As part of the Maryland Bikeways Program, Gov. Martin O’Malley announced a $79,600 grant to fund improvements in the bicycle system near University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The grant was part of a $3.2 million announcement to fund 23 projects in four counties, according to a press release from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

The grant will provide increased signage, bike lanes and shared road arrows in the southwest part of the county, providing a safer environment for residents to use cycling as a greener form of transportation.

Sustainability Outreach and Communications Intern:

Intern will report to Sustainability Coordinator. The position will be 8 hours per week.  Hours may vary to accommodate meetings, events, and interviews. Additional tasks may be assigned.

Intern must demonstrate evidence of interest and background in sustainability and must feel comfortable reaching out to professionals, peers, and faculty. Intern must be a current UMBC student.

Email tanvig1@umbc.edu with a resume and cover letter detailing:

1. Why this position interests you
2. Related skills and experiences you possess
3. Any groups, activities, jobs or time commitments you are currently engaged in

The sustainability outreach and communications intern will assist in developing communication and outreach efforts on the following topics in coordination with staff, groups, and committees on campus under the direction of the Sustainability Coordinator:

1. Sustainability Related Accomplishments and Champions
2. Energy Conservation Efforts
3. Transportation
4. Research and Education
5. Recycling, Waste, and Compost

Desired skills and qualifications:

•  Strong writing and communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn HMTL, wordpress, and understanding of basic web design
• Ability to work independently
• Creativity and design skills
• Related coursework in related area such as Environmental Studies, Communications and Design
• Awareness of environmental issues
• Involvement in campus sustainability

Examples of Tasks and Responsibilities:

Website:

- Increase number of hits to UMBC Website and track analytics

- Develop, format, update and edit web content

Events:

- Event planning and logistics

- Assisting with activities including tabling, coordinating sign-up sheets, pledges, and photo booths

Writing:

- Assist with writing press releases, articles and event summaries

- Assist with conduct interviews and drafting articles

Design:

- Assist with posters, designs and fliers

Social Media:

- Assist with drafting updates to myUMBC and Facebook Events Calendar

- Assist with creating and posting spotlights

- Assist with posting photos and updates following events

- Expanding followers on myUMBC and social media

Photography:

- Assist with taking photographs and editing, organizing and uploading content

UMBC Plans Energy and Water Conservation Upgrades; Upgrades will be Completed Through a $5.4M Deal with the Maryland Clean Energy Center Financing Program

Contact:
Chelsea Williams
Communications Manager
410-455-6380
chelseah@umbc.edu

The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) today announced it has closed a $5.4 million Maryland Clean Energy Capital (MCAP) deal to fund lighting, irrigation, and energy management system upgrades at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). NORESCO will serve as the energy service company (ESCO), designing and installing the upgrades, and the Maryland Clean Energy Center is the bond issuer financing the debt. The end result will be energy savings and greater efficiency on the UMBC campus.

UMBC utilizes a prioritized approach for managing energy and utilities whereby energy projects are selected based upon their cost-effectiveness. After performing a campus-wide energy audit and considering numerous energy conservation measures (ECMs), the project was carefully developed. It includes interior lighting upgrades throughout most campus buildings, LED lighting for three parking garages, web-based/weather-optimized irrigation controls, and demand control ventilation for several lecture halls.

Shawn Blum, UMBC’s Energy Manager said, “This project will generate tremendous savings in energy and water consumption. We predict annual savings will be more than 7,000,000 kWh of electricity and 3,000,000 gallons of water. Within ten years, the project will pay for itself via the associated utility savings. The environmental benefits are impressive as well. UMBC’s greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by over 3,800 MTeCO2 per year, which represents a 4.3% reduction in UMBC’s carbon footprint versus the baseline.”

“UMBC is pleased to implement these lighting, irrigation, and control systems upgrades,” said Rusty Postlewate, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management at UMBC. “By working with the Maryland Clean Energy Center through its MCAP program, we have been able to undertake this project for the University.”

