Promoting Informed Sustainable Development

• HPA will be a statewide model for school-based sustainability efforts
• HPA will integrate principles of Go Green into the K-12 academic curriculum, service learning, and special programs.
• HPA will build the foundation for energy independence through greener energy choices.
• HPA employees and students will assimilate and practice three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle) with regard to water and material resources.
• HPA will upgrade infrastructure to mitigate environmental impacts and to provide a healthier environment and will incorporate LEED standards into the design of new buildings.
• HPA will transition all supplies used for campus operations to meet environmentally preferable standards.

Five Year Actions and Timelines:
The action plan below outlines specific steps that might be taken to make progress towards the measurable objectives outlined in the narrative of the Strategic Plan beginning in the fall of the 2007-2008 school year. Across all these goals an important first step is an assessment of financial and other resources available over the five years. This analysis should inform refinement and prioritization of the action steps. A new annual (school year) action plan should be created during the last quarter of each fiscal year. The process should include a review of progress in the last planning period including a review of programmatic goals and objectives, staff resources, budgets versus actual costs, and long-term direct and indirect benefits.

Goal 1: HPA will be a statewide model for school-based sustainability efforts.

• In 2008, HPA adopts a five-year sustainability action plan.
• In 2008, HPA sponsors a student congress focused on sustainability for Island of Hawai'i high schools.
• By 2009, HPA develops communication network promoting sustainability both internally and to the greater school-related community (could include websites, brochures, newspaper articles, radio, DVD, and/or other media)
• By 2010, HPA develops working relationship with community organizations and agencies to promote sustainable solutions in the larger community. (See Go Green Charrette Report for environmental issues that impact both the community and the school’s Go Green goals.)
• By 2010, HPA expands the student sustainability congress to a national audience.

Goal 2: HPA will integrate principles of Go Green into the K-12 academic curriculum, service learning, and special programs such as summer school, community presentations, speakers, workshops, and/or others. (See Go Green Charrette Report for specific ideas.)

• By 2009, HPA develops a preliminary budget and identifies resources available to begin the process of integrating Go Green into the K-12 curriculum following the steps below. HPA evaluates the value of outsourcing some of these tasks for more effective decision making and staff focus.

1. Establish a baseline of sustainability units, related topics, and activities in the existing school program, including existing Go Green programs.
2. Describe the key capacities students will need to succeed in the many growing fields related to social, economic, and environmentally sustainability.
3. Identify gaps between existing programs and the identified capacities.
4. Review and evaluate existing programs available from other educational institutions for ability to address to HPA’s needs and adaptability to HPA’s program.

• By 2010, HPA develops a three-year sustainability curriculum integration plan addressing financial and staff resources and needs.
• By 2012, HPA completes curriculum integration; sustainable issues addressed by Go Green are substantively covered in all disciplines of the K-12 curriculum, as well as service learning and special programs.

Goal 3: HPA will reduce build the foundation for energy independence through greener energy choices for campus operations.

• In 2008, HPA will educate pool users regarding the recently completed solar water heating system installed to reduce the use of propane.
• In 2008, HPA creates a baseline for energy use and consumption by:
  1. Assessing total energy use by campus, building, time of day, and over a year
  2. Monitoring on-site (renewable) energy resources including:
     1. Wind measurements at various levels and locations around the campus
     2. Solar radiation measurements at various locations
  3. Compiling data and synthesizing data at the HPA Energy Lab.

