Maryland Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections to Keynote Second National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections
Maryland Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections, Gary Maynard will be the keynote speaker at the opening luncheon for the Second National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections. Secretary Maynard has an extensive background in correctional management including serving as a warden and regional director. He has served as Commissioner or Director in Iowa, South Carolina and Oklahoma before being selected to lead the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
In addition to his correctional experience Mr. Maynard retired from the Oklahoma National Guard as a Brigadier General after 32 years of service. He is past President of the American Correctional Association, a Commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation of Corrections, and served on the ACA Standards Committee. He is an author, adjunct professor and a truly dedicated public servant.
Showing posts with label green corrections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green corrections. Show all posts
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A Conversation With Sarah Patterson of Lettuce Grow
I recently had the opportunity to have a long conversation with Sarah Patterson of LettuceGrow.org. This innovative program with its roots in Oregon has the potential to grow into a national movement. OK I'll quit with the puns now, because this unique approach to inmate horticulture programs has more than proven itself in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
In a nutshell it has taken the standard inmate horticulture program and turned it into a certification program with the local university agricultural extension office "Master Gardener" certification program. The Oregon program provides fresh vegetables for the institution food service operation, producing a healthier, less expensive diet.
In addition to the produce, inmates are involved in a 400 hour, nationally recognized certification program. Graduates of the program learn skills they can take back to agriculture, plant nursuries, or their own backyard garden.
You can learn more about this innovative program at www.lettucegrow.org and hear a live presentation by Sarah at this year's National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections.
In a nutshell it has taken the standard inmate horticulture program and turned it into a certification program with the local university agricultural extension office "Master Gardener" certification program. The Oregon program provides fresh vegetables for the institution food service operation, producing a healthier, less expensive diet.
In addition to the produce, inmates are involved in a 400 hour, nationally recognized certification program. Graduates of the program learn skills they can take back to agriculture, plant nursuries, or their own backyard garden.
You can learn more about this innovative program at www.lettucegrow.org and hear a live presentation by Sarah at this year's National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections.
Monday, March 5, 2012
NIJ Publishes Greening Guidebook
The long awaited NIJ publication on sustainability in corrections is now available. Download your free copy at https://www.justnet.org/our_centers/COEs/PDFs/Greening-Corrections-Technology-Guidebook-final-0229.pdf
The "Greening Corrections Technology Guidebook" was authored by Paul Sheldon and Gene Atherton. You will recognize many of the topics because our current webinar series is based on Paul's "Seven Steps to Sustainability in Corrections". The guidebook contains lots of additional information on each of the seven steps with plenty of practical applications from Gene.
There is still time to register for our free webinar series. Just go to the GreenPrisons home page at www.GreenPrisons.org and sign up today. This month's topic is HVAC and space in the webinar is limited.
Registration is also now open for our fall symposium. Register before June 1
and you could be the winner of a free registration (individual registrations only).
The "Greening Corrections Technology Guidebook" was authored by Paul Sheldon and Gene Atherton. You will recognize many of the topics because our current webinar series is based on Paul's "Seven Steps to Sustainability in Corrections". The guidebook contains lots of additional information on each of the seven steps with plenty of practical applications from Gene.
There is still time to register for our free webinar series. Just go to the GreenPrisons home page at www.GreenPrisons.org and sign up today. This month's topic is HVAC and space in the webinar is limited.
Registration is also now open for our fall symposium. Register before June 1
and you could be the winner of a free registration (individual registrations only).
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Savings and Security Through Enhanced Interior and Exterior Lighting Modifications
Be sure to join us on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 11 AM Eastern time for our next webinar exploring various lighting options that enhance security while resulting in significant utility savings. Kevin Orme and Jim Basinger from the Indiana Department of Correction will talk about new technology employed by the Department and the performance contracting process that was used. Ed Vallad of the Michigan Department of Corrections will also present new Florescent technology.
Register for the webinar at www.GreenPrisons.org and remember it's free.
Register for the webinar at www.GreenPrisons.org and remember it's free.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Upcoming Events
We have a busy two weeks ahead. The latest edition of the newsletter will be out this week and we are currently finalizing the detail on our next webinar, Feb 15. Be sure to register soon as slots are limited and they are filling up quickly.
