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10 <br />research and testimony from subject matter experts. These interim recommendations are consistent <br />with the university's overall commitment to phase out fossil fuels. <br />Baseline Assessment <br />According to the 2009 Climate Action Plan, and based on results from the 2008 greenhouse gas <br />inventory, UNC- Chapel Hill emitted approximately 570,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide <br />equivalents (MTCDE) in 2008. Of those annual emissions, about 330,000 tons, or roughly 58% of <br />total GHG's, came from a single source -- burning coal at the UNC- Chapel Hill Cogeneration Plant <br />on Cameron Avenue. <br />The UNC- Chapel Hill Cogeneration Plant is one of the most efficient coal burning plants in the <br />country, with almost 70% efficiency, as compared to electricity -only generating plants that operate <br />at only 35 -38% efficiency. This improvement is enabled by using the steam after it drives the <br />turbines, which is typically wasted, for beneficial purposes, such as sterilization in UNC- Chapel <br />Hill's medical facilities, operations in the food service venues, and heating buildings. Ultimately, the <br />steam produces chilled water after condensing, which is then used to cool buildings and equipment. <br />Cogeneration is also referred to as "combined heat and power," or CHP, and is recognized by the <br />U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and N.C. Department of Natural Resources (DENR) <br />as one of the most efficient methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. <br />In addition to its highly efficient Cogeneration Facility, several other initiatives have earned UNC- <br />Chapel Hill recognition as a campus sustainability leader. These include: <br />• Development of a district energy system; <br />• Ambitious composting, recycling, and waste diversion programs; <br />• Development of a reclaimed and non - potable water system; <br />• Innovative stormwater management practices to substantiate UNC- Chapel Hill's <br />commitment to a no net increase in stonmwater runoff on campus result despite major new <br />building construction; <br />• Green building commitment: All non - healthcare buildings at Carolina North designed to <br />meet or exceed LEED - Silver standards; <br />• Development of a campus/community mass transit system and a commuter alternatives <br />program; <br />• The student - initiated and managed renewable energy fee, which amounts to approximately <br />$200,000 per year and has contributed to projects such as the solar array on Morrison <br />Residence Hall, a geothermal heating and cooling system at the new N.C. Botanical Garden <br />Education Center, biodiesel use in the university bus fleet, energy- efficient lighting <br />renovations, and other projects; <br />• Development of campus -wide bike lanes, pedestrian paths and crosswalks; <br />• Development of building energy "dashboards" to report real time energy consumption with <br />automated metering; <br />• A 174 -panel solar thermal array on Morrison Residence Hall- -one of the largest arrays in the <br />Southeastern United States. <br />Energy Task Force Interim Reports 2 <br />