tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25587045308617917932024-03-05T02:01:36.116-08:00Green on Green StreetJanice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-42895703835112821822014-02-10T12:44:00.000-08:002014-02-10T12:44:02.694-08:00Stay current on MWCC news at our NewsCenter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK0ig5UDUPcX9Gt77qpCrafxG41rujfvdVHO1veKnyHn5ZG0PfXbG2S89jliTaCsJclqT1E7z5pzGXxBTLUTCsMskBBf6KFsqNRRc9iaNTIE6aN9XTs-hTZxzZLk4ATiewPchrJRgOSI/s1600/MWCCNewsCenter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="MWCC News Center" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK0ig5UDUPcX9Gt77qpCrafxG41rujfvdVHO1veKnyHn5ZG0PfXbG2S89jliTaCsJclqT1E7z5pzGXxBTLUTCsMskBBf6KFsqNRRc9iaNTIE6aN9XTs-hTZxzZLk4ATiewPchrJRgOSI/s1600/MWCCNewsCenter.JPG" height="256" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
We are constantly evolving and have created a News Center that includes all our sustainability news, plus stories about students, faculty, and the community. Please visit and bookmark the <a href="http://mwcc.edu/news/" target="_blank">MWCC News Center</a>. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-35282578398074490662012-11-19T11:52:00.000-08:002012-11-19T14:48:11.776-08:00Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources to present on invasive beetles<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkp9qPdHwhti19J-zj2uuXEgzgms0Lym45sIuEe2y7QtFfV9QFHmE-cgfs7wJGdTYrOudaiRTVw_ueadJh6gN1l5ydrO7ZExWqaJqiGwiFk5e6u6Ydog7j_gO-pd_ETyxT5evjah5dJY/s1600/asian+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkp9qPdHwhti19J-zj2uuXEgzgms0Lym45sIuEe2y7QtFfV9QFHmE-cgfs7wJGdTYrOudaiRTVw_ueadJh6gN1l5ydrO7ZExWqaJqiGwiFk5e6u6Ydog7j_gO-pd_ETyxT5evjah5dJY/s1600/asian+beetle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asian longhorned beetle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Samantha
Brady Stelmack, forest pest outreach and survey coordinator for the Massachusetts
Department of Agricultural Resources, will present a talk on the invasive Asian longhorned beetle and the emerald ash
borer on Monday, Nov. 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Mount Wachusett
Community College.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The free lecture, sponsored by The Green Society student
sustainability club, will take place in the North Café and is open to the
public.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Stelmack will provide an overview of the devastating effects of these
pests, ways to identify infestation and precautions that can be made. Since the
Asian longhorned beetle was detected in Massachusetts in 2008, local, state and
federal entities have been working together to fight the infestation that has
had devastating effects in Worcester and surrounding communities and has placed
the entire Northeastern U.S. on high alert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The emerald ash borer has destroyed
millions of ash trees since it appeared in the U.S. a decade ago and was
detected in the Berkshires in August 2012.<o:p></o:p></span>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-7360455779407090642012-08-01T13:48:00.001-07:002012-08-01T14:08:25.540-07:00MWCC Showcased in Summer Publications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY0spChg-EuhIba3Y-ETi1hNp5w1s_IGI_Xrk1IE6u3Rrk4D5jl-EwnrP9nwLmmIP419zv4CKH3G6r6wDJ_PgvcO7nH7RTSf6z0Bhd_unaXj9SB41M_399Q_vYtyFp0VaDEQFF3oXz_U/s1600/MWCC+turbines+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY0spChg-EuhIba3Y-ETi1hNp5w1s_IGI_Xrk1IE6u3Rrk4D5jl-EwnrP9nwLmmIP419zv4CKH3G6r6wDJ_PgvcO7nH7RTSf6z0Bhd_unaXj9SB41M_399Q_vYtyFp0VaDEQFF3oXz_U/s320/MWCC+turbines+small.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY0spChg-EuhIba3Y-ETi1hNp5w1s_IGI_Xrk1IE6u3Rrk4D5jl-EwnrP9nwLmmIP419zv4CKH3G6r6wDJ_PgvcO7nH7RTSf6z0Bhd_unaXj9SB41M_399Q_vYtyFp0VaDEQFF3oXz_U/s1600/MWCC+turbines+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Word of
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">MWCC’s sustainability story continues to spread. The college’s
wind turbine project and energy initiatives are being showcased in three national venues
this summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The American College
& University Presidents’ Climate Commitment included MWCC in its report, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/reporting/annual-report/five-year-report"><span style="color: blue;">"Celebrating Five Years of Climate Leadership."</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
article, submitted by MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino, recaps the turn-around the
college has made over the past decade in renewable energy and energy
conservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Business Officer,</i>
the monthly magazine published by The National Association of College and
University Business Officers, included MWCC in its June feature article,
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.nacubo.org/Business_Officer_Magazine/Magazine_Archives/June_2012/Bending_the_Carbon_Curve.html"><span style="color: blue;">"Bending the Carbon Curve</span></a><span style="color: blue;">." </span>For more than a decade, higher education institutions have been steadily adding
to the collective body of sustainability knowledge, Karla Hignite writes in the article. Commitments to climate neutrality are reversing the trajectory of
campus greenhouse gas emissions, while the greater challenge remains of leveraging
this success for other sectors.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Since the start of the Great Recession, concerns about
energy security and stability have once again wakened the notion about “Made in
America” energy. Colleges like MWCC are not only showing that energy independence
is possible, but are modeling what clean and renewable energy security looks
like.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">College Planning &
Management </i>magazine also featured MWCC in its June issue, in the article <a href="http://www.peterli.com/cpm/archive.php?article_id=3474"><span style="color: blue;">"Working with the Wind,"</span></a> about
colleges and universities that have incorporated wind energy on to their
campuses.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The returns for MWCC on its two turbines “have been
outstanding,” notes writer Dr. Anthony Cortese, president of Second Nature, the
lead supporting organization of the ACUPCC. “The project also fits into the
college’s historic commitment to support alternative energy and sustainability through
conservation, education and institutional support. In the past decade, this
commitment has seen Mount Wachusett cut its electrical energy consumption by
almost in half to approximately 5,000,000 kWh annually.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-33610410912270344492012-07-03T14:01:00.000-07:002012-07-03T14:01:13.977-07:00MWCC Receives Gold CASE Circle of Excellence Award for Turbine Communications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzC4C4yC90At1JqizP6cKJr7P6ra6qWikd2RYI-eAAHLqObqLAn4AUa58AXjs-Iwod8lCLreIcWKGuzhmlAwQ_bRND84TXoAO63iLcWfb1wVNfGyR7D7jyw4MWuNT0O1ugG7uNIed2sFU/s320/042711035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs<br />
Secretary Richard K. Sullivan addressing the audience<br />
during the 2011 wind turbine dedication ceremony. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzC4C4yC90At1JqizP6cKJr7P6ra6qWikd2RYI-eAAHLqObqLAn4AUa58AXjs-Iwod8lCLreIcWKGuzhmlAwQ_bRND84TXoAO63iLcWfb1wVNfGyR7D7jyw4MWuNT0O1ugG7uNIed2sFU/s1600/042711035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MWCC has received the
gold Circle of Excellence Award from the Council for the Advancement and
Support of Education (CASE) in the Public Relations and Community Relations
category for the multi-faceted "Catch the Wind at MWCC"
communications project.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
The communications effort highlighted the activation and dedication of MWCC's
two 1.65 MW wind turbines, as well as the college's decade-long commitment to
renewable energy and energy conservation; sustainability awards received from
state and national agencies for the wind project; and leadership role in the
national campus climate commitment movement.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Further, the effort
showcased MWCC's integral role in the Massachusetts "Leading by Example -
Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings" program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
The story of MWCC's wind energy initiative became an integrated, cross-college
concept, sparking excitement and interest throughout the campus and involving
the Marketing & Communications Division, the President's Office,
Institutional Advancement, Facilities Management, Media Services, Student Life,
faculty, students and student clubs. The project combined in-house
communications efforts in the areas of public relations, social media, website,
and photography with service-learning projects for students majoring in
Computer Graphic Design and Broadcasting and Electronic Media.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Aspects of the project included ongoing media relations; graphic design
projects for signage, banners, turbine pride t-shirts sold to raise funds for
student scholarships, and a car wrap; social media projects including posts to
Facebook, YouTube and the college's <i>Green on Green Street</i> blog; video
projects and photography. The project also created opportunities for others.
For example, key state agencies, Congressman John Olver, and environmental
organizations such as the U.S Department of Energy, posted news and videos on
their own websites, blogs and Facebook pages.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
"This gold recognition is a great tribute to everyone at the college for
stepping up to the challenge of incorporating new ways to communicate and bring
greater visibility to our college," said President Daniel M. Asquino.
"The wind project was a complex one, with many other sustainability
efforts being implemented at the same time. Our communications team did an
outstanding job of building a campaign that tied all these efforts together,
and bringing not only local, but national recognition to Mount Wachusett
Community College."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Robin Duncan, MWCC vice president of Marketing & Communications commented,
"I am very fortunate to work with a great group of people, and I am
especially proud of this recognition as it truly showcases the diverse and
cutting-edge talents among team members. This project was a collaborative
college-wide effort and the communications strategy was a successful one.
That's what we do, here in our office - spread the good word about Mount
Wachusett Community College! But it's nice to be acknowledged by our colleagues
for doing our jobs well, across all kinds of media - traditional and new."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Advancement professionals from a number of higher education institutions,
including Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Mount Holyoke College,
Rutgers, Seton Hall University and Tulane University, served as judges in a wide
range of categories for the 2012 CASE awards, which focused on work completed
in 2011. MWCC joined silver award winner Duke University and bronze award
winner Thomas More College as the top winners in the PR/Community Relations
category.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
CASE is an international professional association serving educational
institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in
alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. CASE
helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors,
raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their
institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster
public support of education. The Circle of Excellence awards celebrate programs
that measure up to high standards, contribute to a growing body of knowledge
and add substance and insight to the profession and its practitioners<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-65626519520961127612012-05-24T17:59:00.001-07:002012-05-24T18:05:58.236-07:00Spring Conferences Showcase Sustainability Partnerships<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf1H2Nw8s27Aop5CywsWzgd636ZeRT06tbLv2oakdgsqckMES2AkeunFtuiLRDwPY8VcTnoxv_iLRAgngzi_BARDmf8oE-RVqHOgF8DlIC-FjuWASrJZ_btGi_frlmc6z63JA0CfZhXI/s1600/ed+terceiro+at+sustainability+conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf1H2Nw8s27Aop5CywsWzgd636ZeRT06tbLv2oakdgsqckMES2AkeunFtuiLRDwPY8VcTnoxv_iLRAgngzi_BARDmf8oE-RVqHOgF8DlIC-FjuWASrJZ_btGi_frlmc6z63JA0CfZhXI/s320/ed+terceiro+at+sustainability+conference.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed Terceiro sharing sustainability tips with conference attendees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The story of MWCC’s transformation from energy laggard to
energy leader was shared with hundreds of sustainability experts, and
representatives from government, business, education and nonprofit organizations
from two countries, nine states, 94 Massachusetts communities and 45 campuses
that are contributing to local and global sustainability.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two-day conference this spring, hosted by UMass
Boston, included the second annual Massachusetts Sustainable Communities
Conference and the first Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference. Ed
Terceiro, executive vice president emeritus at MWCC and resident engineer
during the construction of the college’s two turbines, was a featured speaker
during the campus conference. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more on this event, click <a href="http://marlborough.patch.com/blog_posts/green-marlborough-leader-organizes-first-mass-sustainable-campuses-conference">here</a>. </span><br />
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<br /></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-53484153972777587672012-04-20T14:10:00.000-07:002012-04-20T14:20:41.726-07:00Earth Day Celebration!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGQJyXrFeWR2TWs_vWIJCQdURolrwzuHD88jEBHUXCDmxTzXJpcCF-u_2LH2Puwh6bGv-4__4mWUVtDsVT3aOmPB71ey5kIRSxw47EhdGEW2XHLgeW062VH25r692EXLFqVbEC_-QZT4/s1600/Earth+Day+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGQJyXrFeWR2TWs_vWIJCQdURolrwzuHD88jEBHUXCDmxTzXJpcCF-u_2LH2Puwh6bGv-4__4mWUVtDsVT3aOmPB71ey5kIRSxw47EhdGEW2XHLgeW062VH25r692EXLFqVbEC_-QZT4/s320/Earth+Day+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While every day is considered Earth Day at
environmentally-conscientious MWCC, students, faculty and staff took part in college’s
annual Earth Day Celebration this week, in anticipation of the national
recognition on April 22.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coordinated by the office of Student Life, Campus
Activities Team for Students (CATS) and The Green Society student sustainability
club, the event featured live music, free do-it-yourself grow kits, free “going
green” grocery bags, as well as the Green Society’s light bulb, water bottle
and plant sale. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Area organizations presenting information included MassRIDES,
Millers Watershed Council, United Water, the Audubon Society, and Solar PV. The
college’s Prius hybrid and Art Professor Thomas Matsuda’s converted grease car
were also on display.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, the day the modern environmental movement was born. For more information about ways to celebrate Earth Day and help protect our planet, visit: <a href="http://www.earthday.org/">Earth Day Network</a></span>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-88567412774081411112012-04-04T13:25:00.006-07:002012-04-05T06:05:24.910-07:00MWCC Hailed for Climate Support in ACUPCC's Celebrating Sustainability Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr-D7War5tzdox4roqR4yv_usNr4Cb5BidJv8pTqUlJ4QNyHI_GxLSr2R2dysH3lhYKg6loSsVH1PVKpTvJOxW2U-QV6_UanTQLaqSpdSOy3CZx5y_FfM9BmV8jUvbsrASqHMrA6aCf4/s1600/MWCC+turbines+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr-D7War5tzdox4roqR4yv_usNr4Cb5BidJv8pTqUlJ4QNyHI_GxLSr2R2dysH3lhYKg6loSsVH1PVKpTvJOxW2U-QV6_UanTQLaqSpdSOy3CZx5y_FfM9BmV8jUvbsrASqHMrA6aCf4/s320/MWCC+turbines+small.jpg" height="212" border="0" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr-D7War5tzdox4roqR4yv_usNr4Cb5BidJv8pTqUlJ4QNyHI_GxLSr2R2dysH3lhYKg6loSsVH1PVKpTvJOxW2U-QV6_UanTQLaqSpdSOy3CZx5y_FfM9BmV8jUvbsrASqHMrA6aCf4/s1600/MWCC+turbines+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family:Cambria;"></span></div>Mount Wachusett Community College was recognized today by the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) as one of 15 top colleges and universities in the country for its cutting-edge work in promoting environmental sustainability.<br />The ACUPCC, now in its fifth year, is an initiative joined by nearly 700 colleges and universities to promote sustainability through teaching and action. MWCC's achievements in renewable energy and energy conservation were cited as part of the ACUPCC’s Celebrating Sustainability series, which identifies signatories that exemplify the initiative’s mission to re-stabilize the earth's climate through education, research and community engagement. Celebrating Sustainability is formally recognizing a different institution every business day in April leading up to Earth Day on April 22. MWCC is a charter signatory of the ACUPCC.<br /><br />The ACUPCC praised the college for its outstanding work in successfully integrating wind power into its energy portfolio over the past year. Mount Wachusett’s program has been so successful since installing two 1.65 MW turbines in March 2011 that the college is now producing 100 percent of its own electricity while also returning energy back to the grid, the organization noted.<br /><br />The 15 colleges and universities identified under the Celebrating Sustainability series cover a diverse spectrum of institutions in terms of size, geographic location and academic focus. MWCC is the only college in New England named in the series. The other campuses are: University of California - Irvine; Arizona State University; University of Louisville, Kentucky; University of Central Missouri; Weber State University in Utah; William Patterson University in New Jersey; SUNY Upstate Medical University and Pratt Institute in New York; Allegheny College and Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania; Austin Community College in Texas; Georgia Institute of Technology and Haywood Community College in Georgia; and Luther College in Iowa.<br /><br />“These institutions differ in many ways, but they all have an unrelenting commitment to building a healthier environment by deploying cutting-edge practices and producing graduates that will integrate sustainability into their professional and personal lives for years to come,” said Dr. Anthony D. Cortese, president of Second Nature, the lead supporting organization of the ACUPCC. “These schools are also demonstrating academic leadership in this area, which is essential to address the profound threats climate change poses to society at large.”The ACUPCC launched its Celebrating Sustainability series in conjunction with Earth Day to demonstrate the importance of taking a holistic approach to reversing climate change that incorporates sustainable practices and solutions.<br /><br />The organization commended the colleges wind energy initiative, which is now producing 100-percent of the Gardner campus' electricity while also returning energy back to the grid, as well as its biomass and solar technologies, conservation measures that have reduced energy consumption by nearly half, and efforts of the student sustainability club, The Green Society, and other campus organizations and clubs for their role in a number of campus green initiatives.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;font-size:11.0pt;" ></span></span></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-45250297924994570032012-03-29T12:43:00.003-07:002012-03-30T06:44:23.585-07:00Turbines at 1 Year Anniversary Producing 100% of MWCC's Electricity<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3H5kUpIHXYxFJbV8aSrev-sQ2IvCfiKLFbdtyjj2mVFCS4DlE4-OeM9dMDB9xr7yx5pdm650PPvZ6YUVoojZcEPPWNo1gbS1qeouAvNjCNVIZl5ih3IO_Foj8u2AOzbertU6sifSYKU/s1600/MWCC+SpringTurbines2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3H5kUpIHXYxFJbV8aSrev-sQ2IvCfiKLFbdtyjj2mVFCS4DlE4-OeM9dMDB9xr7yx5pdm650PPvZ6YUVoojZcEPPWNo1gbS1qeouAvNjCNVIZl5ih3IO_Foj8u2AOzbertU6sifSYKU/s320/MWCC+SpringTurbines2.jpg" width="320" /></a>In the year since Mount Wachusett Community College added wind energy to its renewable portfolio, the two 1.65 MW turbines are producing 100 percent of the college’s electricity while also returning energy back to the grid.<br />
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The Vestas V82 turbines, activated on March 25, 2011, generated in excess of 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity two days before the anniversary date, slightly exceeding the 4.97 million kWh annual production anticipated prior to construction and taking into account the first month of intermittent operation during a break-in period. Combined with existing renewable technologies, the turbines have enabled the college to generate nearly all of its energy on site and to achieve the distinction of near carbon neutrality for campus operations.
