Temple University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The university's Master Plan outlines sustainability as a key growth principle. It also includes a green building policy for future campus growth.

Verdant Temple Landscape Master Plan: https://campusoperations.temple.edu/campus-development/landscape-master-plan-0
Utility and Energy Conservation Master Plan (Not publicly available)

The Climate Action Plan sets forth the following measurable sustainability objectives related to curriculum:

1) Create an undergraduate interdisciplinary certificate program. (Completed)
2) Create an MS in environmental science
3) Create an MS in sustainable business
4) Develop an interdisciplinary graduate program in sustainability (In curriculum review committee)

The 2010 Climate Action Plan recommended the following measurable sustainability objectives that address research:

1) creation of an interdisciplinary Center for Urban Ecology. This proposed Center will connect faculty research activities in an integrative manner through interdisciplinary efforts drawing from departments and colleges to create a university-wide sustainability research enterprise. The proposed Center will involve faculty and graduate fellows to conduct sustainability research related to the urban ecology theme, sponsor visiting scientists, host seminar and workshop events, and build interdisciplinary research teams related to the emphasis areas outlined above.

The 2010 Climate Action Plan identified the following measurable sustainability objectives that address campus engagement:

1) create a Living and Learning Community in Sustainability within a
residence hall;
2) to foster sustainability competitions among residence halls related to the reduction
of energy use, increase in recycling, and integration of slow and local food practices;
3) to create student groups in professional schools that raise awareness about sustainability;
4) to create student internship opportunities in sustainability; and (e) to broaden the base of guest speaker and lecture series related to sustainability.

The 2010 Climate Action Plan identified the following measurable sustainability objectives that address public engagement:

1) Foster greening initiatives at local sites where immediate impacts for improving environmental quality and sustainability goals are achievable, building on the presence of strong community organizations.
2) Develop an advisory board that provides public information and advice related to sustainable community development, local environmental quality issues, and public actions for sustainable living.
3) Create an interactive web site on sustainable initiatives that individuals and groups can undertake, engage, and promote.
4) Implement a public speakers bureau including both Temple and Community participants available to provide lectures, talks, workshops, and other events in local schools, neighborhood associations, and community organization settings.
5) Develop partnerships and programs for pre-school through 12th grade students in both formal and informal educational settings.

The 2010 Climate Action Plan identified the following measurable sustainability objectives that addresses air and climate:

1) Temple has set a target of reducing campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below baseline (fiscal year 2006) levels by 2030. This corresponds to an emissions target of 158,353 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, which is approximately 68,000 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent below FY 2006 levels, and 130,000 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent below business-as-usual emissions (45% reduction below business-as-usual).

2) Prior to the 2030 goal, Temple will target the following:
· 5% below baseline (fiscal year 2006) levels by 2015 (Corresponds to an emissions target of 214,907 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2015)
· 15% below baseline (fiscal year 2006) levels by 2020 (Corresponds to an emissions target of 192,285 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020)
· 22% below baseline (fiscal year 2006) levels by 2025 (Corresponds to an emissions target of 176,450 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2025)

Temple intends to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Climate Action Plan sets out specific measurable objectives associated with each recommended strategy for the built environment.

Project Type Demand Side Management
Project Title Phase I Building Automation Systems
Project Description:Building automation systems will be implemented in the following facilities beginning 2010 and to be completed as soon as possible (see Appendix A):
Biology & Life Sciences Building; Barrack Hall; Bell Building; PNAH; Dental
School (Old and New); Wachman Building; Old Medical Building; Beury Hall;
New Tyler; 1300 C. B. Moore; HSC CCWP West; Anderson Hall; Medical
Research Building; Ritter Hall and Annex; Weiss Hall; Gladfelter; Pearson /
McGonigle; Faculty Student Union; Klein; Paley Library; New Medical School;
Temple Towers; Mitten Hall; Student Activities Center; Kresge Hall; Podiatric
Building (Main and Dorm); CEA; Conwell Hall; Johnson; Speakman;
Annenberg / Tomlinson; SAC 2; Standby Generator; Ambler Learning Center;
Comprehensive Cancer Center; 1940 Residence Hall; Student Pavilion; White
Hall
Project Metrics:
Simple Payback (years) 6
Annual Energy Cost Savings $1,550,700
Annual GHG reduction (MTCO2E) 8,165
Annual Energy Savings: 7,753,500 kWh, 77,500 MMBTU

Project Type Demand Side Management
Project Title Phase II Plant Development Fund Projects
Project Description: Planned building improvements will be implemented in the following facilities in the near term (see Appendix B): Health Sciences Campus-Central Steam
Plant; Ambler Campus; Pharmacy Building; Anderson Building; Medical
Research Building; Gladfelter Building; Faculty Student Union; Kresge Hall;
Podiatric Building; School of Engineering & Architecture; Conwell Hall; Ritter
Hall; Medical Office Building; Main OFM; Dixon Building; Widener Hall; Bright
Hall; Ambler Administration
Project Metrics:
Simple Payback (years) 10-14
Annual Energy Cost Savings $2,447,000 - $3,695,800
Annual GHG reduction (MTCO2E) 11,760 – 17,900
Annual Energy Savings: 15,406,700 – 24,262,800 kWh, 70,600 – 99,710 MMBTU

Project Type Demand Side Management
Project Title Phase III Energy Conservation Measures for High Energy Using Buildings
Project Description: Energy conservation measures will be implemented in the following facilities by 2020 (see Appendix C): Biology and Life Sciences Building; Beury Hall; Mitten Hall and Annex; Ritter Annex; Wachman Hall; Weiss Hall; Dental School (old
and new); Faculty Student Union; Kresge Hall; Medical Research Building; Pharmacy Building.
Project Metrics:
Simple Payback (years) 6 – 10
Annual Energy Cost Savings $3,746,800 - $6,634,500
Annual GHG reduction (MTCO2E) 19,580 – 34,670
Annual Energy Savings: 30,582,763 – 54,880,280 kWh, 68,850 – 114,650 MMBTU

