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Perennial Pollinator Project at LSC!

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Thanks to our team of rock star volunteers, LSC has a new 1,000 square foot pollinator garden at the main entrance!  This project is another example of our efforts to improve campus critter habitat and provide opportunity for our community to learn about new plants and planting techniques.  This project was designed and installed by Shoreview Natives, and serves as our commemorative NWF Campus Pollinator Pledge project!

                                                

    

We’re all about learning new things; here is the plant identification list for our 1,200 NEW friends:

Find more information about our stormwater and native landscape efforts on the newest landscape signs installed around campus!

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CAA Energy Efficiency

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Lake Superior College’s new aviation maintenance technician training partnership with Delta Air Lines has made national headlines in recent months, but LSC has been working closely with local aviation partners like AAR and Cirrus Aircraft for a number of years.  With their growing demand, the Center for Advanced Aviation (CAA) training facility made a leap from its main campus location to a more spacious facility at the Duluth International Airport in 2015.  That move brought with it facility challenges and opportunities, with almost 40,000 square feet to heat, cool and power.

Consistent with the Minnesota State’s goal to reduce statewide campus energy use 20% by 2020, LSC has made aggressive efforts to reduce energy use.  At the main campus, the electricity savings have been driven by retrofitting lighting fixtures and bulbs to efficient LEDs, and incorporated motion sensors and schedule optimization strategies where appropriate.  In 2017, collective energy improvements had reduced energy consumption by 7% overall from the campus’ 2009 baseline.

What’s NEW?

The latest lighting project at LSC’s CAA campus included a complete high bay fixture swap – 50 1,000 watt metal-halide fixtures were replaced with 50 185 watt LED fixtures.  That almost 41 kW per fixture (over 120,000 kW project total annually) advantage could potentially save BIG money; $9,513.16 calculated savings per year, to be exact.  With the $9,050 rebate from Minnesota Power’s PowerGrant Program, the project should pay for itself in 1.26 years(!!).

The project design is great, but how is it PERFORMING?

We like actual data, too.  Along with LSC’s Sustainability Coordinator, our MN GreenCorps member has been refining the energy tracking data for this site.  Using billing invoices going back to 2015, we are definitely seeing some trends in the right direction.  Since February, the invoices have taken a sharp decrease, with energy use dropping by 5,500 kWh when compared to the previous 2 year average; each month since January has been a significant improvement over previous years.  These decreases in energy consumption translate to a total dollar savings of  almost $2,000 over the past 4-months (based on previous 2-year average).  In fact, May showed an all-time low for electricity use since LSC has occupied the space.

year over year graph of energy savings

LSC’s CAA energy use 2015-2018

If you like number crunching as much as we do, you’ll find we’re really close to the calculated savings.  Building users are switch-flipping like bosses, and turning off half of the high bay fixtures when they aren’t using the space (zero energy use is even better than low energy fixtures).  The photo from our CAA campus (above) was taken during a surprise visit in June, showing exactly how they’re hitting these performance marks.  Users told us the lighting, although using far less electricity per fixture, is more than adequate.  Smart, cost effective, AND user friendly.  We’re calling this one a major win!

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Creating an Energy Efficient Operations Manual at LSC

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A summer update from the MN GreenCorps desk at Lake Superior College…

In these final months of the GreenCorps service year we are undertaking one last major energy savings project at Lake Superior College.  This project is the creation of an Energy Efficient Operations Manual (EEOM).  This is an admittedly long and potentially confusing name but it aims to make things a lot simpler and more efficient in the future.  The EEOM is one of several services available to LSC through the B3 portal.  LSC has already utilized the benchmarking service which allows for us to track and measure past energy use on campus.  The EEOM falls under the operations site which looks at the day to day energy use of buildings.

For LSC it looks like the best use of the EEOM is to optimize the air handling units on campus.  These are the devices that supply hot or cold air depending on the season to all areas of the campus.  These units are controlled by a building automation system called Metasys which allows maintenance to schedule the operation of each individual unit.  The EEOM takes this scheduling feature and gathers feedback from building occupants to develop a more efficient schedule for each air handling unit.  There is also a feature built in to the EEOM that requires these schedules to be renegotiated on a regular basis in the future as schedules and building occupants change.  This ensures that building will be operating efficiently today and into the future as well.

Future Possibilities:

Looking to the future LSC can also use the EEOM to optimize lighting controlled by the Metasys system as well as water heaters.  LSC has also reviewed opportunities to supplement its existing systems with various software tools that provide additional control over heating and cooling on campus.  Right now a solution like these seems like more than LSC needs. However depending on the results once the EEOM is implemented a highly customizable and controllable system may make sense.

