NCC Reduces Energy Use by 20% in Ten Years
Working towards 30% reduction by 2028
Bethlehem, PA (05/09/2018) — If you enjoy the environmentally sound, energy-saving campuses (Bethlehem and Monroe) at Northampton Community College (NCC), it is thanks to the work of faculty, students and staff over more than a decade. The College's ambitious ten-year goal of reducing energy consumption by 20% has been reached; but NCC is not stopping here. Now the College is embarking on its next ten-year plan, which would push the goal to 30% by 2028.
Getting there is the mission of the new Energy and Environmentally Conservation Plan, which will reduce NCC's environmental impact, energy consumption and annual budget while maintaining comfort and air quality.
In addition to reducing energy consumption to 30%, this new ten-year plan proposes to improve community awareness, manage the consumption of natural resources, conserve natural resources, and improve the procurement of natural energy sources. Moreover, in the next five years, the College aims to have 20% of its vehicles powered by alternative energy sources.
In order to accomplish all these goals, NCC will look for new opportunities to control HVAC and electrical equipment efficiently, identify areas of high energy use, routinely reevaluate the local energy market, including those of renewable solar and wind energy, and normalizing energy use for variations in the number of students and weather conditions. (For example, energy use goes up in extremely cold winters and very hot winters.)
NCC's work has been noticed. On April 28, NCC received recognition as a PPL Energy Saving Partner for its contribution to the Bethlehem community and commitment to energy efficiency. "It is an important part of our overall environmental and energy conservation program that strives to reduce our environmental footprint and minimize energy use and costs, while maintaining comfortable environmental conditions for our students, faculty, staff and visitors," says Mark Culp, Director, Facilities and Public Safety.
It is not only recently that NCC has taken action on reducing waste and energy consumption. In the late 1990s, a committee started by Professor Harold Weiss, the Environmental Task Force (ETF) (now called the Sustainability Committee) introduced the reduction of paper use by instituting double-sided printing in the library and central duplicating department, making NCC the first college or university in Monroe or Northampton counties to use 100% consumer waste recycled paper for most of its printing and copying. In fact, recycled materials of all kinds have increased by 400%.
The task force also inaugurated Earth Day celebrations and examined how to reduce the College's chemical impact by searching for safer cleaning products. During these years, the task force began developing the East 40 garden, started by Professor Kelly Allen and established single-stream recycling, making recycling more convenient.
"Jeff Kapcsos, facilities manager, has been instrumental in moving our efforts throughout the years," says Professor Donna Acerra, one of the ETF's earliest members.
About Northampton Community College
With an enduring commitment to the regional community it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College has developed a reputation as an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a 4-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving more than 30,000 students each year from 53 counties, 48 countries and 25 states. For more information, or to apply, please visit www.northampton.edu.