Sustainability in Operations at AACC

• The largest carport solar panel installation in Maryland, with more than 3,300 panels, is being constructed on the Arnold campus. The 700 kilowatt system and is expected to supply about five percent of the college’s energy use.
• AACC’s bookstore promotes buy-back of textbooks, recycles shipping and packing materials, sells mainly USA-manufactured sportswear, offers reusable tote bags and has a special display of eco-friendly merchandise. 
• Dining Facilities offers a variety of environmentally friendly catering options. 
• AACC recommends the following eco-friendly meeting tips^PDF to limit waste. 
• Single-stream recycling throughout the college has greatly decreased the number of trash pickups and kept aluminum, paper, plastic and glass out of our landfills. The college recycled 57 more tons of material in 2009 compared with 2008.  
• AACC’s grounds and landscaping include rainwater gardens, a green roof on the Center for Applied and Learning Technology, native species trees and shrubs and a wildflower field. Mowing cycles have also been extended.  
• The print shop uses vegetable-based inks, recycles printing cartridges, promotes two-sided copies and discourages the use of color when possible. 
• Computers, monitors, toner cartridges and printers are recycled.  
• Information Systems is setting PC's to default to a low-power setting after one hour.  
• As the college adds and renovates buildings, we utilize green products and recycle old products including carpeting, flooring and plumbing fixtures. 
• We are systematically converting all building to central-controlled HVAC, utilizing sensor-controlled lighting in selected buildings and retrofitting general lighting to T-8 technology thereby reducing energy from lighting by 21 percent. 
• We use cleaning products that meet the Green Seal Standard for Cleaning Services. All are deemed safe for the environment.  
• AACC has elected to participate in Demand Response (DR) with EnerNOC, which will help prevent blackouts and brownouts in the Atlantic region, provide a source of income for energy programs, alleviate the need for new power plants and help protect the region’s natural beauty. 
• The College has won several Maryland Department of Natural Resources PLANT awards for our reforestation and greening efforts.

For more information about AACC’s sustainability efforts contact our Office of Public Relations and Marketing or 410-777-7259.