State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
IN-24: Innovation A

ESF has reorganized numerous staff in Physical Plant and Facilities under the direction of the Director for Energy and Utilities (formerly the Campus Energy Manager). The new rapid-response unit, dubbed The Energy Conservation, Development and Controls Team (ECDC), is focused on energy efficiency, conservation, building controls, and operations and maintenance. The team includes trades staff such as electricians, HVAC technicians, mechanics, and plumbers, as well as the plant utility engineers responsible for operating and maintaining the campus distributed generation combined heat and power plant and the campus-wide steam distribution system. The ECDC team is instrumental in identifying and implementing GRF projects and additional projects across campus that save energy and money, and reduce ESF's carbon footprint.

Sustainability is being more actively incorporated into Physical Plant and Facilities at ESF in other ways such as mechanisms to continually track STARS criteria on future new construction and renovation projects. A search was recently completed to hire ESF's first Sustainable Facilities manager, who will focus much of their time on sustainable operations and specific targets such as making ESF a zero waste campus.