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"The wind energy project is the crowning achievement in our portfolio of green energy projects. Combined, these renewable technologies provide an invaluable learning tool for the general public as well as students pursuing green careers in our Natural Resources and Energy Management programs," said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. "The turbines have become a source of pride and a symbol of progress for the college and for the local community."<br />
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The wind energy project, a collaboration between the college and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, the Executive Office of Administration & Finance, the Division of Capital Asset Management, and the Department of Energy Resources, is an integral component in the Massachusetts Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings executive order to achieve statewide goals.<br />
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"Community projects like this one not only create jobs and local sources of energy but stabilize energy costs, which traditionally have relied on volatile fossil fuel markets," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "We're a proud partner in this project because it sets an example of clean energy leadership for the students, residents and businesses of this community.<br />
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During an April 2011 ceremony, the college dedicated the turbines in honor of Congressman John Olver, for his support for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy, and Edward R. Terceiro Jr., MWCC executive vice president emeritus and resident engineer, for his leadership on the project and other campus energy initiatives, and to both for their renewable energy vision.<br />
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A charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, MWCC was recognized with environmental awards in 2011 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Second Nature/ACUPCC and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for its success in renewable energy and conservation.<br />
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Built in the early 1970s as an all-electric facility, the Gardner campus has been transformed over the past decade. In addition to wind energy, the college's energy initiatives include biomass heating, photovoltaic solar, solar hot water, and extensive energy conservation measures. Since 2002, energy consumption at the 450,000 square foot campus has dropped from 9 million kWh to 5 million kWh, saving more than $4.5 million in utility costs while simultaneously benefitting the environment.Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-51881343728054939942012-03-19T14:35:00.001-07:002012-03-19T14:37:45.589-07:00"Catch the Wind at MWCC" Communications Success Story Wins Top National Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8R41PiGnDU4P2tLtuLCXVql6gMWsek9axCyG8i6WWleJtb5CwQsm74qVvVEUlfi3kzIBNM0WMGu0E_VPMjSZMHbrQKgOW4ZWOsJec0fBoA0BDNfNEdbD4pRmR1YvDTvNGSR4qYS3sRg/s1600/Paragon+award.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8R41PiGnDU4P2tLtuLCXVql6gMWsek9axCyG8i6WWleJtb5CwQsm74qVvVEUlfi3kzIBNM0WMGu0E_VPMjSZMHbrQKgOW4ZWOsJec0fBoA0BDNfNEdbD4pRmR1YvDTvNGSR4qYS3sRg/s1600/Paragon+award.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Catch the Wind at MWCC,” a multi-faceted marketing and communications project developed throughout the construction and activation of Mount Wachusett Community College’s wind turbines, has received a top award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.<o:p></o:p></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MWCC’s Marketing and Communications Division received the gold Paragon Award in the “Communications Success Story” category on March 13 during the NCMPR national conference in San Francisco. The division shares the honor with faculty, staff and students who provided their talent, time and skills on various aspects of the campaign.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The construction and dedication of MWCC’s two 1.65 MW Vestas V82 wind turbines from September 2010 to April 2011 provided an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the college’s renewable energy initiatives through an in-house, multi-channel communications approach incorporating traditional media; social media; video and photography documentation; a special event; and staff and student graphic design contributions in the areas of signage, banners, invitations, event program and t-shirts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From a communications standpoint, the project showcased MWCC’s decade-long commitment to sustainability and the college’s leadership role in the national climate commitment movement, while enhancing awareness about the benefits associated with renewable energy.</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The communications project consisted of ongoing press releases and story proposals to media outlets as the construction ensued and leading up to the April 2011 dedication ceremony; social media, including the launch of the <em>Green on Green Street</em> blog and posts to the college’s Facebook and YouTube pages; a turbine construction video and dedication ceremony video created by Broadcasting & Electronic Media Department Chair Joel Anderson, the Media Services Department and students; photography capturing virtually all aspects of construction for posterity and for use in the blog, media releases and other venues; and several graphic design projects, including those done in conjunction with Computer Graphic Design Department Chair Leslie Cullen and CGD students.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Independent judges selected to review the entries noted “excellent, sustained media coverage” and student creativity and participation as key factors that earned MWCC an A+ in the Communications Success Story category. More than 1,800 entries were submitted by some 200 colleges in over 40 categories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sponsored by the NCMPR, the Paragon Awards recognized outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges. It is the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. NCMPR is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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</div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-11170133293697257572012-02-23T11:07:00.003-08:002012-02-23T12:01:57.480-08:00MWCC Receives Funding for Science & Technology Wing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRoUn986AeHhKu_-CpjQTpJ7KV7DmC7sHCPh2KmYBwaFZOC0hQVtmZsUAeKzrCRMyuItI0UCXEiJrTEkYj-jRDDzTdbF45ZJDSmW8poqDRRiK9P_jWob12clS5nDHiuj5yTlM4d8dBXs/s1600/Science+wing+tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRoUn986AeHhKu_-CpjQTpJ7KV7DmC7sHCPh2KmYBwaFZOC0hQVtmZsUAeKzrCRMyuItI0UCXEiJrTEkYj-jRDDzTdbF45ZJDSmW8poqDRRiK9P_jWob12clS5nDHiuj5yTlM4d8dBXs/s320/Science+wing+tour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Local legislators and Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner Carole Cornelison visited MWCC on Feb. 21 to announce $800,000 to fund the design and study for a new science and technology building.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The project is envisioned as a 39,000-square-foot addition on the Gardner campus for new laboratories, specialized space, and general classrooms, as well as the replacement of the existing greenhouse and critical infrastructure upgrades and accessibility improvements to the Haley Building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following the design and study phase, the $37.9 million construction project will be one of the largest in North Central Massachusetts.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Students enrolled in MWCC’s Natural Resources and Energy Management programs, as well as the health sciences and other programs requiring science courses, would be among the beneficiaries of this new state-of-the-art wing. The preliminary plan for the addition includes 21 classrooms and 12 laboratories.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“This funding is an important investment in the future of MWCC and for the citizens of Central Massachusetts,” said Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As we come out of one of the worst recessions in history, investments like this one that improve infrastructure and invest in education are important to our continued economic growth.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The study of the school, its needs, and the site for the addition could take about six months to a year to complete followed by approximately one year for the design process before the project goes out to bid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money for the project will come from a state-authorized bond.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">President Daniel M. Asquino welcomed the state officials to the campus and provided a tour of the campus. Founded in 1963, Mount Wachusett Community College built its main campus in Gardner in the early 1970s. Joining Senator Brewer and Commissioner Cornelison for the announcement were Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan (D-Leominster), Representative Stephen DiNatali (D-Fitchburg) and Representative Richard Bastien (R-Gardner).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“We’re excited for the opportunities this new science and technology building will provide for our students,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “We greatly appreciate the support of our legislators, the Division of Capital Asset Management, and the Patrick-Murray administration for this project, and their commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for students who traditionally remain in the Commonwealth after graduating and contribute to the betterment of our communities.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“This is a structurally sound building, but it is 40 years old. The science labs and a majority of the classrooms are 40 years old. The new building will allow us to update all of our classrooms and laboratories, which support our science and health care programs. It will truly bring the entire campus into the 21st century. When our students graduate, they will leave with a state-of-the-art experience,” President Asquino said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“It is tremendously gratifying to see the Patrick-Murray Administration’s ambitious capital program for higher education come to fruition,” Commissioner Cornelison said. “We are working hard to build first class public higher education facilities in every region of the Commonwealth, and this project at Mount Wachusett Community College is yet another example of the administration’s commitment to that goal.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em>Pictured: MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino with DCAM Commissioner Carole Cornelison, Senator Stephen M. Brewer and Representative Richard Bastien on a tour of the 40-year-old main campus to view areas that would benefit from a new science and technology wing.</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-47859370439602437172012-02-08T11:01:00.000-08:002012-02-08T11:03:04.147-08:00MWCC in American Wind Energy Association 2012 Calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff26p-lEjnovMLrkZvY5qsn3-MYT76VkikToJ-y1TLhTf536SKW34v5PdhwKcm-NWTEMO12WuSpXHdGl30sDRPBQ8cmvxh-BpC4fC6YfWMVBlvWXRNr6T-C1sK4Vw13jR1rt2r2bsZzA/s1600/MWCC+employees+turbine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff26p-lEjnovMLrkZvY5qsn3-MYT76VkikToJ-y1TLhTf536SKW34v5PdhwKcm-NWTEMO12WuSpXHdGl30sDRPBQ8cmvxh-BpC4fC6YfWMVBlvWXRNr6T-C1sK4Vw13jR1rt2r2bsZzA/s320/MWCC+employees+turbine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>MWCC is delighted to be included in the American Wind Energy Association's 2012 calendar!<br />