Other Updates:

Since the last blog post there are some other updates on other GreenCorps projects.  There is now a follow up survey available for the Green Office Challenge.  This is a quick survey designed to gauge the changes participants have made as a result of your participation in the challenge as well as an additional opportunity to give any feedback they may have.  The Sustainability Council still has 3 compost bins available for interested offices!  These bins have a built in filter to contain any odors associated with food scrap collection.  Contact christopher.whaley@lsc.edu if you are interested.  

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Meeting Minutes 5-1-2018

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1:00 – 2:00

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Tim Leudke, Kristi Heintz, Marissa Berger, Mike Francisco, Deanne Roquet, Connie Moore, Nate Bronk, Theresa Hornstein, Glenn Merrick, Mark Cardinal

General Members present:

Guest Present: Chris Whaley

 

Announcements

May 9th is National Bike to School Day. Duluth Bikes and Zeitgeist support a range of activities during the month of May.  Kristi suggested we mark the day with coffee, cookies and orange juice for morning active commuters (bus, bike, walkers).  Kristi will bring coffee and orange juice, Marissa and Deanne will each bring cookies.

 

New Business

The Council review the current FY18 budget and worked through potential final budget items.  After extensive discussion, the Council approve expenditures for the following:
Current balance: $2,441.18

  • Dan’s Feedbin (flowers, fertilizer) -$300
  • Menards (soil, supplies) increase -$300
  • Smart strips ($28 each x 6)
  • Campus countertop compost bins/bags ($29 each x 6)
  • Heated footrests ($45 each)
  • EnergyStar refrigerator for Art Bldg ($280)
  • Picnic table (quote obtained from Max-R, appx $950 with shipping)
  • Cordless saw/drill kit for trail work (up to $400), Mike will assist in finding an appropriate model
  • Interpretive Trail trailhead sign ($1500)
  • Training/travel?

Kristi will encumber funds and work through purchasing before June 30th.

 

Garden/Grounds planning:

  • Tree planting is cancelled (spread the word). We will have the area burned this spring and will continue to    but Kristi and Glenn are organizing some trail work this Thursday at about 10:30.  Mike will bring a saw from home to use for this effort.  Glenn will have some students helping with the effort.
  • Glenn and Kristi would like to move the trail head sign. Mark and Mike had some great suggestions; we’ll work through this project soon.
  • We have at least 1 faculty and student interested in “adopting” raised beds in the vegetable garden. Tim Larson has amended and “tamed” the hugel bed and planted seeds.  Kristi and Danielle will discuss development of signs for the space.
  • The student employment position for groundskeeping and trails is still open. Send any interested students to Kristi.

 

Kristi and Chris are working on light switch stickers for Green Office.  The stickers are intended to remind people to turn off lights when the space isn’t occupied.

 

MAP #3 “Distinctions” Task Force: Leadership with a Sustainability focus will be put forward to the task force.  Kristi, Glenn, and Deanne will continue to develop this Distinction/focus.

 

The Boreal Natives contract is set for the spring burn. Meeting addendum: the burn will happen Wednesday, May 2nd.  Kristi will alert admin and involved maintenance.

 

Old Business

Earth Day review (adjourned before discussion occurred)

 

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

(adjourned before discussion occurred)

Budget

FY 18 budget balance: $2,441.18

Encumbrances to date:

  • Earth Day supplies, compost bags and cookies: -271
  • Shoreview Natives: -3,000
  • Prairie Restorations: -1,050
  • Amazon (smart strips): -275
  • Amazon (pruners, compost bags for campus): -87.67
  • RSPT annual membership: -330
  • Menards: -300
    • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
  • Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50
  • Mileage B3 luncheon: -167.99
  • B3 luncheon registration: -27.37
  • AASHE annual membership: -280
  • Print/postage: -36.47

 

Next Meeting

tbd

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 5/2/2018.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.

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Meeting Agenda 5/1/2018

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May 1st, 2018 1:00

Student Life Conference Room

 

Announcements

May 9th, National Bike to School Day – LSC’s participation

 

New Business

FY18, final budget items for discussion:
Current balance: $2,441.18

  • Dan’s Feedbin (flowers, fertilizer) -$300
  • Menards (soil, supplies) -$300
  • Smart strips ($28 each) -$
  • Campus countertop compost bins/bags ($29 each) -$
  • Heated footrests ($45 each)
  • EnergyStar refrigerator for Art Bldg ($280)
  • Picnic table (many options)
  • Cordless saw for trail work
  • Interpretive Trail trailhead sign ($1500)
  • Training/travel?

 

Tree planting cancelled (spread the word), Trail work this Thursday, 10:30

 

Garden/Grounds planning

  • Tree planting canceled
  • Burn contract in place
  • Veg Garden Mentorship participant update

 

Summer groundskeeping and trails manger student employee needed

 

Light switch stickers

 

Old Business

Earth Day-successes, suggestions?

 

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

GreenCorps project(s) update (Chris)

  • Green Office Challenge

Grounds (Danielle)

Sustainability “Focus” in Leadership Distinction

 

Budget

FY 18 budget balance: $2,441.18

Encumbrances to date:

  • Earth Day supplies, compost bags and cookies: -271
  • Shoreview Natives: -3,000
  • Prairie Restorations: -1,050
  • Amazon (smart strips): -275
  • Amazon (pruners, compost bags for campus): -87.67
  • RSPT annual membership: -330
  • Menards: -300
    • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
  • Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50
  • Mileage B3 luncheon: -167.99
  • B3 luncheon registration: -27.37
  • AASHE annual membership: -280
  • Print/postage: -36.47

 

Review/revise FY18 potential budget items

  • Smart strips
  • Energy-related requests/ideas?
  • Bottle filling station for Atrium?
  • Picnic table under H catwalk, or Student Life area?
  • Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
  • Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
  • workshops?

 

Next Meeting

?

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Spring MN GreenCorps Projects Update

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An Earth Month update from the MN GreenCorps desk:

We are now more than halfway through the GreenCorps service year!  The main project in progress is looking at replacing an appliance on campus.  Many of the appliances that are prime candidates for replacement are refrigerators or coolers.  Using the kill-a-watt meters (available to borrow from the LSC Library) we have recorded energy use for a number of refrigerators on campus.  Most of the refrigerators are pretty energy efficient but some of them were surprising for a couple of reasons.  The maintenance break room and the Tutoring & Learning Center both have the same model of refrigerator in them. The fridge in the maintenance break room costs LSC $81.36 to operate every year.   However the one in the maintenance break room costs more than twice to operate the one in the Tutoring & Learning Center which costs LSC only $33.72 to operate every year. This difference in energy use and operation cost makes the fridge in the maintenance break room a prime candidate for replacement.

Using this data as well as Energy Star energy usage estimates for new models we have calculated what is referred to as the payback period for the purchase of a new appliance.  The basic calculation for this period begins by taking the annual operating cost for the current appliance and subtracting the expected annual operating cost of the new appliance.  Next you take the purchase price of the new appliance and divide it by the energy savings, this number is how many years it will take for those energy savings to pay for the cost of the new appliance.  For the purposes of our fridge replacement the payback period is just under 9 years.  This is well within the useful life of a new fridge so this is another indicator that this fridge is a good one to replace.  Many appliance replacements might not have the best payback period but many utilities including MN Power offer rebates for purchases of new appliances and even incentives for removing appliances like refrigerators.

Other Updates

There are some small updates on other GreenCorps projects as well.  3 vending machines have been removed from the main LSC campus, this leaves 3 more vending misers free to install on our satellite campus sites!  The Green Office Challenge also continues.  Since the last blog post 7 additional teams have completed the survey bringing the total number of teams surveyed to 12.  The Sustainability Council has also distributed the smart power strips that it purchased back in February. Among the people who have tested them out the clear favorite seems to be the timer equipped model.  Stay tuned for more updates through the remaining months of the service year!

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Meeting Minutes 4/6/2018

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9:00 – 10:00

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Tim Leudke, Kristi Heintz, Marissa Berger, Danielle Wood, Mike Francisco, Connie Moore, Nate Bronk, General Members present:

Guest Present: Chris Whaley

 

Announcements

 

New Business

Kristi shared the final results of our 6-month Trex recycling challenge.  Our final total weight of collected material was 503 pounds, surpassing our goal by a whopping 3 pounds!  In recognition of fulfilling the goal, Trex will be shipping free a bench to us, a $529 value!  The Council can discuss best placement of the bench when the weather turns spring.

 

Going forward, Kristi has reached out to A1, who is now providing plastics pick-up service in the Twin Ports area.  To our knowledge, this is the only plastics hauler in town.  They charge $25 per pick up.  The Council agreed we might use them for a year at one pick-up per month.  Because a contarct for service will be necessary, Kristi suggested we wait to establish this agreement until July 1st.  Further discussion can happen at that time.

