TBR Sustainable Campus Fee Guidelines

GUIDELINE B-065

Tennessee Board of Regents Sustainable Campus Fee

Program Guidelines

(SCF Program)

 

 

If a SCF is proposed by a campus for approval by the TBRBoard, then the following Program Guidelines apply.   

1. The initial fee request should not exceed $10.00 per student per semester (Fall & Spring only).

2. The fee shall be administered by a committee at each campus using the following criteria:

A.    Committee shall be appointed by the campus president/directorthat is comprised of an appropriate ratio of students, faculty and staff toapprove and oversee the use of funds.

B.    Under the leadership of the campus administration, thecommittee shall develop a decision making structure to establish on an annualbasis:  

1)    The amount of fee to be allocated to the green powerpurchase (taking into consideration TVA’s ability to meet the green powerpurchase demand) and on-campus sustainability initiatives.

2)    Approval of on-campus sustainability initiatives

C.   Funds for each category for on-campussustainability initiatives should be allowed to be carried forward if neededfor near-term future expenditures. Fund balances in each category should notexceed a two-year accrual without encumbrance or a carry forward justificationplan. 

D.   Astatus report shall be published by each campus at the end of each fiscal yearfor all program activities.  Basedon this report the campus committee shall evaluate each year the validity ofthe fee and the appropriateness of the fee amount and make a recommendation, ifnecessary, for an adjustment to the fee. 

 

3. The proceeds from the fee may be used for the following: 

A.   TVAGreen Power Switch or Other Certified Green Power Purchases

1)    Recommended purchase amount 0 to 10% of the total KWHused by the campus.  Purchases overthis amount should be evaluated carefully and justified by the campus committeeprior to purchase.

2)   Green tag or other types of certified greenpower purchases should be evaluated carefully and justified by the campuscommittee prior to purchase.

 

B.  On-campusSustainability Initiatives

1) Shouldbe for direct demonstrable campus sustainability benefits

2)    Proceeds should be allocated between sustainabilityinitiatives with the primary focus on projects for energy efficiency and utilityconservation

3)    Should not be used for budgeted salaries, specialevents or operational expenditures not associatedwith the SCF Program

4)  Shallcomply with State law, State Building Commission/Tennessee Board of RegentsPolicy, Procedures and Guidelines where applicable, with regard to projectapprovals, use of designers and code compliance.

 

Categories

Ÿ  Energy and Utilities (electric, gas, water, etc.)

Ÿ  Local Generation (Renewables – solar, wind, etc.)

Ÿ  Alternative Fuel (Hybrid vehicles, Bio-dieselprojects, etc.)

Ÿ  Other (Environmental, Recycling, etc.)

 

Typesof Initiatives

Ÿ  Projects

Ÿ  Studies

Ÿ  Research

 

Ÿ  Projects should:

o         Provide or demonstrate aspecific energy or environmental benefit

o         Be technically andeconomically feasible

o         Be cost effective tooperate and maintain

o         Be consistent withcampus standards and master plan

 

Ÿ  Studies should:

o     Focus on implementabletechnologies or initiatives that are economically and technically feasible  

o         Quantify energy orenvironmental benefit(s)

o     Address feasibility,operability, and maintainability of the technology or initiative

o     Not duplicate prior,similar studies

 

Ÿ  Research should:

o     Focus on identified sustainabilitycategories

o     Have significant levelof student participation/support