The Maryland Clean Energy Center MCAP program is available to all Maryland universities, hospitals, municipalities, and schools (MUSH market). MCAP enables non-profit organizations in Maryland to replace inefficient infrastructure assets and avoid incurring this additional debt.

Jeffrey Eckel, Chairman of the MCEC Board and President & CEO of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure said, “We commend the leaders of UMBC for taking advantage of the new MCAP financing program that was created from the vision of Governor Martin O’Malley, without tax-payer support, and allows MCEC to accelerate otherwise stalled capital projects. Through this program, MCEC can foster savings for Maryland institutions, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“It is a win-win-win program and a remarkable model for public-private partnerships. To date, both Coppin State University and UMBC have taken advantage of MCAP financing program,” said Katherine Magruder, Executive Director of the Maryland Clean Energy Center. “Our tax exempt financing capabilities are available to municipalities, hospitals, and not-for- profit entities as well as schools and universities in Maryland.”

Randy Clark, senior vice president, NORESCO, added, “NORESCO is honored to enter into a contract to help UMBC achieve its energy efficiency and cost reduction goals. We are also proud to be among the first to develop an energy performance contract under MCEC’s unique financing approach whereby the University benefits from important upgrades to its facilities.”

MCEC is a self-financing driver of clean energy, economic development, energy innovation, and clean tech jobs in the State of Maryland. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (NYSE: HASI), an Annapolis-based energy investor, helped create the MCAP structure and arranged the financing for MCEC on a pro bono basis. To learn more about MCEC’s MCAP program and other initiatives of the MCEC visit www.mdcleanenergy.org.

About Maryland Clean Energy CenterThe Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) is an instrumentality of the state, created by the legislature in 2008 to advance adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices as an economic development strategy. MCEC assists consumers, supports businesses and advises policymakers. MCEC operates the Maryland Home Energy Loan Program (MHELP) to assist residential property owners finance energy efficiency measures, and manages the Maryland Clean Energy Capital (MCAP) program to finance projects for municipal, university, school, hospital and other not-for-profit organizations. To learn more, visit www.mdcleanenergy.org. Contact MCEC at 443-949-8505

About UMBC UMBC combines the emphasis on teaching found at the best liberal arts colleges with the innovation of a research university. UMBC’s 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students come from more than 150 countries and take full advantage of the educational, business, cultural, and recreational resources of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. UMBC students work alongside faculty who are leaders in their fields; think about the hard questions of society, science, and creative expression; and then move beyond the classroom to make a difference. UMBC is a member of the University System of Maryland and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. For more information, please visit http://www.umbc.edu.

About Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (“Hannon Armstrong”) (NYSE:HASI) makes debt and equity investments in sustainable infrastructure projects. We focus on profitable projects that increase energy efficiency, provide cleaner energy, positively impact the environment, or make more efficient use of natural resources. With over 30 years of experience, Hannon Armstrong works primarily with Global 1000 clients on essential infrastructure projects involving the U.S. federal, state and local governments as well as institutions and private developers. We target projects that have high credit quality obligors, fully contracted revenue streams and inherent economic value. To learn more, visit www.hannonarmstrong.com.

About NORESCOAs one of the largest energy services companies in the U.S., NORESCO utilizes design-build, performance-based contracting vehicles and asset monetization solutions to deliver energy and maintenance savings and significant infrastructure upgrades to existing facilities. NORESCO has guaranteed more than $3 billion in energy and operating cost savings at more than 7,000 facilities throughout the U.S. and abroad. NORESCO also offers a full suite of consulting services to integrate sustainable design strategies into new construction and existing buildings. NORESCO is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies, a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

UMBC forges ahead with sustainability

Sustaining the energy

By Patrick Hixenbaugh, Contributing Writer

Published: Thursday, September 19, 2013

More than ever, UMBC student groups are coming together to develop sustainability interests, such as the community garden and composting. This is a recent outgrowth of UMBC’s deep commitment to climate neutrality. By fostering connections between people, UMBC is definitely moving in the right direction when it comes to sustainability.