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The AWEA invited the college to submit photos for consideration, then selected a group shot of MWCC employees and a Vestas trainer as they prepared to climb to the top of the north wind turbine in February 2011.<br />
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The group, included Vice President of Finance and Administration Bob LaBonte, Director of Maintenance and Mechanical Systems Bill Swift, Electrician Norm Boudreau, HVAC Mechanic George Couillard and Vestas Technical Trainer Bill Fulkerson. The photograph was taken by Kim Anderson, a former MWCC dual enrollment student and Fitchburg State University alumna who worked in the college's Marketing & Communications Division as an intern during the spring 2011 semester.<br />
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Based in Washington, D.C., the AWEA is a national trade association representing wind power project developers, equipment suppliers, services providers, utilities, researchers, advocates andothers involved in the industry.Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-50684678239865058772011-12-02T13:13:00.000-08:002011-12-02T13:29:24.829-08:00Student Clubs Host Visit From Local Activist<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLrAy8IaxjqK9HRS0XxvP5VCZM_h_K42rs52PZetwMfJ9QJYcYlU2jI7SaUITxcb7AeAS0weC00N43BGvpEpLZ-SUSHdQhpvYwBOTBDisn5bXWhfq_bJx-CGwDlWMGi-W_E-GQFHXLEI/s1600/07291033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLrAy8IaxjqK9HRS0XxvP5VCZM_h_K42rs52PZetwMfJ9QJYcYlU2jI7SaUITxcb7AeAS0weC00N43BGvpEpLZ-SUSHdQhpvYwBOTBDisn5bXWhfq_bJx-CGwDlWMGi-W_E-GQFHXLEI/s320/07291033.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MWCC's 100 KW Photovoltaic Solar Array</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Art Club, together with the Math Club and the Green Society brought local activist Hattie Nestel to campus this week for a presentation on renewable energy and energy efficiency as alternatives to nuclear power.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a member of the Shut It Down Affinity Group, the Athol resident is whole heartedly against nuclear power, and focused much of her Nov. 29 presentation about the potential dangers of nuclear power. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The group's members, who range from a kindergarten teacher to a 92-year-old, have been arrested on several occasions for their protests at the Vermont Yankeee nuclear plant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During her presentation, Nestel praised legislators such as Massachusetts <a href="http://markey.house.gov/">Congressman Edward Markey</a>, ranking member of the Natural Resources committee and senior member of the Energy and Commerce committee, for his work on energy and environmental issues. Nestel told students and faculty members gathered for the presentation that 20 percent of electricity in the U.S. is generated by nuclear power. Statistics show greater job growth in green energy, and with more effort placed on conservation, Americans could reduce electricity consumption by 25 to 30 percent, she added.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The student clubs banded together to bring Nestel to MWCC because they thought it would be a great opportunity for the campus to learn more about alternatives to nuclear power<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the work advocates are doing to raise awareness, particularly in light of the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant following the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan, said Sarah Adams, secretary of the Art Club.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We thought it was a great experience to partner up with the different clubs, and also a great experience to learn about this, considering that our college is so green already,” Adams said. Faculty advisors Tom Matsuda (Art Club) Tom Montagno (The Green Society) and Yoav Elinevski (Math Club) supported the students' efforts to bring the presentation to campus. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nestel, who is also a member of the Citizens Awareness Network (<a href="http://www.nukebusters.org/">http://www.nukebusters.org/</a>), gives several presentations a week throughout the area to interested organizations. "I feel people are lacking this information," she said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition, she recommends a variety of resources to those interested in learning more. On her suggested reading list are two books by Hermann Scheer, a 30-year member of Germany's parliament who was instrumental in efforts to establish Germany as a world leader in renewable energy: <em>The Solar Economy: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future</em> and <em>Energy Autonomy: The economic, social, and technological case for renewable energy. </em></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Among her recommended websites: </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.beyondnuclear.org/">http://www.beyondnuclear.org/</a> and <a href="http://www.nirs.org/">http://www.nirs.org/</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em>- Angela Marini</em></span></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-37429073347552011402011-10-27T14:51:00.000-07:002011-10-27T14:53:59.352-07:00MWCC Receives Massachusetts Leading by Example Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WO2XtduVa2zTQwQ4JgXTX9gnryWUmij1kUir15VT1ruewiV64qOSozr2iz3B6lZvvSDiHMIzdoREFN2n5Zan2w5QKK8UAJnAsRSxreHvZiBYGxI2hT2AJYNCq0GBsyOLfz_lL7NTb4M/s1600/09121115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WO2XtduVa2zTQwQ4JgXTX9gnryWUmij1kUir15VT1ruewiV64qOSozr2iz3B6lZvvSDiHMIzdoREFN2n5Zan2w5QKK8UAJnAsRSxreHvZiBYGxI2hT2AJYNCq0GBsyOLfz_lL7NTb4M/s320/09121115.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mount Wachusett Community College has been recognized by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s Leading by Example Program as the state entity that has made the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The college was presented with a Leading by Example Award from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs during its annual ceremony Oct. 26 at the Statehouse honoring state agencies, public higher education institutions, municipalities, and individuals that demonstrate outstanding clean energy and environmental leadership.<br />
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MWCC was recognized for a 48 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a 2002 to 2004 baseline, the greatest reduction of any state college, university or agency. Thanks to an array of projects, including investments in biomass, a 100- kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, solar hot water systems, and the recent installation of two 1.65 megawatt wind turbines on its campus, MWCC is expecting clean energy to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand. <br />
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“We are extremely proud and honored to receive this Leading by Example award for the groundbreaking work that has been underway at Mount Wachusett Community College for more than a decade, including the recent installation of two wind turbines,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino, who accepted the award on behalf of the college with Executive Vice President Emeritus Edward R. Terceiro, Jr.<br />
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“Our hope is that our energy initiatives will serve as a model for other institutions in the Commonwealth and across the nation, as we strive to reduce our reliance on foreign fuel and protect the environment through a combination of ingenuity and commitment to future generations," President Asquino said.<br />
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Last week, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) named Massachusetts number one in ACEEE's annual state-by-state energy efficiency scorecard. Massachusetts topped California in the ranking for the first time with ACEEE noting the Patrick-Murray Administration's clean energy agenda, which includes the Green Communities Act of 2008 and innovative energy efficiency programs like Leading by Example.<br />
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“Thanks to Governor Patrick's national leadership on energy efficiency and renewable energy policies, we're making tremendous headway in pursuit of our clean energy future, with state and local governments setting the pace," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.<br />
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This year's Leading by Example award winners "have taken steps that will continue to yield long-term environmental and economic dividends for years to come," Secretary Sullivan said.<br />
