Memorandum of Understanding between the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and St. John’s
University
Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to
document St. John’s University’s commitment to partner with EPA as
environmental stewards for reducing carbon footprint. This MOU is
intended to be a living document. St. John’s has signed on as a
partner for various voluntary EPA programs that will broaden and
more fully define the University’s sustainability initiatives and
further incorporate sustainability practices into the St. John’s
culture. For St. John’s, these programs will always be works in
progress as the University recognizes that commitment to each
program will require continuous planning and activities to effect
ongoing improvements.
St. John’s efforts for continuous improvement involve: using EPA’s
environmental stewardship programs to develop policies, practices,
and specifications for environmentally efficient standards;
increasing stewardship awareness; staying current with EPA
regulations and guidelines; increasing involvement and recognition
of St. John’s stakeholders; partnering with local government; and
addressing environmental concerns swiftly. St. John’s recognizes
EPA’s program requirements of outreach and involvement, data
collecting and reporting, and will strive to become a recognized
leader and a candidate for EPA environmental stewardship
awards.
For all environmental stewardship programs listed herein, St.
John’s Director of Energy and Environmental Conservation will be
the point person for program work and St. John’s Vice President of
Facilities will provide the overall leadership. Under this MOU St.
John’s will participate in the following voluntary EPA
environmental stewardship programs.
- EnergyStar Building & Plant Partnership
- GreenScapes Partnership
- Labs 21 Partnership
- WasteWise Partnership
- Coal Combustion Products Partnership
- Combined Heat & Power Partnership
- National Clean Diesel Campaign & Clean Construction
USA
- WaterSense Products
The text that follows briefly describes the voluntary EPA
environmental stewardship programs as they apply to St. John’s. The
text also highlights some important sustainability initiatives St.
John’s has already begun, or is currently planning.
1. EnergyStar Building & Plant
Partnership
St. John’s is on EPA’s registered list as an EnergyStar Partner.
St. John’s will utilize EPA’s program offering within EnergyStar
Building & Plants entitled “Menu of EnergyStar Offerings for
Higher Education” (the Menu) as the structure for continuous
improvement and to meet or exceed the goal of 10% energy reduction
under the EnergyStar Program.
Major components of St. John’s plan to conserve energy that are
expected to occur under this MOU include: expansion of building
automation systems; maintenance and repair of mechanical system
infrastructure; new construction of an1800-ton high-efficiency
chilled water plant; a comprehensive third-party performance
contracting study for constructing combined heat and power plant
(cogeneration); and numerous energy conservation projects, i.e.,
lighting controls, fume-hood retrofits and heat-reclamation systems
on science laboratory ventilation systems and variable speed drives
and premium efficiency electric
motors.
St. John’s Director of Energy and Environmental Conservation meets
with individuals and teams periodically to strategize for energy
conservation. Individuals and team members include: maintenance and
operations personnel, building management system controls
contractor, representatives from St. John’s Residential Life,
project managers from in-house Design and Construction and
Infrastructure Renewal/replacement manager, private consulting
engineers, representative from the New York State Energy Research
and Development Agency (NYSERDA), Student Sustainability
Coordinators, faculty, staff and administrators.
St. John’s intends to institute by the end of 2009 a formal energy
policy to provide the foundation for setting goals and integrating
energy management into the University’s culture and operations.
This policy will formalize senior management’s support and
articulate St. John’s commitment to energy conservation for all
students, faculty, staff and administrators.
St. John’s is committed to lowering the impact on the environment
in new construction and renovations to existing facilities. Since
2007, every major construction and renovation project includes an
energy analysis for equipment selection and consideration for
filing for NYSERDA grant programs. Current construction of the new
University Center & Academic Center (UCAC) building
specification includes a high-efficient electric-chilled water
plant, daylight harvesting, demand-control ventilation, reflective
roof covering, variable speed drives, and high efficiency motors.
Coal combustion products have been incorporated into the
poured-in-place concrete for the new UCAC building and the new
Carnesecca Plaza construction. In addition, the current renovation
of St. Vincent Hall for dormitory use includes a valance-type
heating and cooling system and WaterSense
products.
Under this MOU, education, outreach and involvement will include
the use of EPA’s program offering entitled “Outreach Campaign”. To
begin, new for the 2008 fall academic semester, St. John’s has
included a “Sustainable Living Tip Sheet” for students and Resident
Advisor sustainability training.
2. GreenScapes Partnership
At St. John’s, our green spaces are gifts to preserve and enjoy.
St. John’s commits to exceed the EPA minimum requirement of
undertaking two GreenScapes program activities.