As we noted in the last blog we had a busy week at ACA. We learned this week that the workshops GreenPrisons was involved in were the best attended of the conference reflecting the growing interest in sustainability by the corrections community. We have been asked to propose additional workshops for the Congress in Denver. If you would like to join us and talk about your sustainability program let me know ASAP. Our proposals are due to ACA by Feb 13.
Registration for the 2nd National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections is now open. That means you can also propose a workshop and if it is selected you can attend the Symposium for free. If you have any questions give me a call at 859-629-6116.
If you have a program you would like featured on GreenPrisons.org be sure and send an email to info@GreenPrisons.org
As we noted in the last blog we had a busy week at ACA. We learned this week that the workshops GreenPrisons was involved in were the best attended of the conference reflecting the growing interest in sustainability by the corrections community. We have been asked to propose additional workshops for the Congress in Denver. If you would like to join us and talk about your sustainability program let me know ASAP. Our proposals are due to ACA by Feb 13.
Registration for the 2nd National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections is now open. That means you can also propose a workshop and if it is selected you can attend the Symposium for free. If you have any questions give me a call at 859-629-6116.
If you have a program you would like featured on GreenPrisons.org be sure and send an email to info@GreenPrisons.org
Sunday, January 8, 2012
GreenPrisons Announces New Webinar Series
As promised before we took a little break at Christmas, we are back with our popular webinar series beginning Wednesday, January 18 at 11 AM EST. This first webinar will kick off the series exploring the Seven Steps to Sustainable Corrections developed by Paul Sheldon.
This is one you won't want to miss because we will outline how you can learn ways to begin saving your institution money and resources tomorrow!!! In the following months we explore each one of the Seven Steps in depth with presentations by practitioners and providers of the technology.
Based on requests we received from a number of vendors who would like to share information with you about their products and services we will offer them the opportunity to have exclusive vendor webinars. If you would like more information on how you can schedule a webinar contact me at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org.
We will continue to offer these webinars as a free service to the corrections community if we can get support from advertisers. If you would like to sponsor one or more webinars and help support this effort please contact me.
Finally, if you are going to be at the winter conference of ACA be sure and come by the Clean and Green Committee meeting on Saturday at 1 PM in room 122B of the convention center or visit with us in the NAAWS suite and learn more about their upcoming conference in Springfield, MO in April.
If you would like to present in a future webinar please shoot me an email at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org or call me at 859-629-6116.
This is one you won't want to miss because we will outline how you can learn ways to begin saving your institution money and resources tomorrow!!! In the following months we explore each one of the Seven Steps in depth with presentations by practitioners and providers of the technology.
Based on requests we received from a number of vendors who would like to share information with you about their products and services we will offer them the opportunity to have exclusive vendor webinars. If you would like more information on how you can schedule a webinar contact me at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org.
We will continue to offer these webinars as a free service to the corrections community if we can get support from advertisers. If you would like to sponsor one or more webinars and help support this effort please contact me.
Finally, if you are going to be at the winter conference of ACA be sure and come by the Clean and Green Committee meeting on Saturday at 1 PM in room 122B of the convention center or visit with us in the NAAWS suite and learn more about their upcoming conference in Springfield, MO in April.
If you would like to present in a future webinar please shoot me an email at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org or call me at 859-629-6116.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
ACA Passes Standard and Policy Statement on Sustainability
As many of you who follow this blog regularly know, I chair the "Clean and Green" committee of the American Correctional Association and in another life was the Accreditation Manager for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The charge for our committee has been to help educate the corrections community about the advantages of using sustainable practices and products in the correctional environment. We have sought to do that in a number of ways including coordinating last April's issue of "Corrections Today" which focused exclusively on sustainability.
However we felt like to bring about meaningful change in correctional practice, it was necessary to find other ways to promote sustainability. Our committee is fortunate to be made up of some of the most experienced and thoughtful practitioners in our business, and it was decided in committee that we should ask the appropriate sanctioning bodies in ACA to approve a policy statement on sustainability so that everyone, both inside and outside of corrections, could know that ACA was taking a leadership role in this important endeavor. This effort was led by former Secretary of Corrections for Louisiana Richard Stalder and former Commissioner of Corrections for Kentucky, John Rees. Because of the efforts by these two gentlemen we were successful in accomplishing our goal in our first 18 months of existence.