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Leading by Example was established by an April 2007 Executive Order in which Governor Patrick directed agencies of state government to improve energy efficiency, promote clean energy technology, and reduce their environmental impacts. The Executive Order calls on state government to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, reduce energy consumption at state-owned and leased facilities 20 percent, and procure 15 percent of energy from renewable sources by June 2012. In addition, it established the Mass LEED-Plus building standard for new state construction, which requires energy performance to be 20 percent better than code.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Leading by Example efforts have resulted in significant accomplishments in recent years, including an increase in the amount of installed solar PV at state facilities from 100 kW in 2007 to more than 4 MW in 2011 and an increase in the amount of installed wind at state facilities from 660 kW in 2007 to over 8 MW in 2011. This year's awards recognize an array of clean and energy efficient initiatives including heating system replacement, energy efficient building renovations, aggressive recycling, innovative LED street lighting installations, and renewable energy system installations.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For more, <a href="http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoeea&b=pressrelease&f=111026-pr-5th-lbe-awards&csid=Eoeea">click here.</a></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-68002816331872716122011-10-25T13:53:00.000-07:002011-10-26T09:47:29.140-07:00Massachusetts Most Energy-Efficient State in the U.S.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGinewuan2nyvoqtu3fMABg6jfU4_QaA9vSbjemLRbQtV2jzUewqlGTFzjRZTGPtH7O31fNweolc8CUwHLmqFxEUvS5KZvUhFqqRQD1SGop_GEHVjOWB-NMUnc83TR7j5r6xynDImwXE/s1600/turbines+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGinewuan2nyvoqtu3fMABg6jfU4_QaA9vSbjemLRbQtV2jzUewqlGTFzjRZTGPtH7O31fNweolc8CUwHLmqFxEUvS5KZvUhFqqRQD1SGop_GEHVjOWB-NMUnc83TR7j5r6xynDImwXE/s320/turbines+sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Mount Wachusett Community College is proud to be located in the most energy-efficient state in the country! <br />
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The fifth annual edition of the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, released Oct. 20 by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), recognized the Commonwealth as the country's new leader. The state surpassed California, which had held the nation's top spot for the past four years. According to the ACEEE scorecard, Massachusetts' took a major leap forward when it passed the Green Communities Act in 2008. The act established energy efficiency as the state's "first priority" resource and created an Energy Efficiency Advisory Council to work with utility companies to develop statewide efficiency plans that are now deemed the most progressive in the nation.<br />
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The other Top 10 states on the 2011 Energy Scorecard are New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Maryland. The six most-improved states are Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Alabama, Maryland, and Tennessee.<br />
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"Through our Green Communities Act, we set aggressive goals and laid the foundation for greater investment in energy efficiency – and now we are proud to be a model for the nation and world," Governor Deval Patrick stated last week. The governor is also predicting double-digit growth in green energy jobs by mid-2012. According to a bewkt released report from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the Commonwealth had 4,909 clean energy firms and 64,310 people working in clean energy jobs as of July. Growth in the clean energy workforce was 6.7 percent between July 2010 and July 2011.<br />
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For more news, visit <a href="http://www.aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard">http://www.aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard</a> and <a href="http://masscec.com/index.cfm/cdid/12406/pid/11150">http://masscec.com/index.cfm/cdid/12406/pid/11150</a>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-22579379058892310502011-10-20T07:58:00.000-07:002011-10-20T08:05:59.384-07:00The Green Society Helping Others Live Green, One Water Bottle at a Time<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9AVWCgaJ7oxVk1CjWiP5QA-jBn2wqipiiKcPeL5wSIRl_4PXK6pLEnYChitaE-YQZdCAjk7rcDQ0hA9EN3dt-cGfirT4HvakDEWaRvprtJG-spnqeY5kkQmZKaWLpMUnue6PiRIDlQU/s1600/Green+Society+water+station+Oct+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9AVWCgaJ7oxVk1CjWiP5QA-jBn2wqipiiKcPeL5wSIRl_4PXK6pLEnYChitaE-YQZdCAjk7rcDQ0hA9EN3dt-cGfirT4HvakDEWaRvprtJG-spnqeY5kkQmZKaWLpMUnue6PiRIDlQU/s320/Green+Society+water+station+Oct+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Society members Rosemary Mruk,<br />
Jesse Roberts and Owen Despre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>MWCC's Green Society is making another splash toward sustainability with a new addition to the Gardner campus. The new water cooler and bottle filling station, located in the Commons area near the financial aid office, is part of an outreach campaign to provide students, faculty, and staff with an alternative to plastic water bottles.<br />
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The water bottle station, which was funded jointly by The Green Society, the Student Government Association and a $1,000 grant from the United Way Youth Venture, is environmentally friendly because it allows people to refill reusable water bottles. In just a few weeks, it has already saved nearly 400 plastic water bottles from being used. "It's turning out to be a great compliment to other sustainability efforts at MWCC," said Rosemary Mruk, treasurer of the Green Society.<br />
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Students from The Green Society researched and presented an action plan and budget to the United Way Youth Venture and members of the college community last spring to receive funding for this project. The UWYV provides opportunities for young people throughout the region to create their own positive social change. The process is non-competitive and open to students ages 12 to 22, said Kumar Raj, United Way Youth Venture Coordinator.<br />
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Beginning this month The Green Society will sell reusable, stainless steel water bottles to help raise money for replacement filters for the water station. In the future, The Green Society would like to see a water bottle station on each floor of the Gardner Campus, as well as at the satellite campuses in Leominster and Devens.<br />
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"We are excited to see how the campus receives the new water cooler and bottle filling station, and we hope that this station can pave the way for more on campus," said Professor Tom Montagno, the club's advisor.<br />
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"At MWCC, we don't just want people to 'Go Green,' " said Owen Despre, president of The Green Society. "We want them to 'Live Green.' "<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><em>- Angela Marini</em></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-33641387569014759662011-09-15T07:58:00.000-07:002011-09-15T07:58:35.632-07:00Green Tastes Good<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJfWQTHgqgteQoF8TvgJMcJr_yW8IbECVa3fNYt1kAKWek0NcEdRSowzchVpmUD6N5jGWheedoqInBVGyR0GFctJ9wCh9QKrosm4ilvoy-2ii6DY0MpyXX6kzbSDnDlhsGYSsw-0UrL8/s1600/Lynne_Franciose_15SEPT2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJfWQTHgqgteQoF8TvgJMcJr_yW8IbECVa3fNYt1kAKWek0NcEdRSowzchVpmUD6N5jGWheedoqInBVGyR0GFctJ9wCh9QKrosm4ilvoy-2ii6DY0MpyXX6kzbSDnDlhsGYSsw-0UrL8/s320/Lynne_Franciose_15SEPT2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
If you’ve ever wondered who makes
sure there is a bountiful breakfast buffet and hot coffee every morning on
campus, you should meet Lynne Franciose, our dining services manager and green
advocate extraordinaire.</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Her day
begins around 4 a.m. with checking email, reviewing menus, and taking time to
make sure the cafeteria and campus catering services run smoothly. By 6 a.m.,
she is on campus, doing the morning set-up routine of filling ice buckets,
preparing coffee, and baking breakfast goodies. </span></div>
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I recently sat down with Lynne to
talk about the various ways the Green Street Café is environmentally
responsible. From the coffee we drink to the vegetables in the soup, Lynne has
made some progressive choices that place the Green Street Café at the forefront
of environmentally responsible food service. </div>
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For the past two years, The Green
Society student group on campus and their organic kitchen garden project has
collaborated with the Green Street Café. This partnership not only collected food
waste for compost, but it also produced vegetables, herbs, and flowers for use
in the Café’s menus. The Green Society collects food waste in compost buckets
and uses it to fertilize the club’s garden. This keeps all those food scraps
out of the college’s waste stream and ultimately a landfill. Conversely, when
the kitchen garden comes to harvest, the Café reaps the benefits. By working
together to choose what is grown in some plots, the Café has not only created
demand for the fresh local produce, but also saved the college money by
choosing to grow pricey items such as herbs and edible flowers right here on
campus!</div>
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The coffee station in the Café is a
busy place any time of day. It’s good to know that even with this every day
staple item, Lynne and the Green Street Café have made a conscious choice to
use environmentally friendly options. By choosing Green Mountain Coffee as our
vendor, we are supporting fair trade and organic coffee. Plus, all the “disposable”
items such as cups and lids are made from biodegradable materials, meaning it
can all be kept out of landfills!</div>
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Beverages make up approximately 15
percent of what is consumed through the Café, so Lynne partnered with
Coca-Cola, our soft drink vendor, in an ongoing initiative they are developing
to use plant-based and biodegradable bottles for their products. In addition,
bottles that are not currently made from the new plant-based materials are
still staying out of the landfill. Through a partnership with Gardner High
School, students collect and recycle the traditional plastic bottles.
Subsequently, they learn the importance of recycling and they also get to keep
the money they earn from the redemption value. </div>
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One of the most visible and significant
initiatives Lynne has implemented is the use of local farm produce. While it
could have been a time consuming and expensive proposition to use organic
vendors and farms across the Commonwealth, Lynne worked smarter, not harder. </div>
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Attending a Farm to School
conference last year, Lynne realized that a particular food service wholesaler
was already utilizing local farms and organic produce for their product line.
By using this vendor, Lynne is able to serve fresh, local produce without the
added work of dealing with numerous farms individually. </div>
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In addition to the on-campus
efforts Lynne coordinates, the Green Street Café also has a larger green
footprint that reaches across the globe. The Café has chosen Heifer
International as its primary charity and work to collect donations and build
awareness among students for the needs of hungry people around the world.