Under this MOU, St. John’s will utilize EPA’s GreenScapes program
to reduce the need to replace landscaping materials and high
maintenance plants, work towards reusing landscape materials where
possible, recycle organic materials and make decisions to specify
and purchase products that are environmentally preferable. St.
John’s is also interested in composting and turf management and has
visited and will continue to study composting systems similar to
that of EPA’s MOU Partner, Montclair State University.
St. John’s makes the commitment to utilize EPA’s GreenScapes Tip
Sheets and Rebuy Checklist to develop its own written GreenScapes
program by end of May 2009. St. John’s GreenScapes Program document
will be used for continuous improvement and St. John’s will keep
records of Waste, Energy, Fertilizers, Pesticides and Climate
Change activities related to its grounds keeping efforts.
3. Labs 21 Partnership
St. John’s University shares the vision, goals and objectives of
EPA’s Labs 21 program. St. John’s will work towards minimizing
energy consumption and reducing its carbon footprint while
accomplishing its goals in science education and scientific
research, at the same time, maintaining health and safety as its
highest priority. The University’s Director of Energy and
Environmental Conservation has joined the newly established code
review subcommittee on labs design as part of the NYC Mayoral
Challenge 30 in 10.
The science laboratories at St. John’s are located in St. Albert
Hall on the Queens campus. During the fall of 2008, the Director of
Energy and Environmental Conservation will inventory all fume hoods
in St. Albert Hall and, with the help of private consulting
engineers, will estimate annual energy consumption and carbon
footprint, and explore opportunities for conservation measures,
such as heat reclamation and high- performance fume hood
replacement / retrofit.
Under this MOU, the Director will study the current laboratories
design conditions, study the codes and consult with the Director of
Environmental Health and Safety to identify programmatic
constraints or issues that cause high energy usage. The Director
will study EPA’s recognized Center of Excellence case studies
(“Institutions of Labs for the 21st Century”), view EPA’s video
“Labs 21 Approach” and study EPA’s Tool Kit (“Resources for High
Efficient Design, Operations and Lab Maintenance”). With the aid of
professional engineers, St. John’s will conduct a detailed energy
audit of St. Albert Hall. This audit will calculate how much energy
is consumed annually by lab spaces and include proposed energy
conservation measures specifically designed to conserve energy and
reduce carbon footprint.
EPA will continue developing its Labs for the 21st Century Program,
continue to develop outreach and educational materials, provide
referrals for technical support and information and continue to
encourage colleges and universities to join as partners, creating a
network of knowledge and experience for our mutual benefit.
4. WasteWise Partnership and Solid Waste
Recycling
Listed as a WasteWise partner since 2003, St. John’s has recently
updated it partnership and signed on as a WasteWise Endorser.
During the first quarter of 2008, St. John’s made significant
enhancements to reduce waste by investing $100,000 in additional
recycling containers, created the new position of Director of
Energy and Environmental Conservation, hired seventeen part-time
student workers as Sustainability Coordinators, started the second
year of a two-year contract with a waste management consultant and
provided training to building service workers. St. John’s also set
up monthly reporting and meetings on waste management and started
reaching out to students, faculty and staff on recycling through
messages on electronic bulletin boards, student news paper
articles, scheduled training sessions, and web pages. On Earth Day
2008, St. John’s launched sustainability and recycling web pages
which are updated periodically. The current routine recycling
program includes standard materials of cardboard, paper, plastic,
metal, glass, toner cartridges, computers & monitors, batteries
and light bulbs.
Re-use, and re-buy are also a part of St. John’s planning process
for new construction and renovation projects. St. John’s current
Library renovation project includes: purchasing of used metal
library book shelving and metal ceiling materials; specification of
construction materials with recycle material content, i.e. carpet
and acoustic ceiling materials; specification of environmentally
conscious acoustic wall-panel system; reuse of high-density metal
compact book shelving; refurbishing existing mechanical air
handling equipment; specification of construction materials
manufactured locally within 500 mile radius; and specification of
construction materials with low volatile organic compounds (VOC)
off-gassing, i.e. adhesives and wall, ceiling and floor finishes.
When possible, St. John’s will contract with construction and
debris haulers/recyclers to recycle waste that is generated from
new construction and renovation projects.
Partnering with the New York City government for recycling is also
a resource for St. John’s. In May 2008, St. John’s hosted a day for
Queens’ residents to drop off unwanted electronic equipment that
was recycled and partnered with NYC’s Office of Recycling Outreach
and Education (CENYC) for a food and clothing drive for resident
students move-out. In August of 2008, CENYC helped the Office of
Residence Life train student resident advisors on recycling
required by law and St. John’s recycling program. In November 2008,
S. John’s student workers helped usurer in 1,100 cars for NYC
Department of Sanitation Queens electronic waste drop off
weekend.