While the Policy Statement is too long to list here, you can access it from the ACA website or follow this link http://http//aca.org/government/policyresolution/results.asp?PoliciesAndResolutionsYMGHFREName=environmental&sortfld_360=Name&reversesearch=false&viewby=50&union=AND&startrec=1
Based on my experience as Accreditation Manager for the Bureau it has been my experience that most folks involved in accreditation typically don't go out seeking more standards to have to demonstrate compliance with. However, I think accreditation managers will quickly understand that rather than having created a complex standard that requires pages of documentation all this new standard requires is that the agency demonstrate that they have explored the feasibility of pursuing sustainable practices during the period of accreditation.
A review of the standard language follows or you can access it from ACA's website as well:
The facility/agency shall demonstrate they have examined, and where appropriate and feasible, implemented strategies that promote recycling, energy and water conservation, pollution reduction and utilization of renewable energy alternatives.
If the agency is not currently involved in any sustainable practice to be compliant all they must document is that they have explored what might be possible. For those agencies already engaged in sustainable practices, documentation of compliance is even easier.
To learn more about this new standard and how to demonstrate compliance be sure to come by auditor training at the ACA Winter conference on Tuesday morning, January 24. I'll be doing a one hour presentation on the standard and how to evaluate compliance. You don't have to be an auditor to attend. Attendance is open to anyone attending the conference.
Since I'm writing this the Monday before Thanksgiving it seems appropriate to wish all of you the best of holidays, enjoy your family and friends and check back in here next week for our latest update.
The charge for our committee has been to help educate the corrections community about the advantages of using sustainable practices and products in the correctional environment. We have sought to do that in a number of ways including coordinating last April's issue of "Corrections Today" which focused exclusively on sustainability.
However we felt like to bring about meaningful change in correctional practice, it was necessary to find other ways to promote sustainability. Our committee is fortunate to be made up of some of the most experienced and thoughtful practitioners in our business, and it was decided in committee that we should ask the appropriate sanctioning bodies in ACA to approve a policy statement on sustainability so that everyone, both inside and outside of corrections, could know that ACA was taking a leadership role in this important endeavor. This effort was led by former Secretary of Corrections for Louisiana Richard Stalder and former Commissioner of Corrections for Kentucky, John Rees. Because of the efforts by these two gentlemen we were successful in accomplishing our goal in our first 18 months of existence.
While the Policy Statement is too long to list here, you can access it from the ACA website or follow this link http://http//aca.org/government/policyresolution/results.asp?PoliciesAndResolutionsYMGHFREName=environmental&sortfld_360=Name&reversesearch=false&viewby=50&union=AND&startrec=1
Based on my experience as Accreditation Manager for the Bureau it has been my experience that most folks involved in accreditation typically don't go out seeking more standards to have to demonstrate compliance with. However, I think accreditation managers will quickly understand that rather than having created a complex standard that requires pages of documentation all this new standard requires is that the agency demonstrate that they have explored the feasibility of pursuing sustainable practices during the period of accreditation.
A review of the standard language follows or you can access it from ACA's website as well:
The facility/agency shall demonstrate they have examined, and where appropriate and feasible, implemented strategies that promote recycling, energy and water conservation, pollution reduction and utilization of renewable energy alternatives.
If the agency is not currently involved in any sustainable practice to be compliant all they must document is that they have explored what might be possible. For those agencies already engaged in sustainable practices, documentation of compliance is even easier.
To learn more about this new standard and how to demonstrate compliance be sure to come by auditor training at the ACA Winter conference on Tuesday morning, January 24. I'll be doing a one hour presentation on the standard and how to evaluate compliance. You don't have to be an auditor to attend. Attendance is open to anyone attending the conference.
Since I'm writing this the Monday before Thanksgiving it seems appropriate to wish all of you the best of holidays, enjoy your family and friends and check back in here next week for our latest update.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Monday Blog - Guest Bloggers
This week's blog is a guest entry from Paul Sheldon, Gene Atherton and Burt Klein
Save $1,000 per Inmate: 7 Easy First Steps to Greening Corrections
By Paul Sheldon, Eugene Atherton, and Burt Klein
When correctional professionals hear that it is possible to save $1,000 per inmate by "greening" correctional facilities, the most important question is, "What can we do to get started?" What follows here are straightforward ideas – "low-lying fruit" – that can be implemented immediately to save money and conserve resources. We first presented these ideas during a workshop at the 2010 ACA summer conference.