Already this month, UMBC has seen composting in The Commons, as well as behind the scenes work on a new Community Garden initiative and a bike share program.

“Students come in every year with ideas,” says Donna Anderson, Manager of Landscape, Grounds and Recycling, “The Climate Commitment Task Force [CCTF] has been around since 2007, and there’s a lot that has already happened.”

In 2007, Dr. Hrabrowski signed a commitment with 330 other universities to reduce our climate impact and lead the drive to develop new sustainable technologies.

“We’re making a great deal of progress [in sustainability],” says Dr. Hrabrowski. “If people look, they can see all our progress in teaching, research and practices on campus.”

To further that goal, the administration is increasingly encouraging student involvement, which had prior been somewhat fragmented across different groups. “There are so many groups interested in the same thing,” said Anderson. “They need to be connected to each other, so we can get the full picture of what can be done.”

In November 2012, the administration created a new position, the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, and brought on Tanvi Gadhia, UMBC alumni ’09 and an environmental studies graduate student at Johns Hopkins.

“Having Tanvi here makes a difference. We’ve always needed a link between the CCTF and what students are doing,” said Anderson.

On August 30, Gadhia hosted the Sustainability Leadership Summit, a gathering of student leaders in sustainability with representatives from many student and staff groups.

“What I liked most [about the Summit] was the opportunity to meet people that both shared an interest in the field, but who also were already involved in different student orgs,” said Allie Henn, a junior environmental studies and economics double major. “It also gave me a better idea as to how to voice my ideas and opinions in a constructive way.”

For composting, students, rather than the administration, play the main role in educating the campus. “My role is disseminating information to student leaders,” said Anderson. “It’s important for student leaders to get information out to their groups.”

The Community Garden is also a student-led initiative. “As a culture, Americans have become very separated from their food,” says Julianna Brightman, junior environmental science major. “A garden at UMBC is a way for us to bring one another back to where our food comes from.”

It’s not easy to overcome inertia. “A lot of things we try, people aren’t for,” said Jasmine Wands, junior environmental studies major, and president of Environmental Task Force.

But this year, the sustainability groups are coordinating more to get things done. “We wanted to do a zero-waste policy, but composting and the bike share took precedence,” said Wands.

Much of this new productivity and interconnection can be directly traced back work done by the Sustainability Coordinator. “[My role] is to coordinate the many aspects of the campus’s environmental footprint,” said Gadhia.

Gadhia said, “[I] work to empower the campus community, to catalyze new initiatives, and develop new programs that help improve [our] environmental impact.”

Join an organization related to campus sustainability!

Student-led Groups:

Weekly Meetings 12-1pm in Commons 318.

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/sea

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/sga-ea

UMBC's Environmental Task Force (community service/ volunteer work)

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/etf 

Geography and Environmental Systems Council of Majors (GES COM)

Molissa Udevitz, molissa1@umbc.edu

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ges-council

https://www.facebook.com/UmbcOutdoorRecreationClub/info

UMBC Community Garden

https://www.facebook.com/groups/490221211032987/

UMBC Biodiesel Project

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/biodieselclub

Campus-wide Groups:

Climate Change Taskforce

Join a work group: Energy/Waste, Research/Education, Outreach & Transportation

http://sustainability.umbc.edu/energy-climate/

Recycling Promotions & Events Team

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/reset

Food Coalition

https://lists.umbc.edu/lists/subscribe/foodcoalition

Landscape Stewardship Committee

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/lsc

Is there another group you would like to mention? Do you have ideas for new groups, projects or initiatives?

As you returned or arrived to campus in the fall, you may have seen the new waste bins (including compost!) in the Commons. In case you were wondering, here's how they came to be, and how you can use them! Help us spread the word by sharing this post with your networks: http://sustainability.umbc.edu/waste

Check out this illustrated guide from OCSS for sorting recycling, composting and waste (printable PDF)

UMBC's new bins have 3 or 4 slots:

1. Paper
2. Landfill
3. Compostable (Commons & UC only)
4. Glass, Cans, Plastic

The labels are available as stickers as well, to show and explain how waste should be sorted. The new bins are located in the Commons, and at lecture halls, and will be phased in across campus as a new indoor standard. Outdoor recycling bins (the black, metal, circular bins) accept all recyclables: paper, glass, cans and plastic.