St. John’s will set up a waste-reduction team comprised of
students, faculty and representatives from central administration,
including the Athletics Department and the Office of Residential
Life. The Director of Energy and Environmental Conservation will
lead the team, which will meet periodically to assess the waste
program, identify ways to reduce waste, expand recycling, work to
create specifications for purchasing materials with recycled
content, and establish a baseline for measuring progress and
meeting goals.
Under this MOU, St. John’s will incorporate many of EPA’s programs
within WasteWise, including the Resource Conservation Challenge to
manage materials more efficiently; WARM (an Excel spreadsheet) to
estimate greenhouse gas reductions from its recycling practices;
Electronics Challenge to recycle and avoid hazardous materials from
entering landfills; Building Challenge to recycle, reuse and reduce
construction and demolition materials; and Comprehensive
Procurement Guidelines to specify and purchase standard materials
containing recycled content. Lastly, St. John’s has registered for
RecycleMania 2009 competition and organized all its student
government and student organizations to adopt and embrace
RecycleMania 2009.
In summary, as an EPA WasteWise Partner and Endorser, St. John’s
will record and improve waste reduction, recycling and re-buy
practices and encourage other universities to join as
partners.
5. Coal Combustion Products Partnership
(C2P2)
As stated previously, St. John’s is currently using coal combustion
products in the construction of the UCAC building and Carnesecca
Plaza. Under this MOU, St. John’s is committing to utilize and
increase the percentage of coal combustion products in all
appropriate future construction projects. St. John’s will apply for
partnership in the Coal Combustion Products Partnership Program
(C2P2) with the goal to increase coal combustion product usage to
50% by 2011.
6. Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Partnership
St. John’s and EPA both recognize CHP potential benefits for
improving energy infrastructure and economic operations and, most
importantly, lowering the impact on the environment while meeting
the demands for energy. As St. John’s investigates and develops its
plan for new construction of a CHP plant on the Queens campus, the
University will partner with EPA for networking and
knowledge-sharing of technical information and to acquire economic
and air emissions information for regulatory compliance and carbon
footprint reduction.
For all CHP project planning phases, EPA will recognize St. John’s
need for confidentiality and will work with St. John’s to determine
the specific needs for information management. St. John’s intends
to utilize some of EPA’s tools and services provided free of charge
for direct project assistance including third-party review of the
feasibility/design study. St. John’s intends to review the current
listing of New York State and federal incentives, and information
on regulatory treatment of utility rates favorable to distributed
generation projects.
Once the new CHP plant is constructed and running, St. John’s will
record and share greenhouse gas emission information with EPA and
the New York City Mayoral Challenge “30 in 10”. St. John’s will
take advantage of EPA’s communication link to network with other
universities operating CHP plants, and apply for an EPA EnergyStar
CHP Award.
7. National Clean Diesel Campaign &
Clean Construction USA
New for 2008, St. John’s intends to purchase hybrid vehicles
for campus patrol through its Office of Public Safety and in
addition, renew its contract with a private shuttle bus service
that only uses ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and has an engine
idling policy.
Under this MOU, St. John’s will join EPA’s Clean Construction USA
Program to cooperatively promote and implement measures to
effectively reduce emissions from vehicles and other internal
combustion engines used in construction and operation of its
facilities, with a focus on diesel engine emission reductions.
These activities will lead to a measurable decrease in diesel
emissions through the following strategies:
Clean Construction Equipment and Clean Fuel Use
Clean construction equipment reduces pollution from conventional
diesel fuel-powered construction vehicles and equipment by
requiring the use of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel and best
available pollution control retrofit technologies. St. John’s
will include the use of clean construction equipment and clean fuel
use in its specifications for contractors working on future
facility construction and operation. Clean construction
equipment includes retrofit technologies for construction vehicles
such as Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs). In combination with the
use of cleaner ULSD fuel, this practice will greatly reduce
construction vehicle emissions during construction.
Enhanced Idling Reduction
Enhanced idling reduction measures reduce fuel consumption and
pollution by setting a reasonable time limit for idling and
actively encouraging this limit. St. John’s will implement idling
reduction measures in its own fleet, and encourage its service
vendors, contractors, students, faculty and staff to do the
same.
8. WaterSense Products
Both St. John’s and EPA recognize the importance of using water
efficiently. Water-efficient behaviors and the use of quality
products that minimize water use can result in: less water drawn
from NYC reservoirs; potential improvements to NYC water quality;
reduced energy use and CO2 emissions related to water treatment and
pumping; reduced NYC wastewater treatment; and reduced water
utility costs.