Established in Rutland, Mass., Heifer International works with communities to
end hunger through innovative programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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These “living loan” programs
provide families with livestock and education on how to raise and profit from
the livestock. The families eat better and can generate income in sustainable
ways from eggs, milk, and meat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
important part of the program is that those same families then give one of its
animal's offspring to another family and increase the program’s impact in the
community. </div>
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The Green Street Café will be
starting a new collection for Heifer International in November. Heifer
International volunteers will be on campus. Stop by, have a snack, and learn
more about this great part of the Green Street Café’s commitment to
sustainability. </div>
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While MWCC continues to work to
incorporate green initiatives to many aspects of operations across the Gardner
campus, it is good to know that even the food we serve in the cafeteria is
making a positive impact on our community and environment, rather than a
negative one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all the small
decisions, when taken together as a whole strategy, which add up to a big change
and move in the right direction. Stop by the Green Street Café sometime and
know that your delicious meal is supporting local farmers, a high school
student recycling program, a student-run organic kitchen garden, and fair trade
products. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-86290953441879149212011-07-26T13:22:00.000-07:002011-08-02T01:50:20.762-07:00MWCC's Prius Adorned with Energy-Themed, Student-Designed Car Wrap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8XFKYa9X0GnR8rjhPfUVtyZFZWpnqHWq-ri_OeEcOp0WPJpjLRToslI8qDWNPAAGM45AZNd3mPb0NwqUF5uDZCurg0pEgfHmi6LiUF2Tnd6nXBSBNDcE3_tDsDMeH2hKJSoG7BUIN7E/s1600/ZakStoddard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8XFKYa9X0GnR8rjhPfUVtyZFZWpnqHWq-ri_OeEcOp0WPJpjLRToslI8qDWNPAAGM45AZNd3mPb0NwqUF5uDZCurg0pEgfHmi6LiUF2Tnd6nXBSBNDcE3_tDsDMeH2hKJSoG7BUIN7E/s320/ZakStoddard.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Zak Stoddard and MWCC's Prius" id="_x0000_s1026" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 159pt; margin-left: 200pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 3.75pt; position: absolute; width: 240pt; z-index: 251659264;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs023/1102470512203/img/258.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">MWCC's 2008 Toyota Prius is not only energy efficient, it's now an eye-catching billboard on wheels.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This month, the stark white Prius was adorned with a colorful, energy-themed car wrap created by Zak Stoddard, a Computer Graphic Design-Print major at MWCC. Stoddard's design depicts an electrical plug blooming among flowers, text promoting the college's Energy Management and Computer Graphic Design programs, and phrases encouraging onlookers to "Go Green" and "Charge Up Your Career."</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Sonya Shelton, an adjunct instructor in the Computer Graphic Design program, initially thought up the idea of a car wrap to simultaneously promote the college's green programs and the work of CGD students. A college team, including representatives from Marketing & Communications, Facilities Management and the CGD and Energy Management programs, met to explore the idea.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The team decided that wrapping the college's hybrid Prius, used to deliver mail between campuses and for employee travel purposes, was a great opportunity to spread the word about the college's academic programs.The wrap, installed by D&G Custom Graphics of Fitchburg, was funded by MWCC Foundation, Inc. through a grant the foundation received from an anonymous donor to promote the new Energy Management program.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Shelton and CGD Chair Professor Leslie Cullen were excited to use the car wrap as a learning opportunity and as a way to showcase students' work. Students in Cullen's capstone CGD course, Portfolio Preparation, had the opportunity to submit designs for the car wrap. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"This project was something unique and quite different than anything our students have done in the past," Cullen said.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The class worked closely with D&G graphics, the same company that applied MWCC's logo and initials to the college's two wind turbines, to obtain a full-size template for the car. Students were then asked to create various layout sketches from the template provided, then created drafts of their ideas in full scale on the template. The project was presented as a real world project from start to finish. The client, David Schmidt, chair of the Energy Management department, came to the class to discuss the project parameters and provide information on the concept of energy management and what the curriculum entails at MWCC, Cullen said.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Marketing & Communications department provided guidelines for elements to include on the car, such as the college logo, and students researched car wraps, energy management concepts and green solutions for inspiration for their graphics. Ultimately, a variety of creative, attractive submissions were narrowed down to a handful of finalists, with Stoddard's winning submission selected by the college's Executive Council. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"All the students who volunteered to design a car wrap should be commended for their workmanship and effort," Cullen said. "The final design was chosen by the Executive Council, and I personally couldn't be more proud of Zak Stoddard and his design. Zak has been a consummate professional throughout the entire project, from the initial concept to working closely with D&G Graphics to make sure production went smoothly. Zak deserves a world of credit for his work," she said.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"I look forward to his future successes and am thrilled to have his work showcased and the CGD department recognized every day when the Prius hits the road. Also, I couldn't be more excited about what was learned along the way. The educational value of this type of project surpasses so much of what we could have taught from a book or in the classroom alone," Cullen said. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Stoddard said implementing the project from start to finish provided an invaluable learning experience.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"It was a great opportunity for me because of the people I got to meet at the college through this process," Stoddard said. "I was glad to have this opportunity because it allowed me to gain experience in the field I plan to go into. When I saw this car finished, it made me very proud."</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Pictured: Computer Graphic Design student Zak Stoddard with MWCC's Toyota Prius, now decorated with the car wrap he designed.</span></em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-13998370659692269892011-06-28T10:12:00.000-07:002011-08-02T01:51:57.283-07:00MWCC Honored with National Climate Leadership Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfMjbDFz4xJ801Bhyphenhyphenfu30Su_NW9k7gLEd3RHu1DcVof7ub6dOmmtf2V1ltyW2R8861VLzVgRbIv-uPm8vrI6M-Epi1njyx6AIpBVRHK2z-qjsCBO4D-GPYsq2Qd2kpvKwPYyly95Ryl4/s1600/MWCC+SpringTurbines2+smalll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfMjbDFz4xJ801Bhyphenhyphenfu30Su_NW9k7gLEd3RHu1DcVof7ub6dOmmtf2V1ltyW2R8861VLzVgRbIv-uPm8vrI6M-Epi1njyx6AIpBVRHK2z-qjsCBO4D-GPYsq2Qd2kpvKwPYyly95Ryl4/s320/MWCC+SpringTurbines2+smalll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mount Wachusett Community College has been nationally recognized with a Climate Leadership Award from Second Nature, the supporting organization of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In recognizing MWCC with the prestigious award, Second Nature highlighted the college’s successful renewable energy measures, including the recent installation of two 1.65 MW Vestas V82 wind turbines expected to propel the college to near-carbon neutrality for campus operations. With the college’s biomass and solar technologies incorporated into the mix, coupled with significant efficiency improvements, MWCC will be generating nearly all of its energy on-site to operate as a near-zero net energy campus. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino accepted the award on behalf of the college on June 23 during the fifth annual ACUPCC summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by George Washington University.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We are extremely proud and honored to receive this Climate Leadership Award for the groundbreaking work that has been underway at Mount Wachusett Community College for more than a decade, including the recent installation of two wind turbines,” said Asquino, a charter signatory to the ACUPCC and a member of the organization’s leadership circle. “My hope is that our energy initiatives will serve as a model for other institutions across the nation, as we strive to reduce our reliance on foreign fuel and protect the environment through a combination of ingenuity and commitment to future generations.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MWCC’s wind project is an integral component in Gov. Deval Patrick’s 2007 executive order “Leading by Example – Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings,” which calls for increasing the use of renewable power and significant energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at state facilities.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“When it comes to being a leader in our quest for a clean energy future, Mount Wachusett Community College truly walks the walk,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “The college’s efforts to expand renewable energy and energy efficiency – recently becoming a near zero net energy campus – demonstrate true commitment to Governor Patrick’s Leading by Example program, and I am pleased to congratulate college officials on this well-earned recognition,” Sullivan said. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Leading by Example Program executive order set aggressive clean energy targets, including calling for 15 percent of state electricity use to come from renewable sources and a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. MWCC has far surpassed both these goals and is the first state institution to meet the 80 percent greenhouse gas emission reduction goal by 2050, according to Eric Friedman, deputy director of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ Green Communities Division and Director of the Leading by Example Program.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A collaboration between the college, the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, the Department of Energy Resources, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, the $9 million wind project is being funded through $3.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy grants, $2.1 million from a low interest Clean Renewal Energy Bonds; and $3.7 million from Massachusetts Clean Energy Investment Bonds. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The Division of Capital Asset Management is proud of Mount Wachusett Community College’s national recognition. This achievement is a testament to the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to investing in innovative technologies and providing world class public higher education facilities,” said DCAM Commissioner Carole Cornelison.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I want to commend President Asquino, Executive Vice President Emeritus Ed Terceiro and the entire Mount Wachusett community for their receipt of this national award,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Freeland. “It is truly remarkable to see the transformation that has occurred at Mount Wachusett as a result of its sound investment in renewable energy. At a time when all Massachusetts campuses are struggling with limited financial resources, Mount Wachusett has achieved substantial energy cost savings and also used its clean energy programs to prepare students for careers in green technology. I am delighted to see the campus receiving national recognition for these achievements,” Freeland said.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially built in the early 1970s as an all-electric campus when electricity was expected to be an inexpensive commodity, MWCC was spending more than $750,000 a year in electricity alone by the 1990s. Under the administrative leadership of President Asquino and Resident Engineer and Executive Vice President Emeritus Edward R. Terceiro, Jr., the college sought renewable energy solutions and extensive Energy Conservation Measures to drastically reduce energy consumption and move toward clean energy resources.