Above: President Freeman Hrabowski demonstrating new 3 hole bins.

Compost

Learn about compostable packaging: 

What can we compost?

• All Food Waste
• Soiled Paper Products (such as used napkins, pizza boxes, etc. If you notice a plastic or wax coating, toss into the landfill slot for general trash)
• Plant-based Packaging (just check the labels and images below)

• True Grits Dining Hall (all food waste is composted in the kitchen, including food on used dishes)
• The Commons (labeled green slots in waste bins)
  
• University Center (ground floor by dining options)

Why Compost?

Composting allows food to decompose naturally into valuable fertile soil. Otherwise, food waste decomposing in a landfill without oxygen would create methane, a problematic greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Learn more at epa.gov!

History: Collaboration and Coordination

We were able to start composting our food waste in 2012 thanks to the efforts of SGA Sustainability Intern Madeline Hall (featured in the composting video below), and a coordinating committee including student leaders, our dining provider Chartwells, contract coordinators Campus Card, our green housekeeping group, and the company who picks up our compost and returns the decomposed food as fertile soil, Waste Neutral, as well as Facilities Management and UMBC's Sustainability Coordinator!

Composting has been phased into food services since 2012, starting with the Dining hall, then the Commons- to allow time to collaboratively select, purchase, and install new user friendly bins, to become a standard across campus.

Awareness: Events, Promotions and Education

Our student partners such as Students for Environmental Awareness, SGA Department of Environmental Affairs and SGA Sustainability interns have taken the lead in the 2012-2013 school year and designed educational outreach programs to raise awareness on why and how to compost on campus since composting was first introduced on campus!

We are excited to work with anyone interested in helping spread the word! Just email sustainability@umbc.edu to get involved!

Check out the student video about composting in the dining hall: http://youtu.be/Jlf80VmIvpQ

Some popular past published updates on composting:

• Taking time to compost in The Commons, by Zoe Gensheimer; An article from the Retriever Weekly describing composting!
• Check out the inside scoop: News on composting & recycling! Stay up to date on how you can pitch in!
• SUSTAINABLE FOOD AT UMBC! Chartwells has been doing tons of great things to go "green!

Zero Waste Events

Consider plant-based compostable dishware and flatware rather than plastic or Styrofoam for your next campus event with food and be sure to request a portable compost bin and pick up service through events services!  The new SGA Green Paws fund allows student organizations to acquire plant based compostable materials at no additional cost.

Do you have any questions or ideas about composting on campus?

Sustainability and the Environment

From innovative student ideas, to new courses and programs, to campus-wide initiatives, UMBC, as a growing research university, is practicing what it teaches by going green. The Princeton Review, in its new Guide to Green Colleges, recognized UMBC as one of 322 colleges and universities nationwide demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability.

UMBC’s sustainability efforts are thriving, with many undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty actively engaged in promoting, leading and initiating sustainability efforts. This past year, a group of undergraduates organized and hosted a statewide student conference on clean water. In June, we held our first workshop for Sustainability across disciplines, with faculty discussing opportunities for creative interdisciplinary collaboration and teaching innovations. Our new Global Studies track in Development, Health and the Environment and our new Chemical Engineering track in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability expand our ability to inform and engage in sustainability in the classroom and beyond.

The environmental work of faculty contributes significantly to our development as a research university and our strengths in the geosciences, with faculty applying new knowledge about environmental science and policy to advance health, safety, and the economy. UMBC recently ranked 18^th nationally among universities in federal research funding in the environmental sciences. Moreover, UMBC is the field headquarters for the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (a federally-funded urban ecology project), and our campus is home to both the U.S. Geological Survey’s regional water science center and the Maryland Clean Energy Incubator.