By using resources more efficiently, correctional institutions can free up funding, staff time, and facility space for other security-oriented activities. In a sample facility with 1,200 beds, if utility prices rise by as little as 5% per year over the next 20 years, the cost to the institution could be as high as $1,200,000 or more, which is $1,000 per inmate.
Reducing energy/water use and waste disposal by just 5% will prevent this cost increase. Rather than having to spend $1,000 per inmate, the facility will SAVE $1,000 per inmate, allowing the institution to maintain staffing and meet other security needs.
If the annual increase in combined energy, water, and waste disposal bills were 10%, the cost over 20 years could be over $7,200,000. Reducing energy/water and waste disposal by 10% would similarly save up to $7,200,000, once again making these funds available for staffing and security.
Doing maintenance first, maximizing efficiency, using inmate labor, providing job training, and using third party funding sources all enhance the value of these cost-saving measures.
The 7 easy steps to saving money are:1) More efficient lighting2) More efficient HVAC3) More efficient plug-in appliances4) More efficient motors & pumps5) More efficient water use6) Materials (moving towards zero waste)7) Independent and secure energy
LightingInstitutions as diverse as the Boulder, Colorado, County Jail1 and El Dorado State Correctional Facility in Kansas2 have invested in lighting upgrades, including skylights and other forms of daylighting, replacing T-12 fluorescent fixtures with T-8s, replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, and providing LED task lights. Kansas invested $2,123,556 in various energy-saving measures, including lighting, and is saving $247,517 per year. This translates to a utility cost reduction of 16%, simple payback of 8.2 years, and a 10-year return on investment of more than 12%.
HVACIn addition to lighting upgrades, many facilities, such as Norfolk, Virginia, Correctional Complex have tuned up or replaced their HVAC systems in order to save money and time. Norfolk installed a complex-wide energy management and control system, replaced two 1,500-horsepower steam plants, installed steam trap upgrades, and expects to reduce costs by more than the upgrades cost.3
Plug-in appliancesSimple upgrading to ENERGY STAR appliances can save up to 25% or more of the energy used for refrigerators, freezers, office equipment, washing machines, dryers, water coolers, etc.4 Just turning off appliances such as vending machines when not in use can save 30-50% of the electricity. Requiring inmate televisions to be certified as ENERGY STAR efficient could save 30-50% of the electricity used for televisions. And requiring prison industry shops to use efficient appliances and machinery could save similar amounts on utility bills.
Motors & pumpsMotors and pumps use large amounts of electricity. Installing variable speed motors, such as was done by Norfolk Correctional Complex,5 reduces electricity used by motors by 15-35%. Some companies, such as Emerson Motors,6 offer corrections-specific audits, recommendations, and services to help reduce energy use by pumps and motors.
WaterSaving water means saving money. Installation of water-efficient toilets, urinals, shower heads, rain barrels, and green roofs can further reduce water bills. Efficient garden projects, like the Women’s Garden Project at Evergreen Corrections Center in British Columbia, Canada, can beautify surroundings and reduce stress, while conserving water through use of rain barrels and swales.7
Materials (moving towards zero waste)Procedures such as recycling, composting, gardening, and life-cycle-cost-analysis can reduce the cost of procurement and waste disposal. Nearly every state boasts facilities that compost, grow vegetables and livestock, recycle, and evaluate the full life-cycle costs of operating equipment as well as purchase price, saving money in the process. Mississippi Prison’s Agricultural Enterprise generates $3,025,655 in revenues to offset the $3,124,507 cost of food, and employs 374 inmates for 774,000 hours per year. The system grows 23 different varieties of vegetables, corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, fruit, 7,300 hogs, and 36,000 chickens for inmate consumption, livestock feed, and outside sale.8
Independent and secure energyThe most reliable way to save money on energy is to install local, renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines,9 solar panels,10,11 geothermal systems,12 and biomass-fired heat and power systems.13
ConclusionEnergy, water, and waste efficiency upgrades are so profitable that many third-party financiers,14,15 will provide the up-front cost for free, in exchange for an agreement to share the cost savings with the finance company. In July of 2010, the American Correctional Association adopted the first standard to recommend that accredited facilities implement cost-effective energy efficiency, water efficiency, recycling, and renewable energy. In addition to saving money, the seven steps listed above will help comply with this standard as well.
