Letter From The President When I signed the American Colleges and Universities President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) for Lewis and Clark Community College in 2008, it came at a time of great economic upheaval in this country. While “sustainability” and environmentalism have already captured the hearts and minds of activists, the Great Recession led many institutions to cut “green” funding in favor of cost efficiency policies. As an institution, we knew that “green” and cost efficiency were one in the same. Focusing on long-term sustainability improves what we call the “triple bottom line” – People, Planet and Profit. Lewis and Clark understands that all three legs of that stool are vital for our institution to continue to gain a workforce, research and financial competitive edge in the marketplace. Each leg of the stool aligns beautifully with our mission as a college to “empower people by raising aspirations and fostering achievement through dynamic, compassionate and responsible learning experiences.” By investing in green initiatives, we are actually investing in people by providing relevant academic and training experiences aligned with the jobs and needs of a 21st century economy. From campus grounds projects to curriculum development, Lewis and Clark Community College continues to make aggressive strides toward its goal of campus carbon neutrality by 2058. In fact, as we continue to be recognized by local, state and national organizations for our leadership in sustainability, we are demonstrating that in many cases, you can actually save green by going green. As a charter member of the Illinois Green Employment Network (IGEN) Lewis and Clark benefits from best practices modeling and funding. As this report demonstrates, we are ahead of schedule in meeting the goals outlined in our Climate Action Plan (2008) and embodied in our commitment to the ACUPCC. From 2011-2014, Lewis and Clark cut electricity use by 10 percent, or 1.5 million kwh. That accomplishment alone saved the college more than $40,000 in energy bills. Additionally, all of Lewis and Clark’s grid energy is supplied from 100 percent green sources – a goal we were very proud to attain. Other headlines include further reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, due in part to reductions in commuting emissions, dramatic reductions in office paper usage, the installation of renewable energy technologies and training apparatus, and the implementation of campus energy dashboards that provide a space for students, staff, faculty and the public alike to follow along and join in on the journey to a sustainable future. On the horizon, we see a state-of-the-art Alternative Energy Production Center (AEPC SM) which will house a Smart Grid Classroom and various types of renewable energy generation technologies capable of powering a new, cutting edge, Advanced Greenhouse Materials Application Center (AGMAC SM), which will be used to research advanced materials in the horticulture industry and train students, as well as provide locally grown food for campus stakeholders. On the cover: The EcoRoad boasts pervious pavement, which promotes rain seepage into the water retention ponds and groundwater below the road, rather than running off the pavement. The project was paid for by a green fee, which is included in students’ tuition.
2 - 2014 Sustainability Report
AEPCSM and AGMAC SM will be centerpieces of Lewis and Clark’s future and ongoing commitment to sustainability, and we hope these and other actions will keep us on the leading edge of the movement for a more sustainable planet.
President of Lewis and Clark Community College Board Chairman, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center