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Energy Conservation Initiatives @ MCC

A growing wave of organizations in all sectors — education, technology, financial services, retail, manufacturing — are "going green". By embracing environmentally safe practices and conserving energy these organizations can also enjoy long term cost savings. “Going green” benefits everyone.

So, what is Mott Community College doing to play its part in this global effort towards a cleaner environment and future sustainability? Read on to find out more.

• Implemented numerous energy conservation initiatives
• Improved equipment reliability and efficiency
• Enhanced our recycling efforts
• Purchased more “green” or environmentally friendly products
• Participates in local environmental programs

Energy conservation initiatives include those projects and/or practices that not only help conserve resources for the future and save dollars, but also help prevent pollution.

See a partial list of all these initiatives below.

 

Physical Plant Efforts
Completed Initiatives:

• Installed new, high-efficiency modular pulse boilers in all but one building.
• Installed new, high-efficiency chillers in all but one building.
• Upgraded campus-wide HVAC/R management system to better control and monitor heating and cooling.
• Changed all lighting to high-efficiency electronic ballasts.
• Installed timed occupancy sensors in most rooms.
• Installed 1.0 gallon per flush (gpf) flush valves on water closets and urinals.
• Installed flow restrictors on toilet room faucets.
• Installed EMON energy monitoring system to track individual building energy use.
• Installed additional roof insulation when re-roofing buildings.
• Campus exterior lighting systems equipped with night light circuits to reduce energy use during hours that campus is closed.

On-going Initiatives:

• Installing insulating glass where and when possible during new construction and/or remodeling.
• Installing permeable asphalt on new walking/jogging/biking path through campus – will evaluate for further use of this or permeable concrete on campus paved areas to reduce runoff and decrease need for underground drainage systems.
• Restricting irrigation season to minimum in order to conserve water.

For future consideration:

• Drilling of water wells to provide irrigation water instead of using city water source.
• Purchasing electric powered vehicles for Physical Plant, Public Safety, Events Office, Mail Room, and Catering/Events Office.
• Installation of landscaped “green” roofs (where structure permits) to reduce rainwater runoff and decrease HVAC/R costs.

Purchasing/Recycling Efforts
Administrative Efforts

• Paper recycling takes place in several locations around the MCC campuses. “Paper recycling” includes all office paper, copy paper, newsprint, and magazines. Do not discard phone books in the recycling bins. Special collections need to be organized for those! Linda Dowland is the MCC contact person and Averill Recycling are the bin providers. Bins are emptied on an “as needed” basis. When the bins are full call (810)767-7055 or email j-trepkowski@hotmail.com. A pick-up will be made in two to three business days. Bins are currently located in Curtice-Mott 1117, the Administrative Complex, Prahl College Center, SLBC and in Workforce Development in the Wagner Building. Paper recycling is easy and there is no cost to MCC. In fact, paper recycling saves costs in trash collection and saves landfill space.
• Grade Reports are provided online; resulting in paper savings as well as printing and mailing cost savings.
• MCC encourages online applications to the college. This results in additional paper savings and reduced paper handling costs.
• Placing our schedule of classes and college catalog online allows us to print and distribute fewer paper copies.
• Email communications and online filing are also helping to reduce paper use.
• “ImageNow” software is being utilized in several departments to scan documents and reduce copying needs.
• (ITS) Education Media Services has recently updated MCC’s smart classrooms. A timer program has been installed in the Crestron touch panels to automatically shutdown the system if there is no use for two hours. This will result in saving electricity and extend the life of projector bulbs and equipment.
• The Green Initiatives Team (GRIT) has been formed. This team will work to implement an on-campus recycling program, promote green activities and initiatives, and keep the campus community educated and informed on environmental issues that impact us all. We are looking for interested individuals to join us...please contact Becky Gale-Gonzalez at 762-0455 for more information.
• The MCC Accounting and Human Resources Departments are working towards providing electronic records instead of printing paper copies. Employees will have continuous access to records online and the college will realize a cost savings in paper, toner, and machine and labor costs associated with printing and distribution.

 

Academic Efforts

• The MCC Technology Division reports that the solvent waste product from the Automotive courses is recycled through Crystal Clean. The solvent is reused in other industrial applications, such as a machining compound, lubricant, coolant and even made into asphalt and other items. Our new system of pick-up/delivery has also resulted in MCC using this petroleum based product 3 to 4 times longer.
  
  Also, used oil and antifreeze from the MCC Automotive program are recycled through Future Environmental. These materials are recycled into other industrial products or used in hi-tech, clean burning commercial oil burners.