Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources to present on invasive beetles

Asian longhorned beetle

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.

The free lecture, sponsored by The Green Society student sustainability club, will take place in the North Café and is open to the public.

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.

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.

MWCC Showcased in Summer Publications

Word of 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.

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment included MWCC in its report, "Celebrating Five Years of Climate Leadership." 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.

Business Officer, the monthly magazine published by The National Association of College and University Business Officers, included MWCC in its June feature article, "Bending the Carbon Curve." 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.

“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.”

College Planning & Management magazine also featured MWCC in its June issue, in the article "Working with the Wind," about colleges and universities that have incorporated wind energy on to their campuses.

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.”

MWCC Receives Gold CASE Circle of Excellence Award for Turbine Communications



Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs
Secretary Richard K. Sullivan addressing the audience
during the 2011 wind turbine dedication ceremony.  

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.

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.

Further, the effort showcased MWCC's integral role in the Massachusetts "Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings" program.

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.

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 Green on Green Street 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.

"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."

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."

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.

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

Spring Conferences Showcase Sustainability Partnerships

Ed Terceiro sharing sustainability tips with conference attendees.

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.

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. For more on this event, click here.

Earth Day Celebration!

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.

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. 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.

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: Earth Day Network

MWCC Hailed for Climate Support in ACUPCC's Celebrating Sustainability Series

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.
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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

Turbines at 1 Year Anniversary Producing 100% of MWCC's Electricity

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.

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.

"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."

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

"Catch the Wind at MWCC" Communications Success Story Wins Top National Award

"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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 Green on Green Street 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.

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.

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.

MWCC Receives Funding for Science & Technology Wing

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.

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.  Following the design and study phase, the $37.9 million construction project will be one of the largest in North Central Massachusetts.

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.

“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).  “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.”

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.  Money for the project will come from a state-authorized bond.

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).

“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.”

“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.

“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.”

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.

MWCC in American Wind Energy Association 2012 Calendar

MWCC is delighted to be included in the American Wind Energy Association's 2012 calendar!

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.

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.

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.

Student Clubs Host Visit From Local Activist

MWCC's 100 KW Photovoltaic Solar Array

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.

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. 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.

During her presentation, Nestel praised legislators such as Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey, 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.

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 and the work advocates are doing to raise awareness, particularly in light of the  disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant following the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan, said Sarah Adams, secretary of the Art Club.

“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.

Nestel, who is also a member of the Citizens Awareness Network (http://www.nukebusters.org/), gives several presentations a week throughout the area to interested organizations. "I feel people are lacking this information," she said.

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: The Solar Economy: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future and Energy Autonomy: The economic, social, and technological case for renewable energy. Among her recommended websites: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/ and http://www.nirs.org/.

- Angela Marini

MWCC Receives Massachusetts Leading by Example Award

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

For more, click here.

Massachusetts Most Energy-Efficient State in the U.S.

Mount Wachusett Community College is proud to be located in the most energy-efficient state in the country!

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.

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.

"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.

For more news, visit http://www.aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard and http://masscec.com/index.cfm/cdid/12406/pid/11150

The Green Society Helping Others Live Green, One Water Bottle at a Time

Green Society members Rosemary Mruk,
Jesse Roberts and Owen Despre

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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.' "

- Angela Marini

Green Tastes Good

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.  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.

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.

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.  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.

MWCC's Prius Adorned with Energy-Themed, Student-Designed Car Wrap

MWCC's 2008 Toyota Prius is not only energy efficient, it's now an eye-catching billboard on wheels.

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."

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.

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.

 

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.  

"This project was something unique and quite different than anything our students have done in the past," Cullen said.

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.

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.  

"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.

"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.

Stoddard said implementing the project from start to finish provided an invaluable learning experience.

"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."

  

Pictured: Computer Graphic Design student Zak Stoddard with MWCC's Toyota Prius, now decorated with the car wrap he designed. 

MWCC Honored with National Climate Leadership Award

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

“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.    

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.

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.  

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.


For more information on the awards, visit http://secondnaturebos.wordpress.com.