STCC named a 2016 Leading by Example Award Winner
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The state named Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) a “2016 Leading by Example Award Winner” in the higher education category for its outstanding efforts to advance energy efficiency and sustainability on campus.
Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Thursday recognized STCC and other state agencies, public colleges, municipalities and public sector individuals for their leadership in promoting clean energy and environmental initiatives with the 10th annual Leading by Example Awards.
The Leading by Example program – a division of the Department of Energy Resources – coordinates clean energy and environmental opportunities at facilities owned and operated by the Commonwealth.
"As a member of the greater Springfield community, we believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and promote the use of clean energy and sustainable practices,” said Joseph DaSilva, STCC’s vice president of administration and chief financial officer. “We are proud of the accomplishments we have made so far. We continue to develop and implement new initiatives regularly. All of our initiatives are not only environmentally necessary, but also save us a great deal of money operationally."
According the Department of Energy Resources, STCC was recognized for its progress and creative approach to reducing its carbon footprint. STCC has reduced greenhouse gas emissions over 40 percent since 2011. The college is implementing several sustainability efforts ranging from energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and a green building renovation.
Highlights of STCC’s clean energy efforts include:
- Upgrading the heating system in Fiscal Year 2014, saving an estimated $200,000 a year.
- Adding insulation, upgraded windows and installed LED lights across campus to address efficiency challenges in historic buildings.
- Connecting the curriculum of the Architecture and Building Technology Program to the historic building renovation project targeting LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certification.
- Switching to single-stream recycling in 2015, and upgrading containers and signage.
- Reducing use of disposable water bottles with six bottle filling stations on campus.
- Implementing a double-sided printing requirement, reducing paper waste and saving an estimated $14,000 a year in printing costs.
- Streamlining its shuttle route to save fuel and reduce emissions.
“As Massachusetts works to reduce energy costs, usage, and emissions, our state, municipal, and public partners continue to set an impressive example for others to follow,” Baker said in a Department of Energy Resources press release. “The foresight to embrace energy and environmental innovations throughout the Commonwealth’s cities, towns, universities and other locations saves taxpayers and ratepayers millions.”
“Massachusetts’ colleges, universities, and municipalities are on the frontlines of energy and environmental innovation,” Polito said in the press release. “Our administration is committed to ensuring that the Commonwealth continues to be an example for the positive benefits of adopting clean energy and environmental practices.”
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About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 8,500 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@S_T_C_C).
Media contact: Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu