CONGRESSMAN WELCH PRESS CONFERENCE
– BURLINGTON COLLEGE – MARCH 27, 2008

The following is the statement of Burlington College President Jane Sanders during Congressman Peter Welch's press conference at BC, March 27, 2008.

Welcome.

Today we’ll be talking about an energy efficiency project involving six of Vermont’s smallest institutions of higher education and the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges. Burlington College is one of those colleges. Congressman Welch has led the effort to initiate this program, with the support of Senator Patrick Leahy.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce our distinguished congressman. Peter Welch has been an unwavering supporter of higher education in Vermont and a strong leader on energy efficiency and sustainability in many fields. He has secured needed federal funding to improve the energy efficiency of older campus buildings and to explore, design, and implement new technologies in the retrofitting or building of new facilities.

Congressman Peter Welch.

Thank you again Peter, for your leadership in securing funding for this innovative energy efficiency project involving several of our smallest institutions. We deeply appreciate your commitment to post-secondary education in our state.

Many of our institutions of higher learning are comprised of buildings that have served other purposes over the years. Case in point – the building we’re standing in. Unfortunately, many of these structures are not energy efficient – and it has become quite a challenge to maintain the historic integrity of our buildings and, at the same time, be responsible stewards of energy resources in our communities.

As small colleges with limited budgets and revenues, replacing energy systems, retrofitting old buildings, and/or constructing new energy-efficient facilities is a daunting task. As we expand our campuses to meet growing needs, the need to do so with as little environmental impact as possible is a primary concern.

The goals of the Burlington College part of the project are to retrofit existing older buildings on campus to significantly improve energy efficiency, and to carry out a site analysis and design of a new LEED-certified (close to net-zero-energy) building.

Burlington College has already begun comprehensive energy audits on our buildings, which will result in a comprehensive assessment of electricity and gas consumption and efficiency and will determine the best approaches to retrofitting the buildings. We expect to have an overall plan to update heating and cooling systems, replace outdated and inefficient ventilation systems, and appliances with high-performance energy-star rated equipment, modernize lighting and, most definitely, replace many single-pane windows and old doors.

These improvements will be done on this building, a neighborhood landmark built in 1884, and on four smaller residential properties on campus that are used to house students. This building holds all our classrooms, studios and labs, as well as our library and faculty and administrative offices.

While energy updates have been made as the College has grown, significant advances have been made in energy efficiency that would make a major difference in our efforts to reduce our energy costs and operate a cleaner, greener educational institution.

We estimate that these improvements could cut our energy costs in half. They would also enable us better serve more students who expect – and sometimes require – a greener learning environment.

We will also explore the potential utilization of solar and wind energy sources and state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction for all existing and new buildings. This will include a site analysis to determine overall feasibility of various green energy technologies, optimal locations, and possible applications. The final report will evaluate potential sustainable energy opportunities, provide recommendations and a roadmap for implementation of new environmentally friendly technologies that will take advantage of our site and meet long term energy goals.

Burlington College has always had a community-based mission. In our recent refining of our vision, we have committed to sustainability as one of our defining characteristics as an educational institution. A greener, more energy efficient environment will enable us to live our mission in a real way. The process of renovating our historic building while investigating new green technologies for our future will enable us to serve as a living classroom to students interested in sustainability.

Thank you again, Peter, for your leadership, commitment, and support.

Specific project initiatives

Heating / Cooling: Replace our four boilers with two Energy Star rated boilers, using much of the present ductwork.

Hot water Tanks: Replace our three 50-gallon hot water tanks – two gas and one electric – with a new 200-gallon gas hot water tank to yield considerable savings in both cost and energy.

Electrical: Upgrade electrical service entrance to the building to replace the five electrical panels currently in use. Explore solar electric systems; new transformer, electrical service, and rewiring.

Lighting: Replace 104 fluorescent t-8 light fixtures with the “super” energy efficient T-8’s and ballasts to result in substantial savings and a more pleasant study and work site.

Windows: Replace 70 of the 102 windows on the buildings.

Site Analysis & Design: Carry out a geo-technical study, a community-wide sustainability design charette for a LEED-certified building on the western point of our property overlooking Lake Champlain. A climate-specific and site-specific architectural design using energy-efficient construction materials will explore incorporating passive solar and wind energy, natural day-lighting. And building into the bank to fully realize the energy savings of this particular site.

Right Photo: Congressman Peter Welch, Wendy Koenig and Jane Sanders.

Other Speakers at press Conference :

Congressman Peter Welch – Vermont (sent press release)

Chuck Ross – Senator Patrick Leahy, District Director

Wendy Koenig – Association of Vermont Independent Colleges (AVIC), President

Michael Imholt – Burlington College, student