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Civic Engagement

Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities, developing a combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to support this work. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.


Involvement in Regional and National Sustainability Groups

Sonoma County Junior College District is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). In Spring 2019, SRJC submitted its first entry to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. SRJC is the first community college in California to pursue this evaluation. The submission is currently under review and an initial rating will soon be provided.

SRJC is also part of the California Community College Facilities Coalition (CCCFC), which provides leadership in legislative advocacy and delivers critical information, education, and training on facilities issues for community college districts and their business partners to enhance student learning. 

SCJCD has hosted Climate Corps fellows for four cycles as a Partner Organization. Through this program, emerging professionals work with communities and organizations to develop and implement sustainability projects, while receiving training and financial support. As a partner organization, SRJC receives the support of qualified, passionate, and dedicated Fellows. Past Fellows have spent their cycles working on heating/cooling systems, lighting audits and LED retrofitting, data collection and analysis, implementing sustainability projects and programs, transportation initiatives and plan development, supporting student sustainability groups and individuals, research projects, submittal for the STARS report, and more.

 

 Bike to Work Day Energizer Station
David Liebman and Sloane Pagal in front of SRJC's inaugural Bike to Work Day Energizer Station at Burbank Circle on May 9, 2019.

 

Individuals working at this institution have presented at the following conferences:

  • Micro-grids: Basic Applications, Technologies, Value and Economics was an event hosted by PG&E. Our Energy and Sustainability Manager, David Liebman, presented on the microgrid under construction on our campus.
  • California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) 2018: David Liebman presented on Zero Net Energy Buildings with San Mateo.
  • At CHESC 2018, our Waste Management Technician presented on the district's waste reduction efforts with one of our Climate Corps Fellows, Allison Jenks, who presented with Climate Corps fellows from other campuses on their projects and the Climate Corps program
  • The District's Waste Diversion Technician presented on efforts made on campus at the Sonoma County Zero Waste Symposium in 2018. 

 

Climate Policy

Drivers of Sustainability for Public Agencies

AB 32: • By 2020 – reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels

SB 350: • By 2030 – 50% renewable energy • By 2030 – 50% increase in building energy efficiency

SB 32: • By 2050 – reduce GHG emissions to 80% below 1990 levels

Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-18-12

  • By 2015 – Reduce GHG emissions by 10%
  • By 2015 – Reduce water use by 10% as measured against a 2010 baseline: COMPLETE
  • By 2018 – Reduce grid-based energy by 20%, compared to 2003 baseline: ON TRACK – Photovoltaic project initiated in 2017, online by 2018
  • By 2020 – Reduce GHG by 20% as measured against a 2010 baseline
  • By 2020 – Reduce water use by 20% as measured against a 2010 baseline: COMPLETE – Carl and the grounds team significantly reduced irrigation. Kudos!
  • By 2025 – ZNE for half the square footage of existing state-owned buildings
  • By 2025 – ZNE for all state buildings beginning the design process: ON TRACK – ZNE Study for Burbank and Emeritus