion control plan will be implemented during construction to prevent the loss of soil during construction by storm water runoff and/or wind erosion and minimize polluting the air with dust and particulate matter.

• The building site backs up to an existing forest area. Though this area is not part of any existing forest conservation easement on the campus, any removed forest will be mitigated in the forest conservation planning for this project. Consideration has been made to locating the required forest conservation planting on the north side of campus along MD Rte. 97 and the existing pond.

• The new dining room’s glass façade will invite views to the exterior forest. The forest will provide shade for the new outdoor plaza area.

• The existing storm water management (SWM) pond for the campus will be expanded and modified to accommodate this new construction. The existing pond will be excavated and squared off at the sides to accommodate an underground SWM solution. A modular underground rain tank system will be utilized in the existing SWM pond area to increase capacity of the SWM system for this and a portion of future development. An open lawn area will be created on top of the rain tanks, creating an improved visual appearance from the existing building as well as an area that can be used as recreated field in the future. The existing storm drain pipe system that discharges into the pond will be modified to enter the rain tank system with minimal modifications.

Water Conservation:

• Plumbing systems that minimize the use of water will be utilized including water-conserving toilets (such as dual-flush and/or low-flow), 1 pint flush urinals, and sensored faucets.

• Native and drought-resistant plants that eliminate the need for an irrigation system or extensive watering will be planted in appropriate areas around the building perimeter.

Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality:

• An Energy Management System (EMS) will be provided to monitor the use of energy in the building. An EMS is a computer that controls the operation of all major building systems, in order to run the building efficiently and effectively and balance the source of energy with the consumption of energy.

• Dual technology occupancy sensors with manual override will be provided for all storage areas and limited use utilitarian spaces.

• Alternate approved solar heating of domestic water is being considered for kitchen and non-kitchen areas.

• Storage for chemical products, such as cleaning, printing, and copying supplies, will be contained in isolated or ventilated rooms.

• The building HVAC design will incorporate energy conservation features such as air-side economizer (free cooling) and variable frequency drives for fans and pumps to reduce energy consumption during non-peak heating and cooling periods.

• Outside air will be measured and CO2 levels will be monitored to ensure proper and continuous ventilation quality is maintained.

• Only environmentally friendly refrigerant(s) will be utilized.

Building Envelope:

• Large windows provide views of the outdoors while also allowing for natural day lighting and winter solar heating. The building itself is sited for optimum solar orientation – classroom windows facing both north and south exposures and limiting the glazing to the east and the west communal circulation spaces.

• High-performance, double-glazed, “Lowe-E” windows with thermal breaks to control solar loads will be used. Low-energy glass is insulated and tinted to filter heat and UV rays from the sun and maximizes the amount of useable natural light to enter the building.

• Operable windows for natural ventilation and individual control will be used in the building, particularly near work stations.

• Efficient building envelope will be designed to include: a roof assembly designed to R-30 at sloped roofs and exterior wall assembly designed to R-13. R-value is a measure of the capacity of a material to impede heat flow, with increasing values indicating a greater capacity.

• “Cool roof” technology will be utilized including a high albedo and highly-reflective energy star-compliant roof coating to reduce the “heat island effect.”

Lighting and Power:

• Lighting and power electrical systems will utilize techniques of energy conservation.

• Multiple switching will be designed in appropriate places to allow maximum artificial and day lighting control.

• Dimming and occupancy sensors can be considered in appropriate places to optimize energy performance.

• Exterior lighting design will address personal security, while minimizing light pollution of surrounding areas by using fixtures incorporating “Dark Sky” technology. Control of exterior security lighting will be provided by a photocell, while exterior accent lighting will be controlled by an astronomical time clock.

Conservation of Materials and Resources:

• Use of locally-manufactured building materials will be encouraged in the specifications.

• High-recycled content materials will be used including: steel, carpet, acoustical ceiling panels, drywall, and concrete.

• Multiple satellite areas will be provided in the building for the collection and separation of materials for recycling. A storage area will be provided in the loading area.

• Consideration for developing a construction waste management plan to divert construction and land clearing debris from landfill disposal by recycling and/or salvaging the waste.

Interior Finish Considerations:

• Provide specification for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint and carpet products, containing little or none of the dangerous chemicals commonly found in these materials.

Educational Programs and Clubs:

Consumer education related to sustainability is offered to the community through Continuing Education & Training (CET). Seminars in partnership with the Green Building Institute of Jessup MD are offered throughout the year. They cover a range of relevant topics including: “Introduction to Going Green”, “Home Energy Audits”, “Solar Energy Systems”, “Smart Water Use” and “Indoor Air Quality”. CET also regularly offers classes on the ‘green’ lifestyle including topics such as organic gardening, healthy eating and cooking, landscaping with native plants and others. The Summer Kids@Carroll program has ecology and sustainability offerings for youth ages 6-12.

The College will be offering training in home energy auditing and weatherization through the association with the statewide community colleges’ Construction and Energy Technologies Education Consortium. Carroll has a 5 member “green trades” advisory committee assisting with local development of new courses and training programs

Carroll Community College students have formed a “Green” Club and have completed several projects benefiting the environment. The club aggressively promotes recycling efforts, and distributed, tree saplings to the College community. They produced a public service radio announcement about tips for going ‘green’ and are currently sponsoring an Earth Day poster contest in the Carroll County elementary schools.
 

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