***
A version of this article originally appeared on http://www.correctionsone.com/ in August of 2010. An expanded version was published in the April/May issue of Corrections Today magazine.
About the authors
Paul Sheldon is the Senior Advisor forNatural Capitalism Solutions (www.NatCapSolutions.org), who has authored numerous articles and reports on sustainability-oriented topics, has served as a workshop leader on greening corrections for the American Correctional Association, the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, and the U.S. Department of Justice, and is a member of the Clean and Green Committee of the American Correctional Association.
Gene Atherton is currently in his 33rd year of service in the criminal justice field. He is contracted to serve as the Institutions Program Manager for the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Center of Excellence of the National Institute of Justice. He served 27 years for the Colorado Department of Corrections. After promoting through the ranks, he became Director of Prisons for the Western Region in Colorado until retirement in 2004. For the last fifteen years Mr. Atherton has served as a technical assistance consultant and trainer for the National Institute of Corrections on a variety of topics related to corrections. He has served as an author of numerous ACA publications. He has provided evidence in Federal Court as an expert witness on a variety of correctional issues, including conditions of confinement, use of force, unlawful discrimination, and management of high risk offenders. He currently serves as a member of several committees for the American Correctional Association.
Burt Klein is the President of PortionPac Chemical Corporation (http://www.portionpaccorp.com/), a Chicago-based manufacturer of the “CorrectPac” line of ecologically responsible cleaning supplies. PortionPac was recently honored by Inc. Magazine as one of the top small companies in America.
Save $1,000 per Inmate: 7 Easy First Steps to Greening Corrections
By Paul Sheldon, Eugene Atherton, and Burt Klein
When correctional professionals hear that it is possible to save $1,000 per inmate by "greening" correctional facilities, the most important question is, "What can we do to get started?" What follows here are straightforward ideas – "low-lying fruit" – that can be implemented immediately to save money and conserve resources. We first presented these ideas during a workshop at the 2010 ACA summer conference.
By using resources more efficiently, correctional institutions can free up funding, staff time, and facility space for other security-oriented activities. In a sample facility with 1,200 beds, if utility prices rise by as little as 5% per year over the next 20 years, the cost to the institution could be as high as $1,200,000 or more, which is $1,000 per inmate.
Reducing energy/water use and waste disposal by just 5% will prevent this cost increase. Rather than having to spend $1,000 per inmate, the facility will SAVE $1,000 per inmate, allowing the institution to maintain staffing and meet other security needs.
If the annual increase in combined energy, water, and waste disposal bills were 10%, the cost over 20 years could be over $7,200,000. Reducing energy/water and waste disposal by 10% would similarly save up to $7,200,000, once again making these funds available for staffing and security.
Doing maintenance first, maximizing efficiency, using inmate labor, providing job training, and using third party funding sources all enhance the value of these cost-saving measures.
The 7 easy steps to saving money are:1) More efficient lighting2) More efficient HVAC3) More efficient plug-in appliances4) More efficient motors & pumps5) More efficient water use6) Materials (moving towards zero waste)7) Independent and secure energy
LightingInstitutions as diverse as the Boulder, Colorado, County Jail1 and El Dorado State Correctional Facility in Kansas2 have invested in lighting upgrades, including skylights and other forms of daylighting, replacing T-12 fluorescent fixtures with T-8s, replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, and providing LED task lights. Kansas invested $2,123,556 in various energy-saving measures, including lighting, and is saving $247,517 per year. This translates to a utility cost reduction of 16%, simple payback of 8.2 years, and a 10-year return on investment of more than 12%.
