Current QCC Sustainability Efforts

Queensborough Community College is already engaged in a number of Sustainability programs and activities, both on-campus and in partnership with external agencies. The following is a short list of initiatives, both current and under consideration, aligned with the work of each Activity Group:

Energy Efficiency and Operations:

• Participate in power reduction (voluntary "brown-outs") during peak load in the summe; electronic ballast light project (motion / infrared detectors in over 95% of the campus facilities); and the use of high-efficiency motors for all HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) equipment -- all done in partnership with the New York Power Authority.
• Participate in tree-planting initiatives on campus in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks .
• Maintain an on-campus greenhouse on top of the Medical Arts Building; considering an area on the campus grounds to be used for the purpose of composting.
• Use of e-SIMS and electronic class schedules (reducing paper), wall clocks (110 volts rather than batteries), and network printers and fax-over-pc (reducing the number of stand-alone machines requiring additional ink, toner and paper).
• Use of automatic shut-down software for all campus computers, migration to flat-screen monitors for computer work-stations, and an upgrade to the cooling systems for Information Technology.
• Campus BMS system, located in the boiler room, automatically shuts off equipment and moderates heating loads according to weather temperatures (which saves natural gas, oil and electricity).

Waste and Recycling:

• Maintain a vendor contract for recycling bottles and cans.    
• Contract with a private vendor (Royal Recycling Solutions) for purchase and distribution of new recycling containers across the campus.
• Conversion to printing double-sided copies (Print Shop and copier settings).
• Purchase of a WVO Delux Filtration Unit which will recycle waste vegetable oil into usable fuel to provide power for vehicles and heating apparatus. 
• Compliance with computer and equipment disposal.
• Use of trash compacting, in partnership with the NYC Department of Sanitation; bulk material recycling through Buildings and Grounds.
• Replacement of paper towel dispensers with air hand-dryers in some bathrooms.
• Reduce paper consumption through the use of digital signage monitors to facilitate campus communications; posting the Communiqué (campus newspaper) online; migrating to use of E-rosters and E-attendance application.

Procurement:

• Purchase recycled copy paper for printers, and "green" products for housekeeping utilization.

CUNY Fleet and Transportation:

• Use of hybrid vehicles (GEM vehicles reduce the use of motor fuel).
• Bike-Rack Project with NYC Department Of Traffic, as well as a QCC Car-Pooling Project, are about to launch.

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Professional Development and Training:

• Faculty development in the identification and use of "green" service learning opportunities.

Curriculum:

• Exploring the integration of "green" service learning opportunities into curricula and coursework.

Students:

• Hosting "Dig In" Day on May 1st, 2009 -- an effort recruiting 100+ volunteers from the QCC community to plant 300 indigenous trees and shrubs on campus, in the area surrounding the tennis courts and track, restoring the land to its natural state.
• Participation in "green" service learning opportunities.
• Participation in contests to develop ideas for "greening" the campus.
• Involvement in pilot and grant-sponsored Sustainability projects (including a solar panel project with ET/CT Department).