In 2009, St. John’s will: track water consumption across all of its
NYC water meters and water/sewer invoices on a quarterly basis
through a computerized database system; survey all water using
devices to record the current status of water efficiency devices;
develop recommendations for reducing water usage; and conduct a
pilot program by installing waterless urinals at a select location
on the Queens campus.
Under this MOU, St. John’s will utilize WaterSense Products, where
appropriate. St. John’s also commits to following the WaterSense
Guidelines to: encourage students, faculty, staff and
administrators to conserve water; provide EPA with annual water
consumption data and; feature WaterSense products on St. John’s
sustainability web page.
EPA commits to provide St. John’s with WaterSense program news and
product information, provide support to St. John’s requests for
information on WaterSense, and provide materials to assist St.
John’s in outreach and education, e.g., dormitory WaterSense for
student residents.
MOU Status Reporting
In addition to the reporting items associated with EPA Partnership
Programs, St. John’s will submit an MOU status report
to EPA twice per year starting six months after the official
signing of the MOU. The report will include an update on the
various activities identified in this MOU. EPA will use this data
to determine the environmental benefits associated with St. John’s
“green” activities and will communicate it’s finding to St. John’s
in a prompt matter.
Terms and Conditions
This MOU is not a contractual or a financial obligation
instrument. Nothing in this MOU shall obligate EPA or St.
John’s to expend appropriations or to enter into any contract or
other obligations or be cited as the basis for the promise or
transfers of funds. Collaboration under this MOU shall be in
accordance with applicable statutes and
regulations.
This MOU does not restrict EPA or St. John’s from participating in
similar activities or arrangements with other entities or Federal
agencies.
Either party may unilaterally withdraw at any time from this MOU by
transmitting a signed writing to that effect to the other
party. By mutual agreement, which may be either formal or
informal, each parties may modify the list of its intended
activities set forth above, and/or determine the practical manner
by which its goals, purposes and activities set forth in this MOU
will be accomplished. Modification to other written parts of this
MOU must be made in writing and signed by both Parties.
Nothing in this MOU shall be construed to authorize or permit any
violation of any Federal, State or local law, including, but not
limited to, any environmental law administered and/or enforced by
EPA.
St. John’s understands and acknowledges that, as an institution of
the Federal government, EPA has a duty to refrain from providing
any commercial entity an exclusive privilege without receiving
payment therefor and, as a consequence, that EPA's relationship
with St. John’s in no way affects, alters or otherwise constrains
EPA's right to provide similar (or identical) services to, or
establish similar (or identical) relationships with, any other
entity.
St. John’s understands that EPA's participation in this MOU does
not constitute an endorsement, express or implied of (a) any policy
advocated by St. John’s or (b) any goods or services purchased,
offered or sold by St. John’s or any member.
St. John’s shall maintain full right, title and interest in any
intellectual property right, including a copyright, in any work
product developed solely by St. John’s in furtherance of the
objectives of this MOU. Any intellectual property developed
collaboratively by the Parties will be governed by the Federal
Copyright Statute at Title 17 of the United States Code and/or by
the Federal Patent Statute at Title 35 of the United States
Code.
This MOU does not authorize St. John’s to use any EPA logo,
trademark or other intellectual property without prior consultation
with EPA. This MOU does not authorize EPA to use any St. John’s
logo, trademark or other intellectual property without the prior
approval of St. John’s. This MOU does not in any way bypass or
alter the obligation of St. John’s, in any, to meet any of the
specified requirements and/or procedures associated with the
individual partnership programs listed in the MOU.
The EPA enters into this MOU under the authority of Section 103 of
the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7403, Section 104 of the Clean Water
Act, 33 U.S.C. §1254, and Section 8001 of the Solid Waste Disposal
Act, 42 U.S.C. §6981, Section 6604 of the Pollution Prevention Act,
and Section 324A of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which
provide EPA with authority to undertake cooperative efforts
with private organizations to promote the coordination and
acceleration of research, studies, training, and other efforts to
prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution.
This MOU does not create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable by law or equity against St. John’s or EPA,
their officers or employees, or any other person. This MOU does not
direct or apply to any person outside of EPA and St. John’s.
V. Effective Date and
Administration
This MOU will become effective upon signature by the Regional
Administrator of EPA Region 2 and the Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer of St. John’s University. It may be
modified or amended by written agreement signed by both
parties. Unless otherwise terminated by one of the parties
this MOU will terminate at the end of five (5) years from the date
of signature unless revised or extended at that time by written
agreement of the parties. This MOU may be terminated at any time by
either party upon the issuance of a written notice to the other
party. The Parties will review annually the provisions of
this MOU and its implementation.