HVACIn addition to lighting upgrades, many facilities, such as Norfolk, Virginia, Correctional Complex have tuned up or replaced their HVAC systems in order to save money and time. Norfolk installed a complex-wide energy management and control system, replaced two 1,500-horsepower steam plants, installed steam trap upgrades, and expects to reduce costs by more than the upgrades cost.3
Plug-in appliancesSimple upgrading to ENERGY STAR appliances can save up to 25% or more of the energy used for refrigerators, freezers, office equipment, washing machines, dryers, water coolers, etc.4 Just turning off appliances such as vending machines when not in use can save 30-50% of the electricity. Requiring inmate televisions to be certified as ENERGY STAR efficient could save 30-50% of the electricity used for televisions. And requiring prison industry shops to use efficient appliances and machinery could save similar amounts on utility bills.
Motors & pumpsMotors and pumps use large amounts of electricity. Installing variable speed motors, such as was done by Norfolk Correctional Complex,5 reduces electricity used by motors by 15-35%. Some companies, such as Emerson Motors,6 offer corrections-specific audits, recommendations, and services to help reduce energy use by pumps and motors.
WaterSaving water means saving money. Installation of water-efficient toilets, urinals, shower heads, rain barrels, and green roofs can further reduce water bills. Efficient garden projects, like the Women’s Garden Project at Evergreen Corrections Center in British Columbia, Canada, can beautify surroundings and reduce stress, while conserving water through use of rain barrels and swales.7
Materials (moving towards zero waste)Procedures such as recycling, composting, gardening, and life-cycle-cost-analysis can reduce the cost of procurement and waste disposal. Nearly every state boasts facilities that compost, grow vegetables and livestock, recycle, and evaluate the full life-cycle costs of operating equipment as well as purchase price, saving money in the process. Mississippi Prison’s Agricultural Enterprise generates $3,025,655 in revenues to offset the $3,124,507 cost of food, and employs 374 inmates for 774,000 hours per year. The system grows 23 different varieties of vegetables, corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, fruit, 7,300 hogs, and 36,000 chickens for inmate consumption, livestock feed, and outside sale.8
Independent and secure energyThe most reliable way to save money on energy is to install local, renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines,9 solar panels,10,11 geothermal systems,12 and biomass-fired heat and power systems.13
ConclusionEnergy, water, and waste efficiency upgrades are so profitable that many third-party financiers,14,15 will provide the up-front cost for free, in exchange for an agreement to share the cost savings with the finance company. In July of 2010, the American Correctional Association adopted the first standard to recommend that accredited facilities implement cost-effective energy efficiency, water efficiency, recycling, and renewable energy. In addition to saving money, the seven steps listed above will help comply with this standard as well.
***
A version of this article originally appeared on http://www.correctionsone.com/ in August of 2010. An expanded version was published in the April/May issue of Corrections Today magazine.
About the authors
Paul Sheldon is the Senior Advisor forNatural Capitalism Solutions (www.NatCapSolutions.org), who has authored numerous articles and reports on sustainability-oriented topics, has served as a workshop leader on greening corrections for the American Correctional Association, the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, and the U.S. Department of Justice, and is a member of the Clean and Green Committee of the American Correctional Association.
Gene Atherton is currently in his 33rd year of service in the criminal justice field. He is contracted to serve as the Institutions Program Manager for the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Center of Excellence of the National Institute of Justice. He served 27 years for the Colorado Department of Corrections. After promoting through the ranks, he became Director of Prisons for the Western Region in Colorado until retirement in 2004. For the last fifteen years Mr. Atherton has served as a technical assistance consultant and trainer for the National Institute of Corrections on a variety of topics related to corrections. He has served as an author of numerous ACA publications. He has provided evidence in Federal Court as an expert witness on a variety of correctional issues, including conditions of confinement, use of force, unlawful discrimination, and management of high risk offenders. He currently serves as a member of several committees for the American Correctional Association.