We are continually advancing environmentally sustainable practices on campus through our research, courses, service, policies and operations. Since I signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007, we have taken many steps to reduce our campus carbon emissions by conserving energy, purchasing renewable energy, and raising awareness. To date, UMBC has reduced net emissions by 13.3% since committing to reduce carbon pollution in 2007. This was accomplished even with a 15% increase in enrollment and campus construction that resulted in a 2% increase in square footage.

How was this accomplished? Sourcing 20% of our annual electricity from renewable energy sources has been one major factor in our reduced carbon footprint. Recycling rates increased from 28% in 2011 to 40% of total waste in 2012 as UMBC participated in the national Recyclemania competition for the 5^th year, adopted a new composting program for food waste, offered e-cycling for electronics, and continued dual-stream recycling. We also advanced our sustainability goals by hiring, in 2012, our first full-time campus environmental sustainability coordinator, and we are continuing to reduce transportation-related emissions by optimizing transit and offering preferred parking to carpoolers. Our most recent construction includes the LEED Gold Certified addition to Patapsco Residence Hall, complete with our campus’s first green roof, and the LEED Silver Certified Performing Arts and Humanities Building (phase I).

Two more developments this summer have also improved our campus environment. In July, the campus went smoke-free. In August, the State of Maryland debuted the newly renovated Halethorpe MARC train station, increasing ease of use at one of the closest MARC stations to the UMBC campus. This renovation will help us continue reducing the size of our carbon footprint by allowing more students, faculty, and staff to easily commute to campus by rail. The university runs shuttles to the Halethorpe station and the BWI rail station as part of UMBC Transit.

Originally, the drive was intended for vehicles servicing the on-campus pool and provided access to chemical storage and treatment tanks. However, with the addition of the new campus center, the Commons, many began using the area as a through-way between buildings and this new project responds to the need for a safer, more attractive pedestrian thoroughfare that allows water to filter into the ground rather than puddling.

The design also extends an existing allee of trees with additional tree plantings. This project is on track for completion in the spring of 2013.

FTLA’s design will add walls, benches, a walkway, new pavement and plantings to the access road, while incorporating new drainage patterns to add a bioretention feature.

The bioretention feature is important to reduce stormwater runoff from entering streams on campus, and eventually the bay. With paved surfaces dominating the landscape in many areas, sediment, nutrients, and pollution gush into water ways during rain events, causing erosion and disrupting the water. With sediment causing murky water and blocking sunlight, and with nutrients causing alage blooms this is very dangerous to aquatic life. UMBC's pond, No Mow Zones, and protected natural spaces as well as pervious pavers and rain gardens also help to address this problem.

In addition, our new LEED construction protects water with a vegetated green roof on Patapsco Hall soaking up rain and a rainwater harvesting system on the roof of the new Performing Arts and Humanities Center capturing and reusing rainwater to irrigate the surrounding landscaping.

Many of UMBC’s older trees are being strangled by English ivy (hedera helix), a non-native invasive vine (NNI). A one-credit course will explore the the problem of non-native invasive specieis and challenge participants to protect UMBC trees.

Participants may seek information, form teams, develop work-plans, and document their activities.

Shared leadership and collaboration will characterize the course.

•  Tools, hats, gloves will be provided
•  Online resources
•  Hands-on outdoors work to protect trees 
•  Understand the issue, gain knowledge and implement solutions to NNIs (Non Native Invasives)

"English ivy is an aggressive invader that threatens all vegetation levels of forested and open areas, growing along the ground as well into the forest canopy……" - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, p. 105.

Instructors:

Dr. Mary Rivkin, Faculty, Education Department

Donna Anderson- Manager of Recycling and Grounds, Certfied arborist and trained horticulture expert, UMBC Facilities Management

With Phil Cho, Landscape Architect, UMBC Facilities Management

Contact 

Dr. Mary Rivkin: rivkin@umbc.edu

Thanks to UMBC BreakingGround for their support.

PAID Sustainability Outreach Internship Opportunity @ OCSS