• In 2008, HPA will reduce electrical and fossil fuel energy requirements in existing buildings by:
  1. Installing ten solar vent fans in gym
  2. Completing installation of CFL fixtures and bulbs
• By 2010, HPA will further reduce electrical and fossil fuel energy requirements on campus by:
  1. Installing window tinting to reduce heat and to provide hurricane protection
  2. Installing solar street lights for athletic facilities, Kohala entrance, Gerry Clark building, and other appropriate locations
• By 2010, HPA conducts a feasibility study regarding the use of various sustainable technologies. The study will:
  1. Take into account the baseline data developed by the HPA Energy Lab in 2009.
  2. Assess the performance of VAWT and HAWT wind turbines at both the HPA Energy Lab and pilot installations by the faculty housing.
  3. Assess a possible grid tie for on-site electrical production.
  4. Assess the possible use of solar thermal at the Village Campus, HPA Energy Lab, dorms, faculty housing, cafeteria, locker rooms, and pool.
  5. Assess the possible use of green waste as an energy source through a pilot project to convert Biomass to Liquid (BTL).
  6. Assess storage issues related to time of production vs. time of use.
  7. Assess implications of possible production cap from HELCO of 50 kW. Would transition to all point source users extend 50kW cap?
• By 2011, HPA develops a long-range action plan to implement sustainable technologies that provide positive ROI and can potentially reduce the purchase of electricity, propane, and diesel by 50%.
• By 2011, HPA installs solar water heating systems for dormitories and kitchen.
• By 2012, HPA converts from gasoline/diesel vehicles to bio-fuels and/or hybrids.
• By 2012, HPA completes installation of solar water heating systems at all hot water use points.
• By 2012, HPA becomes a net zero energy consumer, through energy conserving operations and on-site production of renewable and/or clean technologies.
• By 2012, HPA coordinates with national student congress planning (See Goal 1) to highlight energy achievements.

Goal 4: HPA employees and students will assimilate and practice three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle) with regard to water and material resources used for campus operations. (See Go Green Charrette Report for strategies.)

• By 2009, HPA establishes programs to reuse books, uniforms, equipment, clothes, kitchen oil for bio-diesel applications, kitchen food waste for compost gardens or farmers, and other appropriate resources
• By 2009, HPA expands its recycling program for plastic bottles and cans, paper, and cardboard.
• By 2010, HPA reduces the use of plastic bottles, cans, kitchen disposables to 75% percent of current levels.
• By 2011, HPA implements water conserving systems that are shown to be cost-effective in the feasibility study.
• By 2012, HPA conducts a feasibility study to reduce the use of potable water, with the aim of reusing it at least twice for campus operations. Options to study include, among other things, reusing rainwater, treating graywater, and installing waterless or ultra-low water fixtures.

Goal 5: HPA will upgrade infrastructure at both campuses to mitigate environmental impacts and to provide a healthier environment, and will incorporate LEED standards into the design of new buildings.

• By 2010, HPA’s purchases of supplies for repairing and maintaining buildings will comply with requirements set by nationally accepted standards, such as those used as reference standards for materials credits in the LEED Rating Standards, such as Green Seal (for emissions from coatings), Forest Stewardship Certification (for wood applications), and Carpet and Rug Industry Green Plus (for emissions from carpet installation).
• By 2009, HPA incorporates the LEED standard in the design of new buildings.

Goal 6: HPA will transition all supplies used for campus operations to meet environmentally preferable standards.

• In 2007, HPA’s food service (Sodexho) uses biodegradable/compostable disposable plates, napkins, cups, cutlery, and uses oil compatible for bio-diesel use
• In 2008, HPA will educate pool users regarding the recently completed installation of ozone sanitation system to reduce chlorine use.
• In 2008, HPA’s food service will implement a purchasing policy that emphasizes the purchase of local and organic food and increases those purchases to cost-effective levels.
• By 2009, HPA has a written list of green criteria (for example less toxic, less polluting, more recycled content) for purchasing supplies for food service, administration, cleaning, and pool operation that is provided to appropriate vendors.
• By 2009, HPA purchases only cleaning supplies, including trash bags, toilet paper, paper towels, floor cleaners, and other supplies that meet written green criteria.
• In 2008, HPA purchases only recycled paper for use in printing and copying machines
• By 2009, HPA sells Go Green merchandise, such as laundry detergent, in the HPA Bookstore.