Burt Klein is the President of PortionPac Chemical Corporation (http://www.portionpaccorp.com/), a Chicago-based manufacturer of the “CorrectPac” line of ecologically responsible cleaning supplies. PortionPac was recently honored by Inc. Magazine as one of the top small companies in America.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Doing More with Less
On a mission to find out as much about energy savings in corrections as possible, we attended an ACA workshop on "Best Practices: A Review of Facilities" presented by Robert Schwartz, VP of the Justice Group at HOK, Inc., and Eric Hackman, Project Manager with Tower Pinkster. They reviewed three facility projects in three separate counties in Michigan and gave us project highlights including the energy savings established due to the new construction. Here are a few notes:
Midland County Jail:
The new Justice Complex added 30% more space to the building's footprint but created a 20% energy savings from $2.43 to $1.93 per square foot by using the following practices:
Midland County Jail:
- Created with a compact floor plan which encourages energy efficiency
- Designed with extensive day lighting to reduce the need for artificial lighting, saving electricity
- Installed a ground source heat pump
- Ozone laundry system, allowing cleaner laundry washed with cold water, reducing the demand for warm water
- Light harvesting - system automatically turns the electric lights off when a pre-determined amount of light is detected in a given space
- Design avoids inmate cells on the exterior wall, thus reducing the amount of energy needed to heat the cells in the winter
- Polished concrete floors can be cleaned with a wet mop, reducing the need for chemicals
- $185 annual energy costs
- $1.75 per square foot/year
- $740 per bed/year
- $57K annually in energy savings
- 25% savings of a "typical" building
The new Justice Complex added 30% more space to the building's footprint but created a 20% energy savings from $2.43 to $1.93 per square foot by using the following practices:
- Installed new "air handling" units
- High efficiency boilers
- Ozone laundry system
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Energy Savings with an ESCO
We started this morning off right with a session on "Energy Savings, Operational Efficiencies Reinvested into Facility Upgrades".
Energy Performance Contracting is a complex process, and this session, presented by ESCO Johnson Controls, helped identify the key points of an energy audit by citing examples of their work with the Virginia Department of Corrections. Johnson Controls emphasized the benefits of making comprehensive changes to an institution instead of piece-mealing the various solutions.
The largest potential savings lie in the areas of Lighting, Space Heating and Space Cooling. In addition, water costs are on the rise - specifically sewer costs. By retrofitting older water systems and insulating pipes, institutions save money on energy as well as water usage. ESCOs provide a guarantee of energy savings making sure that the investment has a long-term ROI.
One of the more interesting examples of reducing water usage was an electronic shut off system so that inmates cannot abuse the system by multiple and continuous flushes. By installing this system, the toilet will shut down and eliminate the ability for the inmate to flush if the system detects a certain number of flushes in a specified time frame saving the institution thousands of gallons per inmate.
Creating a comprehensive approach, Johnson Controls has also created a "HVAC Learning Lab" so that inmates can be trained on the maintenance of the new systems. The most important thing to note about the Learning Lab is that it was built and supported solely through the savings created by installing the energy saving systems.
The bottom line of savings is documented over time by a variety of methodologies including utility bill comparison. The ESCO is responsible for ensuring and guaranteeing the energy savings.
Sound bites:
Energy Performance Contracting is a complex process, and this session, presented by ESCO Johnson Controls, helped identify the key points of an energy audit by citing examples of their work with the Virginia Department of Corrections. Johnson Controls emphasized the benefits of making comprehensive changes to an institution instead of piece-mealing the various solutions.
The largest potential savings lie in the areas of Lighting, Space Heating and Space Cooling. In addition, water costs are on the rise - specifically sewer costs. By retrofitting older water systems and insulating pipes, institutions save money on energy as well as water usage. ESCOs provide a guarantee of energy savings making sure that the investment has a long-term ROI.
One of the more interesting examples of reducing water usage was an electronic shut off system so that inmates cannot abuse the system by multiple and continuous flushes. By installing this system, the toilet will shut down and eliminate the ability for the inmate to flush if the system detects a certain number of flushes in a specified time frame saving the institution thousands of gallons per inmate.
Creating a comprehensive approach, Johnson Controls has also created a "HVAC Learning Lab" so that inmates can be trained on the maintenance of the new systems. The most important thing to note about the Learning Lab is that it was built and supported solely through the savings created by installing the energy saving systems.
The bottom line of savings is documented over time by a variety of methodologies including utility bill comparison. The ESCO is responsible for ensuring and guaranteeing the energy savings.
Sound bites:
- Energy Performance Contracting will be a $5 Billion industry in 2011
- Savings must be sufficient to cover the costs
- Executive level buy in is essential - in VA, the governor issued orders that ensured that any energy savings would be returned to the institution and not back to the general fund.