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past decade, the college increased in size to its present 450,000 square feet and nearly tripled the number of computers, yet through these innovative strategies, annual electricity consumption has dropped by nearly half – from 9 million kWh per year to 5 million kWh. MWCC’s biomass heating plant, a 100 kW photovoltaic array and a solar thermal array for domestic hot water are integrated into teaching and learning experiences for students pursuing green careers through the college’s Natural Resources, Energy Management and workforce development programs. In addition, students have access to geothermal heating and cooling technology on-site. Energy Conservation Measures installed on the campus, ranging from lighting retrofits and automatic lighting controls to HVAC upgrades, were implemented with the assistance of grants and energy rebates to defray costs and in the last two years have resulted in a reduction of more than 800,000 kWh, a 13-percent drop in overall electricity consumption.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">The Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards, initiated in 2010, recognize the best examples of climate leadership actions among colleges and universities that are stepping up efforts to conserve resources and preserve the environment. The ACUPCC, launched in December 2006, is a national effort addressing global climate issues and the steps colleges can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Its mission is to accelerate the country's progress toward climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering colleges and universities to educate students, create solutions and provide leadership in their communities and throughout society to achieve this goal.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">For more information on the awards, visit</span> </span><a href="http://secondnaturebos.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://secondnaturebos.wordpress.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-91768786979842156912011-05-26T13:10:00.000-07:002011-05-26T13:10:15.224-07:00MWCC Receives Environmental Merit Award from EPA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iPd947zXQz0EnzDNsPznV2p4ikg9av2xTAtlA-vFWQtLubaR2ErEGtXGnuUtyn6BSczuUjn1upXGM9jUJjTOq2uZhhtYOeOoBO971ZtlB7J4wtxFT7jOa24v4hGZ9sztXb6NJUU522I/s1600/SpringTurbines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iPd947zXQz0EnzDNsPznV2p4ikg9av2xTAtlA-vFWQtLubaR2ErEGtXGnuUtyn6BSczuUjn1upXGM9jUJjTOq2uZhhtYOeOoBO971ZtlB7J4wtxFT7jOa24v4hGZ9sztXb6NJUU522I/s320/SpringTurbines.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Turbines Sky" id="_x0000_s1026" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 132pt; margin-left: 158.75pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 7.5pt; position: absolute; width: 198.75pt; z-index: 251669504;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs023/1102470512203/img/193.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;">Mount Wachusett Community College has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its ongoing sustainability initiatives, including the recent addition of two wind turbines.</span></span></div><!-- </img> --><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;">MWCC received an Environmental Merit Award during the EPA New England District's annual recognition ceremony on May 11 at Faneuil Hall in Boston.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span style="color: black;">MWCC was recognized for exemplifying how an institution can invest in clean energy, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and ultimately address the global climate crisis. The two wind turbines are expected to generate 97 percent of the school's energy demand. Combined with the college's existing biomass heating, photovoltaic array and solar hot water technologies, MWCC will produce nearly all of its energy on-site.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span style="color: black;">The merit awards, recognizing valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving, are a unique way that the EPA recognizes individuals and groups that are making significant impacts on environmental quality in distinct ways. Awarded by the EPA since 1970, the merit awards honor individuals and groups that have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region's environment. This year's competition drew 56 nominations from across New England.</span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-9056044568406046272011-04-28T12:50:00.000-07:002011-08-02T01:47:27.163-07:00Turbine Dedication Ceremony Ushers in New Era of Sustainability at MWCC<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYun3rpgMLS4iUs0Zt4B5OdzI-PWu514mgaBRNeyQG4Wu7069xm6_eXdAbNkroh0cGhQf2odwCfFj-8tL7XHLKlB63JxmeiaTfkZPiXXUQ1VQokOQYMZ0lVT5XEy_9T33aNqYmFaRulhs/s1600/Sign+unveiling+from+JKS+Co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYun3rpgMLS4iUs0Zt4B5OdzI-PWu514mgaBRNeyQG4Wu7069xm6_eXdAbNkroh0cGhQf2odwCfFj-8tL7XHLKlB63JxmeiaTfkZPiXXUQ1VQokOQYMZ0lVT5XEy_9T33aNqYmFaRulhs/s320/Sign+unveiling+from+JKS+Co.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prominent state and local leaders joined Mount Wachusett Community College officials, faculty, students and staff members to usher in a new era of energy sustainability during a dedication ceremony April 27 celebrating the college's two new 1.65 MW wind turbines.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Together, the turbines are expected to generate approximately 97 percent of the college's electricity demand, plus return an additional 30 percent of power back to the energy grid. When combined with existing renewable technologies, the college anticipates generating nearly all of its energy on site and achieving the distinction of near carbon neutrality for campus operations.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This is a major day in the history of Mount Wachusett Community College," said President Daniel M. Asquino. "The wind project caps off a solid decade of renewable energy initiatives and conservation measures that to date have reduced the college's energy consumption nearly by half, and at a significant benefit to the environment, as well. With the addition of wind power, we enter a new era of sustainability."</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Asquino and the college community dedicated the Vestas V82 turbines in honor of Congressman John W. Olver for his support for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy, and to Edward R. Terceiro Jr., MWCC resident engineer and executive vice president emeritus, for his leadership on this project and other campus energy initiatives, and to both for their renewable energy vision. Congressman Olver immediately donned an MWCC turbine t-shirt created by students in the college's Computer Graphic Design Club, before addressing the audience.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If our nation is going to move away from an energy economy based on petroleum and the burning of fossil fuels, and we must do this to slow climate change and save our planet, then we need to invest much more heavily in renewable sources of power," said Congressman Olver. "The wind initiative at Mount Wachusett Community College is a great program that will move us in the right direction on energy. I am proud to have been a part of it and am honored by this dedication."</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to Congressman Olver, President Asquino and Mr. Terceiro, featured speakers at the ceremony included Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr., Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner Carole Cornelison, State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, Gardner Mayor Mark P. Hawke, and MWCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tina M. Sbrega.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dedication ceremony coincides with the fourth anniversary of Gov. Deval Patrick's 2007 executive order, "Leading by Example – Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings." The wind project is a collaboration between the college, and the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, the Department of Energy Resources, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The JK Scanlan Company, Inc. of Falmouth, Mass. served as general contractors, and numerous Massachusetts companies were involved in the construction.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Congratulations to Mount Wachusett Community College for achieving near zero net energy status with the commissioning of these two turbines," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "There couldn't be a more fitting place to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Governor Patrick's executive order establishing the Leading by Example program. From the turbines to a 97 kilowatt solar array to the college's biomass heating system and energy efficiency improvements that have triggered dramatic campus-wide energy savings, Mount Wachusett is truly 'leading by example.' On behalf of the Patrick-Murray Administration, I commend President Asquino and the rest of the college community for their pacesetting efforts," Sullivan said.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Division of Capital Asset Management played a key role in the college's biomass conversion, as well as the wind project and other campus building projects.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Today DCAM has a great opportunity to celebrate a long and successful partnership with Mount Wachusett Community College," said DCAM Commissioner Carole Cornelison. "This project has allowed DCAM to put in place two state-of-the-art wind turbines - an important innovation that brings both energy efficiency and sustainability to the campus, while also demonstrating the Patrick-Murray Administration's commitment to providing world class public higher education facilities," she said.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mount Wachusett Community College has worked aggressively to pursue new options in renewable energy and today's dedication of the two turbines further cements the college's role as a leader in the national campus climate movement," said Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with campus leadership as we bolster our sustainability initiatives throughout the Commonwealth."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"As a result of all the renewable energy work that the college has done, sustainability has become the mantra of the college and is now infused throughout the curriculum," Terceiro said. "Everyone has embraced the work that we're doing." </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Photos from top to bottom: President Daniel M. Asquino, Ph.D. shakes hands with Executive Vice President Emeritus and Resident Engineer Edward R. Terceiro, Jr.; President Asquino welcoming ceremony attendees at the podium; U.S. Congressman John W. Olver making his moving dedication speech while wearing one of the student-designed wind turbine t-shirts; Edward Terceiro explaining that proceeds from sales of the student-designed t-shirts featuring the "Catch the Wind" turbine design will benefit student scholarships; MWCC Computer Graphic Design students Jon Skinner and Noah Ciccoine at the dedication ceremony; Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. from the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs addressing the audience; Commissioner Carole Cornelison from the Division of Capital Asset Management speaking at the dedication ceremony; Secretary Sullivan facing the crowd with the two turbines in the background on the Gardner campus of Mount Wachusett Community College. (Photos By Dana Armstrong, MWCC).</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-60932402078705792082011-04-26T09:15:00.000-07:002011-04-26T09:17:05.515-07:00Ceremony Set to Dedicate MWCC's Wind Turbines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGZy3tLhRsNBF3uhylt2BD0PGpzjAZeoyYhLtfuCR_buQTkpTYQFkOJFIRxSDX0kg2QwvHJlzA-kjXM_IYm15vy6akVkZePNZRH1ZhujJ5ov13BUXdArI1XfY3qF84LFS5P0bYSHj35Q/s1600/turbines+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGZy3tLhRsNBF3uhylt2BD0PGpzjAZeoyYhLtfuCR_buQTkpTYQFkOJFIRxSDX0kg2QwvHJlzA-kjXM_IYm15vy6akVkZePNZRH1ZhujJ5ov13BUXdArI1XfY3qF84LFS5P0bYSHj35Q/s320/turbines+sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Turbines Sky" id="_x0000_s1026" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 111pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 7.5pt; position: absolute; width: 167.25pt; z-index: 251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs023/1102470512203/img/193.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mount Wachusett Community College will commemorate the start of a new era of sustainability during a wind turbine dedication ceremony on Wednesday, April 27. The event, which coincides with the fourth anniversary of Gov. Deval Patrick's executive order "Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings" will take place at 2 p.m. at the main entrance patio at MWCC's Gardner campus.<br />
