Policy Analysis (GK)

The policy analysis section of our report focuses on the laws and regulations that the regenerative workout equipment must comply by, as well as the stakeholders that will be affected and how they will influence the implementation of the project. As thoroughly developed by the coursework and class discussions in Engineering and Society, it is imperative to recognize the interconnected relationship that technology and society have. By influencing the development of the other, the two entities, technology and society, exist together within a greater socio-technical system. As interdisciplinary engineers at Lafayette College, our group uses this section to not only explain the approval process, but to emphasize the politics behind the technology.

As explained in the social context section, the regenerative workout equipment and the informative display screen are developed solutions to sustainability issues on campus. It is important to revisit the underlying assumptions that went into defining the problem and developing its solutions. This presents the question, why sustainability? In tackling this question, our group was tasked with analyzing why sustainability matters to the broader population at Lafayette, as well as if and why policy actors will be motivated by the issue. Given the nature of the globalized world we live in today, it is fair to state that sustainability is a universal issue, and is fundamentally linked to environmental and social justice issues. Knowing the college’s vowed efforts to diversify its demographics with regards to ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and place of origin (among other classifications), it is critical for the college to also acknowledge that these same groups of people are the ones being disproportionately affected by global issues like sustainability (Lafayette College, Diversity, 2015). As a well funded, leading higher-institution in the United States, it is imperative that Lafayette College is conscious of the implications of its actions and/or inactions. To address sustainability the college needs to first recognize the consequences of its over-consumption of energy, and then move forward by researching and implementing policies that effectively work to solve the problem.

After evaluating the economic and technical contexts influencing energy use at Lafayette College, with respect to the limitations shaped by the scope of our project, our group concluded that awareness and education are the most effective methods of addressing sustainability at Lafayette. The interactive environment produced by the regenerative workout equipment and the informative interface are designed to do just this; raise awareness and increase education concerning energy consumption at Lafayette College by creating a platform that facilitates community engagement. Following our analysis of the problem and alternative solutions, our group focused on the federal, state, and local regulatory measures restricting the implementation of our project.

Policy constraints that need to be overcome for the approval of the “Greening Kirby” project include a variety of regulatory standards and administrative approval. Due to the dangers inherent with electricity production and conversion, our project must comply with local, state, and federal codes. These codes include:

Federal:

• Underwriters Laboratories 1741
  • Governs inverters, converters, change controllers, and interconnection system equipment (ISE) intended for stand-alone and utility-interactive power systems
  • Used in conjunction with IEEE 1547 for utility-interactive systems
  • Covers AC modules that combine flat-plate photovoltaic modules and inverters that provide AC output power for both stand-alone and utility-interactive systems. The requirements also cover alternative energy sources combined with inverters, converters, charge controllers, and ISE in system specific combinations.
  • Requirements cover power systems that combine independent power sources with inverters, converters, charge controllers, and ISE in system specific combinations
  • Products covered by these requirements are intended to be installed under the National Electrical Code (Underwriters Laboratories. n.d.)
• National Fire Protection Association 70
  • Benchmark for all safe electrical design, installation, and inspection
  • National Electrical Code addresses installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signalling conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fibers conductors, equipment, and raceways in commercial, residential, and industrial occupancies (National Fire Protection Association. 2015.)
• IEEE 1547: Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources and Electrical Power Systems
  • Establishes criteria and requirements for interconnection of distributed resources with electrical power systems
  • Requirements relevant to performance, operation, testing, safety considerations, and maintenance of the interconnection (IEEE Standards Association. 2015.)

State/Local:

• No local codes governing the electrical equipment
• Building codes possibly applicable for any adjustments to the gym facilities itself
  • Not a necessity if installation of equipment doesn’t change the building (Xiques. 2015.)

 

Following compliance with regulatory bodies, all sizable projects at Lafayette College inevitably need the approval of the ‘decision makers’. In the case of the Greening Kirby Project, these decision makers will ultimately be: the Director of Facilities Planning and Construction, Mary Wilford-Hunt, the Director of Plant Operations, Bruce Ferretti, the relevant Division Heads, VP for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, and potentially the Board of Trustees and President Byerly. While our report cannot predict nor anticipate their final decision, we can and have focused on evaluating and gaining the approval of other campus leaders that can influence the board’s decision. In Institutional Assessment tools for sustainability in higher education: Strengths, weaknesses, and implications for practice and theory, Michael Shriberg found that in addition to moral motivations and support from campus leadership, successful sustainability initiatives require a coordinated effort from a diverse group of stakeholders (Shriberg, 2002). Essentially, sustainability is only possible when you have a broad range of support and transparency. For student led projects like “Greening Kirby”, our group recommends clearly identifying all decision makers and stakeholders across the Lafayette Community. In the case of installing regenerative workout equipment in the Kirby Sports Center, these groups are: the general student body, student & faculty organizations, gym employees, community members, prospective students, alumni, and administrators. Our group feels the best way to build support for the “Greening Kirby” project will be by educating the general student body, engaging with activist groups such as the Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP), reaching out to cultivate alumni support, and working alongside capital budgeting administrators. Thus, as demonstrated in Figure 2, active communication between students, faculty, and all other players is essential for the success of this project.

As outlined in the social context section, the Lafayette College Board of Trustees and President Byerly have made sustainability one of the college’s core values. Therefore, there is existing support from the top for initiatives that fall under the umbrella of sustainability. Further supporting the initiative, the college has decided to hire a sustainability chair to spearhead Lafayette’s sustainability efforts. This marks a significant progression in Lafayette’s efforts and the centralization of information will drastically increase the likelihood of implementing projects similar to ours in the future. In addition to administrative support, it is important to recognize the existing support across the student body. The hiring of a sustainability chair is in large part a result of a student protest organized by LEAP and other community members concerned with issues related to sustainability. Our group is currently in contact with LEAP and plans to utilize their resources to raise awareness and support for our project. Since college campuses are viewed as potential hubs for forward thinking and social progress, our group feels we can utilize the current environment at Lafayette and across similar institutions to provide the impetus for approval and ultimately implementation.

Formally, the approval of the “Greening Kirby” project would begin with a “Capital Project Request Form”, which can be found on the Lafayette College’s website. Our group will not specifically be engaged in this process because it is outside the scope of our project. However, it is the essential step for any project to be approved on campus. The request form would require the project description, an outline of its cost estimates, department and division approvals, and a proposed funding source. As outlined in the economic analysis, the cost estimates would be clearly articulated by quotes developed by the companies we are working with ReRev, Green Revolution, and SportsArt, as well as a cost benefit analysis compared. Key players in the capital request process include: the Director of Facilities Planning and Construction, Mary Wilford-Hunt, the Director of Plant Operations, Bruce Ferretti, the VP for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, Roger Demareski, and finally President Byerly and the Board of Trustees. If this project is continued in the future by other students, it is imperative that they maintain consistent and effective communication with these players during the process.

 

While the capital budgeting request process introduces serious administrative obstacles for the implementation of the regenerative workout equipment, our group feels the “Greening Kirby” project is politically feasible. We hope that the administration will recognize that the long-term social benefits of sustainability projects often outweigh the economic negatives. The purpose of an educational institution is to foster learning that is relevant to current events. Sustainability is a crucial theme in today’s world, so Lafayette’s administration is responsible for strengthening their sustainability initiative through policy action by acting as a role model for students. Current social movements, the commitments of Lafayette leadership, and increased communication between the student body and administration (with the introduction of the sustainability officer), will make it possible for future groups to overcome the economic challenges of future projects.

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