- Energy Performance Contracting is about "Risk Management"
- Including any training costs in the estimate is essential
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Success in Indianapolis at the first National Symposium on Sustainable Corrections
June 17, 2011
For Immediate Release
Media contact:
Ann Norris, Director of Marketing
Ann@GreenPrisons.org; 317-384-3637
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Greenprisons.org concluded a
hugely successful first-ever National Symposium on Sustainable
Corrections on Thursday, June 16th. The three-day Symposium focused on
cost saving sustainable practices and training inmates in “green collar”
jobs to ensure they are prepared for 21st century jobs upon reentry.
Two days of workshops concluded with a tour of the Putnamville
Correctional Facility where participants saw green practices in action.
GreenPrisons.org chose Indiana as the location for the first Symposium because of the efforts of former commissioner Buss and current commissioner Lemmon’s actions to save taxpayer dollars by supporting green efforts. “Sustainability makes sense for Indiana,” stated IDOC Commissioner Bruce Lemmon. “Governor Daniels has charged the Department to measure effectiveness and efficiencies, and sustainability has given us a great starting point.”
“Indiana was an obvious choice to host this inaugural symposium,” said GreenPrisons.org founder and CEO, Tommy Norris. “Commissioner Lemmon’s commitment to seeking out and implementing renewable and sustainable solutions to energy consumption is an example for the industry to follow.”
The Greenprisons.org Symposium focused on products and providers who play key roles in taking first-steps in greening the corrections community. Johnson Controls and NORESCO, two leaders in sustainable energy practices, gave special targeted workshops.
The Symposium also explored trends in training inmates in “green collar” jobs. Among the topics explored, Dr. Raquel Penderhughes, of San Francisco State University spoke on how to harness green business growth to fight both pollution and poverty and provide youth and adults with pathways to prosperity.
Paul Sheldon, Senior Advisor at Natural Capitalism Solutions, presented innovative, proven effective strategies to save as much as $1,000 per inmate through implementation of "green" technologies and strategies. Sheldon addressed lighting, water, appliances energy, waste disposal, recycling materials management, security and safety concerns, and employee and inmate transit among other topics.
Visit www.GreenPrisons.org for more information on the specific accomplishments of the Symposium. Commissioner Lemmon has volunteered to host the 2012 GreenPrisons.org Symposium on Sustainable Corrections again in Indiana; dates TBD.
For Immediate Release
Media contact:
Ann Norris, Director of Marketing
Ann@GreenPrisons.org; 317-384-3637
 |
| Symposium participants touring the Putnamville facility |
GreenPrisons.org chose Indiana as the location for the first Symposium because of the efforts of former commissioner Buss and current commissioner Lemmon’s actions to save taxpayer dollars by supporting green efforts. “Sustainability makes sense for Indiana,” stated IDOC Commissioner Bruce Lemmon. “Governor Daniels has charged the Department to measure effectiveness and efficiencies, and sustainability has given us a great starting point.”
“Indiana was an obvious choice to host this inaugural symposium,” said GreenPrisons.org founder and CEO, Tommy Norris. “Commissioner Lemmon’s commitment to seeking out and implementing renewable and sustainable solutions to energy consumption is an example for the industry to follow.”
The Greenprisons.org Symposium focused on products and providers who play key roles in taking first-steps in greening the corrections community. Johnson Controls and NORESCO, two leaders in sustainable energy practices, gave special targeted workshops.
The Symposium also explored trends in training inmates in “green collar” jobs. Among the topics explored, Dr. Raquel Penderhughes, of San Francisco State University spoke on how to harness green business growth to fight both pollution and poverty and provide youth and adults with pathways to prosperity.
Paul Sheldon, Senior Advisor at Natural Capitalism Solutions, presented innovative, proven effective strategies to save as much as $1,000 per inmate through implementation of "green" technologies and strategies. Sheldon addressed lighting, water, appliances energy, waste disposal, recycling materials management, security and safety concerns, and employee and inmate transit among other topics.
Visit www.GreenPrisons.org for more information on the specific accomplishments of the Symposium. Commissioner Lemmon has volunteered to host the 2012 GreenPrisons.org Symposium on Sustainable Corrections again in Indiana; dates TBD.
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