 

Kristi updated the Council on our landscape prep.  The contract with Shoreview Natives has been established.  Kristi also requested further information from Dan regarding pollinator friendly certification and signage.  Dan offered some options:

From Dan Schutte: “Certifying a pollinator site is a cinch. There are a couple of options:

  • Certified Monarch Waystation – The Monarch Watch program sponsors this out of Kansas University. Good program to support, pretty popular to certify with them.
  • National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certification – NWF has a habitat certification program that this installation would qualify for.
  • Xerces Society– Xerces is an international invertebrate conservation NGO, kind of nice to promote them, and the sign is very descriptive of what the site accomplishes.
  • Wild Ones Butterfly Garden – Wild Ones has a robust chapter in the Arrowhead. They have a nice looking sign.  All of these are $20-30 to certify

The May meeting will look closer at these options, and a potential local Wild Ones’ Affiliate Not-for-Profit Org member benefit.

 

MAP #3 “Distinctions” Task Force: Leadership in Sustainability focus from existing courses (tabled until May meeting when additional information is available)

 

Kristi shared that the MREA PV Development for Institutions Course wrapped up two weeks ago.  Kristi posted a blog update and linked to MREA’s press release earlier this week, and also shared it on our Sustainability facebook page.  Kristi requested marketing assistance to share the course participation widely, Janet reached out to the DNT, no further updates at this time.

 

Tangentially, Marissa noted Al’s mention of support for PV deployment.  Armed with our new knowledge, Kristi is optimistic there will be some momentum going forward.  There has been further discussion on PV installation in curriculum which would necessitate a panel or array for teaching.  Kristi will continue to update the Council as it all unfolds.

 

Kristi shared the Earth Day poster and agenda.  The Council discussed a couple of remaining details:

  • Connie shared that Superior Small Batch and Upper Lakes Foods will be donating our samples. We still need to secure help for sample prep.  Kristi and Connie will work with Heather on this.
  • Barb from the TLC suggested a clothing shop. Kristi will send an all campus email to prompt employees to drop clean and gently used clothing in the Learning Center for student shopping on Earth Day.
  • Tim cleared up some remaining presentation/audio questions. Kristi will work with Carly on making sure those options are set.

 

Tree planting planning is moving along for May 3rd and 4th.  Kristi made a facebook event, and she will ask marketing to share it on the LSC page.  Kristi will also send another email reminder to all employees.  The Council suggested adding it to all employee’s calendars too.  ERTC is unable to do a grass burn before that date, so we will work to weed whip the hillside in the weeks leading up to the planting.  Kristi received 40 bags from Duluth Coffee Company to use as weed barrier, and is looking at other options including grain sacks from breweries.  We’ll need about 250 bags total.

 

The Boreal Natives contract is set for the spring burn.

 

Summer groundskeeping and trails manger student employee needed.  The position is posted on the LSC student employment page.

 

Old Business

 

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

GreenCorps project(s) update:

  • Chris and Tim gave an update on the smart strips.  Most agree the current sensing strips do not work for work stations, but the Belkin button/timer strips work well.  Tim shared some additional IT projects that are in the works.
  • Chris gave an update on an appliance replacement survey he’s been working on.  He’s identified a refrigerator in the Art building that could be replaced, although it gets very little use.  Connie also has a need for a new cooler.  If energy efficient options exist, the Council may consider chipping in, especially if the cost slightly exceeds a less efficient model.  Connie will keep the Council informed as they look at their options.

 

Budget

FY 18 budget balance: $2,796.65

Encumbrances to date:

  • Earth Day supplies and cookies: -271
  • Shoreview Natives: -3,000
  • Prairie Restorations: -700
  • Amazon (smart strips): -275
  • Amazon (pruners, compost bags for campus): -87.67
  • RSPT annual membership: -330
  • Menards: -300
    • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
  • Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50
  • Mileage B3 luncheon: -167.99
  • B3 luncheon registration: -27.37
  • AASHE annual membership: -280
  • Print/postage: -36.47

 

Review/revise FY18 potential budget items

  • Smart strips
  • Energy-related requests/ideas?
  • Bottle filling station for Atrium?
  • Picnic table under H catwalk, or Student Life area?
  • Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
  • Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
  • workshops?

Connie motioned to adjourn, Tim seconded.

Next Meeting

Friday, May 4th, 9:00

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 4/6/2018.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.