Project Type Demand Side Management
Project Title Design standards for new construction
Project Description: Target new building design to limit energy usage to 30% below the industry standard baseline (ASHRAE 90.1).
Project Metrics:
Simple Payback (years) -
Annual Energy Cost Savings $2,120,000
Annual GHG reduction (MTCO2E) 11,130
Annual Energy Savings: 15,840,000 kWh; 53,340 MMBTU

Project Type Supply-Side Management
Project Title Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Project Description: Design, development, and installation of a back pressure steam turbine & generator or a gas turbine with heat recovery system at one of the Main
Campus Central Steam Plant boilers. Assumes natural gas heat input of
100,000 MMBTU.
Project Metrics:
Simple Payback (years) 3
Annual Energy Cost Savings $350,000
Annual GHG reduction (MTCO2E) 1,833
Annual Energy Savings: 35,000 MMBTU

The Utility and Energy Master Plan set forth individual energy conservation measures that have ROI assessments. The implementation period for the projects in the Utility and Energy Master Plan are within 2 years.

The Energy Conservation Measures identified in the Utility Master Plan included (1) the reduction of outside air during non-occupancy, (2) adding carbon dioxide sensors, (3) continuous automated commissioning, (4) pipe insulation, (5) air side energy recovery, (6) interior lighting upgrades, (7) HVAC upgrades, and (8) metering. These projects will be tracked by the building, project type when completed, simple payback and energy savings. While the plan has been adopted and is being implemented, the university has not made it public due to the sensitive nature of some of the plan elements.

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The Landscape Master Plan promotes sustainability through the following recommendations: 1) doubling bicycle parking on campus; 2) adding bike paths on campus; 3) establishing LED fixtures as the exterior lighting standard; 4) identifying clearly recognizable outside recycling standards; 5) incorporating stormwater management features into the green spaces; 6) setting pervious pavers as the paving standard on campus; 7) increasing the number of green spaces on campus. The plan divides the landscape projects into three phases: 0-5 years; 6-10 years and 10 years and beyond.

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The 2010 Climate Action Plan identified the following measurable sustainability objectives that addresses transportation (pages 29-31 of CAP):

1) Create Priority Parking and Lower Parking Rates
Priority parking and lower rates would be given to low-GHG
emission vehicles (those with combined city-highway fuel economy ratings of 35 miles per gallon or higher) and motorcycles. Discounts would be based upon revenue-neutral
pricing, which raises parking fees for non-fuel-efficient vehicles a small amount in order to fund deep discounts for the comparatively smaller number of high-fuel-efficiency vehicles used by Temple commuters. To implement such a program would require an awareness campaign to inform commuters of Climate Action Plan, the incentives, redrawing of the parking garage layout to create more priority parking spots, and additional signage. Similar discounts could be applied to vehicles used for carpooling.
Timeline Short-term goal (i.e., by June 30, 2011) Funding No funding required
Coordination Internal university coordination Estimated GHG Reduction 4,661 MTCO2E (10.3% of FY2008 transportation emissions) Assuming a 50% conversion of commuter vehicles to a fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon. commuter vehicles to a fuel
economy of 35 miles per gallon.

2) Create University Transit Pass Program
This program would be negotiated with the metropolitan public
transit authority, SEPTA, to provide reduced fee transit passes for all registered students. The program could be funded through student fees, university administration contributions or a combination. Estimated GHG Reduction 2,336 MTCO2E (5.2% of FY2008 transportation emissions)

3) Create Offsets of Air Travel program
This recommendation is a combination of university-related air
travel recommendations including (1) providing information about the carbon footprint of air travel to travelers, (2) establishing a University Carbon Fund based on voluntary purchase of carbon offsets, (3) establishing a carbon travel credits policy to enforce
limits on university departments or offices, (4) establishing minimum miles or travel time limits, and (5) increasing Temple University teleconference capabilities at the university.
Funding No funding or one-time funding (Carbon Fund and expansion of
teleconferencing). Estimated GHG Reduction 7,950 MTCO2E (17.6% of FY2008 transportation emissions)

The Climate Action Plan established a goal of reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions derived from land-filled solid waste by 10% by 2015 relative to the 2006 baseline level. The Climate Action Plan estimates that Temple emitted 5,229 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) in 2006. A 10% decrease is equivalent to 529 MTCO2E. The university successfully achieved that reduction in 2008. In fact, between 2006 and 2010, Temple reduced its emissions associated with solid waste by 19%.

Although it reached its 10% greenhouse gas emissions reduction benchmark, the Climate Action Plan identified additional waste minimization and recycling recommendations, which are listed below:

• Increase the recycling rate from 32% to 40% by 2015;
• Increase outdoor recycling opportunities to ensure that every trash can is accompanied by a recycling can;
• Explore composting of food waste;
• Review opportunities in the food service areas to replace disposable dinnerware and eating utensils in all dining halls;
• Review business practices that contribute to excess waste; and,
• Engage students in residence halls to reduce waste.

It should be noted that the Climate Action Plan did not identify a specific target for the reduction of trash. A goal and benchmark system for waste reduction may be something that the Waste Minimization and Recycling Committee considers as a way to evaluate the success of the university’s efforts.

This report will explore opportunities on campus to increase its recycling rate to 40% while minimizing waste generated by operations and individual community members.

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Updated July 2017.