UAA’s Global Climate Commitment What We Can Do to Make a Positive Impact on Global Climate Change

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Modeling September 2007 – February 2008 Using the GHG model from World Resources Institute (WRI) Focusing on: Energy Air Travel Commuter & Vehicular Traffic Will serve as UAA’s baseline to measure carbon emission reductions

Carbon Emission Reduction (CER) Planning January – June 2008 Will involve groups throughout the campus Will develop a long-term plan of strategies and actions Progress will be measured against UAA’s carbon baseline

Energy Reduction Communications Campaign A long-term campaign Concentrates on changing behaviors on campus to save money and energy Five emphasis areas: Energy Recycling “Green” purchasing Reduced commuter traffic Improved office practices

“Turn It Off” Poster

“Recycle It” Poster

Learn More. Do More.

What’s the Role of Sustainability? Recognize the current imbalances in our environment and correct them

The Sustainability Problem At the moment, the societies of the world: Mine and disperse materials at a faster rate than they can be redeposited into the Earth’s crust (e.g. oil, coal, metals) Produce substances faster than they can be broken down by natural processes (if they can be broken down at all) (Carbon Dioxide, DDT) Extract resources faster than they are replenished (e.g. overharvesting trees)

What is Sustainability all About? It’s about recognizing resources are finite and managing those resources so future generations can also benefit from them – sustain them.

What is UAA doing about Sustainability?

January 16, 2007: UAA’s Chancellor signs the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment to reduce carbon emissions and take other actions toward sustainability. 176 signatories to date. May 2007: Chancellor Ulmer reaffirms this commitment as she becomes UAA’s new Chancellor.

The Commitment Within 2 months, create institutional structures to guide sustainable development and implementation of plan Within 1 year, complete inventory of greenhouse gas emissions Within 2 years, develop institutional action plan

UAA Strategic Opportunity Fund Developing UAA’s Climate Commitment Plan Carbon footprint model to measure greenhouse gas emissions Action plan to achieve carbon neutrality Communications to encourage individual action

Integrating Issues of Climate Change into UAA’s Curriculum UAA Strategic Opportunity Fund Integrating Issues of Climate Change into UAA’s Curriculum 3-day Intensive Workshop in August for up to 20 faculty participants Mini-grants for faculty to design and lead Intensives Mini-grants for participants to attend intensives, modify curricula, and share lessons learned with colleagues

UAA Assembly Recommendation to Chancellor’s Cabinet (Feb 2007) Paperless Processes UAA Assembly Recommendation to Chancellor’s Cabinet (Feb 2007) Electronic signatures Curriculum processes Workload agreements & annual activity reports Promotion & tenure files Timesheets Grants & contracts Procurement Travel Staff evaluations Scholarship applications Room reservations Fund usage (Student Clubs)

Environmentally Friendly Practices A Few Of The Great Things Being Done At UAA UAA Housing Complex – Fantastic View of Chugach Mountains and Hillside

Environmentally Friendly Practices Student Organizations Encourages student involvement and participation Sustainable Energy Society

Environmentally Friendly Practices Press Coverage, Classes, Workshops, Lectures, Conferences, and Seminars Provides sound and diverse environmental education and information to enhance good decision making and public awareness and enhances UAA’s public image..

Research, Undergraduate Education, and K-12 Outreach Environmentally Friendly Practices Research, Undergraduate Education, and K-12 Outreach Provides valuable information and new or improved technologies and best practices to improve environmental conditions. Students gain valuable experience to better address future environmental concerns.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Environmentally Friendly Landscape Management Natural vegetation is easier to maintain. Controls on water run-off quality. Extensive use of mulch. Limited use of pesticides.