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Meeting Agenda 4/6/2018

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April 6th, 2018 9:00

Student Life Conference Room

 

Announcements

 

New Business

Trex recycling challenge wrap up

Soft plastics recycling-new hauler: A1 $25/pick-up

S-building landscape discussion with Shoreview Natives (update and certification options from Dan)

“Certifying a pollinator site is a cinch. There are a couple of options:

  • Certified Monarch Waystation – The Monarch Watch program sponsors this out of Kansas University. Good program to support, pretty popular to certify with them.
  • National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certification – NWF has a habitat certification program that this installation would qualify for.
  • Xerces Society– Xerces is an international invertebrate conservation NGO, kind of nice to promote them, and the sign is very descriptive of what the site accomplishes.
  • Wild Ones Butterfly Garden – Wild Ones has a robust chapter in the Arrowhead, I think I saw you present with them one time…? They have a nice looking sign

All of these are $20-30 to certify, so pretty affordable.”

MAP #3 – “Distinctions” Task Force: Leadership in Sustainability focus from existing courses

MREA PV Development for Institutions Course: quick update, press release

Earth Day (April 19th) update and last-minute thoughts

  • Café taste testing plan (Connie)
  • Used clothing shop

Garden/Grounds planning

  • Tree planting, May 3rd and 4th, site prep planning
    • Promotion so far, other ideas?
  • Garden Mentorship participant update

Boreal Natives and Shoreview Natives update

Summer groundskeeping and trails manger student employee needed

 

Old Business

 

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

GreenCorps project(s) update (Chris)

  • Appliance/technology proposal(s)
  • Green Office Challenge

Grounds (Danielle)

 

Budget

FY 18 budget balance: $2,796.65

Encumbrances to date:

  • Earth Day supplies and cookies: -271
  • Shoreview Natives: -3,000
  • Prairie Restorations: -700
  • Amazon (smart strips): -275
  • Amazon (pruners, compost bags for campus): -87.67
  • RSPT annual membership: -330
  • Menards: -300
    • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
  • Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50
  • Mileage B3 luncheon: -167.99
  • B3 luncheon registration: -27.37
  • AASHE annual membership: -280
  • Print/postage: -36.47

 

Review/revise FY18 potential budget items

  • Smart strips
  • Energy-related requests/ideas?
  • Bottle filling station for Atrium?
  • Picnic table under H catwalk, or Student Life area?
  • Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
  • Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
  • workshops?

 

Next Meeting

Friday, May 4th, 9:00

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LSC on Solar

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In early 2018, Lake Superior College applied for and was chosen to participate in Midwest Renewable Energy Associations’s (MREA) first 8-week PV Deployment for Institutions course along with 13 other higher education teams.  The PV Deployment course was developed with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office.  More information about the course, including a list of participants, can be found at MREA’s news page (midwestrenew.org).

For this course, LSC’s newly formed “Solar Team” included the Vice President of Administration, Renewable Energy and Commercial & Residential Wiring faculty, and our campus Sustainability Coordinator.  Over 8 weeks, building on the results of our 2017 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) solar feasibility analysis, the team created a draft Solar Power Roadmap for our own solar deployment.  The team used resourced developed and compiled by MREA to model various solar deployment scenarios and consider not only the financial value of this renewable energy for the campus, but also consider the non-financial and indirect values of going solar.

In addition to “crunching numbers”, the MREA course prompted the team to dig deeper into local, state and larger considerations related to solar deployment.  The team identified stakeholder engagement opportunities, identified relevant legal considerations, analyzed landscape and building-specific solar insolation potential, discussed various financing models, and finally heard from a number of developers and practitioners about pitfalls and tips for running a successful project – from planning to bid to implementation.

By assessing our own energy consumption patterns and using the solar modeling tools and resources used in the renewable energy industry, we now have a much better understanding of what’s possible, what’s probable, and perhaps most importantly, what simply won’t work for us.  LSC’s Sustainability Council will continue to refine its Solar Power Roadmap as the campus moves toward achieving its carbon reduction and workforce training goals.

 

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LSC Earth Day 2018

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The schedule is set, and we’re excited to announce our lineup for this year’s LSC Earth Day fun and enlightenment! 

*NEW DETAILS: We’re thrilled to announce that Superior Small Batch and Upper Lakes Foods will both generously donate food samples to our “Vote with your BUDS” activity at noon.  With their help, we get to introduce students to foods they may not typically try, and maybe find a new favorite everyday food choice.  With positive feedback, the new item may become a staple on next year’s LSC Cafe menu!

Check out our printable full size poster, including a list of activities and details, and find the latest information on our facebook page.

 

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