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The college's two new turbines will be dedicated in honor of Congressman John Olver, for his support for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy, and to Edward R. Terceiro, Jr., MWCC executive vice president emeritus and resident engineer, for his leadership on this project and other campus energy initiatives, and to both for their renewable energy vision.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The event is open to the public and will include remarks from Congressman Olver, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner Carole Cornelison, State Senator Stephen M. Brewer, and State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, as well as MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino, Executive Vice President Emeritus Edward Terceiro, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tina M. Sbrega, and Trustee and Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke. <br />
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In March, MWCC activated its two 1.65 MW Vestas V82 turbines, which are expected to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand, plus return an additional 30 percent of power back to the grid. The wind project is a collaboration between the college, the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, the Department of Energy Resources, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The JK Scanlan Company, Inc. of Falmouth served as general contractors and numerous Massachusetts companies were involved in the construction.<br />
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The $9 million project is being funded through $3.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy grants, $2.1 million from a low interest Clean Renewal Energy Bond (CREB); and $3.7 million from Massachusetts Clean Energy Investment Bonds. </span></span>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-75727743146064337432011-04-21T13:12:00.000-07:002011-04-21T13:19:07.532-07:00MWCC Celebrates Earth Day!<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrs0See8IBzNqAB58ZkudFQfbQqbuyTdUsxYxbqyXzVVmf2xpsAWS0Cf8VNIrS-1QQ-yjCzBMa0KAH5qhXhRwp33WJtmXF31_-ZuWqKWQh-aRgbPmo5t8KgPkApcjy9jaUrZUlU_ZW6s/s1600/Green+Society+at+Earth+Day+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrs0See8IBzNqAB58ZkudFQfbQqbuyTdUsxYxbqyXzVVmf2xpsAWS0Cf8VNIrS-1QQ-yjCzBMa0KAH5qhXhRwp33WJtmXF31_-ZuWqKWQh-aRgbPmo5t8KgPkApcjy9jaUrZUlU_ZW6s/s320/Green+Society+at+Earth+Day+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MWCC commemorated the 41<sup>st</sup> anniversary of Earth Day by emphasizing the many simple ways people can make a difference to the environment through recycling, energy conservation and choosing reusable products over disposable ones, coinciding with Earth Day 2011's theme of "A Billion Acts of Green."</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the college’s decision two years ago to switch to a Monday-through-Thursday class schedule to allow students and employees to conserve on gas, the activities took place today, a day in advance of Earth Day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MWCC’s Student Life office, Campus Activities Team for Students (CATS), the student sustainability club The Green Society, and the Energy Management and Natural Resources academic programs sponsored activities in the South Café and Commons area. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Members of The Green Society sold CFL bulbs, LED nightlights and reusable bamboo utensils, and a number of organizations were on campus to promote their environmental initiatives. Presenters included MASSRides and Miller’s Watershed. The musical group The Hickory Strings provided entertainment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition, students in the Health, Nutrition and Sustainability Honors Colloquium displayed information from research projects exploring the historical, cultural and political influences on our food, food sources and the provision of food, as well as the health implications of these influences. The students will present their research tomorrow on Earth Day during the 17th annual Undergraduate Research Conference at UMass, Amherst. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through MWCC's renewable energy initiatives and the growing emphasis nationally on “going green,” students are now more aware than ever of the meaning of Earth Day. “Our students get to see the biomass plant, wind turbines and the work on campus and in the community conducted by The Green Society,” said Greg Clement, assistant dean of student services. “The college leads by example. What the college does influences everyone else.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Students are more aware today than 10 years ago about new initiatives and new ways to help protect the environment,” added Dr. Thomas Montagno, biology professor and advisor to The Green Society.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>Pictured: Members of The Green Society helped celebrate Earth Day 2011. From left, Rosemary Mruk, Mike Crowley and Joe Berube.</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>- Guest post & photo by Kim Anderson, Marketing & Communications Department intern</em></span></div><div align="right"></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-83090871548922132102011-03-29T15:33:00.000-07:002011-03-29T15:47:50.659-07:00CGD Club Creates School Pride Turbine T-shirts<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ynrtnr_zBLoKEYr-UXRMsQ2A19UrCuciNtIBRRH5UbWn9mnF-ij7aQQIAvFP7n5AujldO6h0yP7UmQByZos7t08gU1OLBgw6zVg_Dpwgnjg9PjN0ZWQax0_IxDqLrB0nXCKxJ6TMJDA/s1600/Turbine+T-shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ynrtnr_zBLoKEYr-UXRMsQ2A19UrCuciNtIBRRH5UbWn9mnF-ij7aQQIAvFP7n5AujldO6h0yP7UmQByZos7t08gU1OLBgw6zVg_Dpwgnjg9PjN0ZWQax0_IxDqLrB0nXCKxJ6TMJDA/s320/Turbine+T-shirt.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="T-shirt wind turbine" id="_x0000_s1026" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 169.5pt; margin-left: 247.8pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 3.75pt; position: absolute; width: 169.5pt; z-index: 251660288;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs023/1102470512203/img/179.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">MWCC's Computer Graphic Design Club is putting a new spin on going green, with a T-shirt design celebrating the college's wind energy project. All proceeds from T-shirt sales will go toward student scholarship funds. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The design features a silhouette of the college, the two wind turbines and a word cloud. The word cloud contains the phrase "Catch the Wind-Innovation is a Breeze," along with additional words to describe the college's energy initiatives. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">"We knew it was a big opportunity," said Noah Chicoine, who helped create the design along with Doug York and Jon Skinner. Club members worked on the slogan ideas, coming up with Innovation is a Breeze, and will continue to volunteer selling the T-shirts.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The project began in November as a collaborative effort between the CGD Club, Leslie Cullen, chair of the Computer Graphic Design program and the club's advisor, and the Marketing and Communications Department, to highlight school pride for the wind project. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">"This was the best collaborative effort of the club and the most rewarding," said Cullen, adding that the students acted as junior graphic designers in a real-life design firm. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">T-shirts are available for $15 to $17 and can be ordered in light blue and pear green in women's sizes and light blue and stonewashed green for men's and unisex sizes. Club members will be taking orders through 3 p.m. on Monday, April 4. To order a shirt, complete an order form and a check made out to MWCC – CGD and drop them off in the college’s Marketing and Communications Department, room 118.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Order forms can be found online at <a href="http://www.mwcc.edu/turbinetshirt"><span style="color: purple;">www.mwcc.edu/turbinetshirt</span></a>. A receipt will be sent via email upon payment for your order. Shirts can be picked up on Wednesday, April 20 in the cafeteria hallway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, or to make alternative arrangements for pick-up, contact Associate Professor Leslie Cullen at <a href="mailto:l_cullen@mwcc.mass.edu">l_cullen@mwcc.mass.edu</a> or 978-630-9347. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"></span></div></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-49815504958811711082011-03-28T16:44:00.000-07:002011-03-28T19:43:32.754-07:00Green Light for Green Energy: MWCC's Turbines Activated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7aNLsa-EssM1_nc5NhV0eVODQptt-BIzv9vlHDo5Z2b4a8XXRkkxjLfNDk83C5nIvRP9uUhPUH1-1UbWPohN1e66l2zaWYIeroIMMh89nLwlj_Inymg9SO0cWZVM0dGDaGVqqDX8k1o/s1600/turbines+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7aNLsa-EssM1_nc5NhV0eVODQptt-BIzv9vlHDo5Z2b4a8XXRkkxjLfNDk83C5nIvRP9uUhPUH1-1UbWPohN1e66l2zaWYIeroIMMh89nLwlj_Inymg9SO0cWZVM0dGDaGVqqDX8k1o/s320/turbines+sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><shape alt="MWCC turbines" id="_x0000_s1026" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 117pt; margin-left: 262.8pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 0; mso-wrap-distance-right: 0; mso-wrap-distance-top: 3.75pt; position: absolute; width: 177pt; z-index: 251659264;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs023/1102470512203/img/183.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With optimal weather conditions and a green light from national Grid, Mount Wachusett Community College actviated its two wind turbines on March 25.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">College officials received confirmation from the utility company, following National Grid's review of data collected during a successful witness test on March 18. Vestas technicians activated the twin turbines in the early afternoon, and northwest winds of 22 miles per hour immediately aided in producing energy for the college. During the break-in period, the turbines will run intermittently.<br />
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Together, the Vestas V82 turbines will meet 97-percent of the college's electricity consumption, while also generating revenue for the college by returning approximately 30 percent of the power generated back to the grid.<br />
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"The wind project caps off a solid decade of renewable energy initiatives that to date have already reduced the college's energy consumption by half at a significant benefit to the environment, as well," MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino said. "With the addition of wind power, we enter a new era of sustainability."<br />
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In addition to wind energy, the college's energy initiatives include biomass heating, photovoltaic solar, and solar hot water, as well as a series of conservation measures throughout the 450,000-square-foot campus buildings.<br />
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"It's wonderful to see those puppies spinning," instructor and advisor Bob Mayer remarked. "I think it's great!"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A dedication ceremony is planned for April 27.<br />
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The wind energy projects at MWCC and at the North Central Correctional Institution, also in Gardner, are a joint collaboration of the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and the Department of Energy Resources to achieve the renewable energy goals of Gov. Deval Patrick's Leading by Example program.<br />
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MWCC's $9 million wind project is being funded through a variety of sources, including $3.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy grants secured by Congressman John Olver; $2.1 million from a low interest Clean Renewal Energy Bond (CREB) made available through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act; and $3.7 million from Massachusetts Clean Energy Investment Bonds.</span></div>Janice O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889344371691000397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558704530861791793.post-43310434213288223662011-03-18T13:47:00.000-07:002011-03-21T09:13:13.043-07:00The Witness Test<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Grid conducted its witness test of MWCC’s turbines today, a process that involves reviewing all circuitry, electrical connections and mechanisms to ensure they run properly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Everything they’ve done so far looks good,” said an elated Ed Terceiro, MWCC’s resident engineer. As part of the process, both turbines were powered up. At one point, it was noted that the south turbine had already generated 1 megawatt of electricity for the college. By the afternoon, both turbines were spinning for a while as the testing continued.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Grid will review the test reports and notify the college when the turbines can be turned back on, most likely within a week or so, Terceiro said. At first, the turbines will run intermittently as they are conditioned, before running steadily.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Appropriately, it was a very windy day. According to the National Weather Service, strong west to northwest winds accompanied a cold front in the afternoon, generating wind speeds between 11 and 14 mph and gusts as high as 34 mph. Bring it!</span><br />
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