Environmentally Friendly Practices EPA Approved Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Plan Comprehensive spill control procedures.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Elevated Spines Free & Dependable Transportation Services and Alternatives U-Pass Seawolf Shuttle Benefits Air Quality, Decreases Fuel Usage, and Decreases Street and Lot Traffic Congestion

Environmentally Friendly Practices Energy modules serving multiple buildings Energy Conservation, Management and Policy Heating set-backs De-lamping and upgrades Self-illuminating signs Lighting set-backs Electric heater amnesty

Environmentally Friendly Practices Recycling Materials Decreases Solid Waste Generation and Reduces Landfill Usage. Student Government and Administration provide this partnership program. Sea Wolf Recycling Center

Environmentally Friendly Practices Internal & External Recycling of Hazardous Materials Dead batteries Used crankcase oil & solvents for energy use Precious metals from dental amalgams Chemical reclaiming & evaporation of non-hazardous water Photographic silver recovery for use in silversmithing classes Scrap metal recovery Reduces Hazardous Waste Disposal Costs

Environmentally Friendly Practices Use of Recycled Copy Paper Some departments use recycled paper. Distributed Copy Center operations periodically use recycled paper as budgets permit. This helps to develop the market for recycled paper and reduces the demand for virgin material.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Setting Environmental priorities by - Reducing - - Reusing - - Recycling - Redistributing packing boxes reduces the need to buy new boxes by reusing them many times prior to recycling.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Extensive Use Of Electronic Communications Reduces the Use of Paper and Courier Services

Environmentally Friendly Practices Procurement Controls On Hazardous Material Purchases Trig … Is this a hazardous material on this purchase order? Reduces the Need to Recycle and Dispose of Surplus Hazardous Materials

Environmentally Friendly Practices Conversion To Microscale & Electronic Techniques In The Sciences Old macro-style still New micro-style still, uses less than 1/30 the volume of chemicals Reduces the Need to Use and Dispose of Hazardous Materials

Environmentally Friendly Practices Recovery Of Solvents For Reuse In The Sciences Reduces the Need To Buy New Solvents and To Dispose of Hazardous Materials

Environmentally Friendly Practices Replacing Computer CRTs with LCD Computer Monitors . Saves Energy and Reduces Hazardous Waste Generation

Environmentally Friendly Practices Substitution With Less Toxic Substances Substituting petroleum-based solvents with water soluble cleaning products Replacing mercury thermometers with non-hazardous thermometers Substituting food-grade anti-freeze for the more toxic automotive-grade in building heating systems Extensive use of non-halon (ozone depleting) fire extinguishers Extensive use of hospital grade, water-based latex paints instead of petroleum-based paints Reduces the Need for and Cost of Hazardous Waste Disposal

Environmentally Friendly Practices Excellent Equipment Maintenance Improves Air Quality and Conserves Fuels

Environmentally Friendly Practices “Plug It In” Engine Block Heaters & Timers Whenever possible, UAA vehicles are plugged in when temperatures drop below 200F. Timers activate the heaters two hours before shift start. This reduces air pollution and excessive engine wear.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Smoke-Free Indoor Facilities To improve indoor air quality, UAA declared all indoor areas as Smoke-free in 1986 well before the State Of Alaska made the same declaration.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Low Dust Emission Street Sweepers Improves Air Quality By Using Water and Vacuum

Environmentally Friendly Practices Using and Advancing Environmentally Friendly Technology Chancellor Elaine Maimon and the new hybrid vehicle. The Flagship of UAA’s Motor pool reduces the need for hydrocarbon fuel and decreases air pollution.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Using Recycled Construction Material for New and Remodel Projects By using carpet squares made from recycled material, UAA can easily maintain or repair damaged carpet areas eliminating the need to replace still-serviceable carpet sections. These systems also reduce scrap and trimming waste. UAA’s carpet suppliers are chosen for their commitment to sustainability.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Public Sustainability Resource Room at UAA’s Library of the 21st Century UAA has secured funding for developing a public library dealing with sustainability issues. Collections have already arrived. This helps to provide our community with a source of sustainability publications and references.

Environmentally Friendly Practices Staying Current Staying Current With Existing Technologies and Regulations, Being Actively Involved In Environmental Associations, and Networking With Other Professionals Is Essential To Good Environmental Stewardship

Environmentally Friendly Practices UAA is an active member of: Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2) University Leaders for a Sustainable Future Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Environmental Awards EPA –CESQG of Hazardous Waste (1990) Mayor’s Pollution Prevention Award (1990) EPA Region X Pollution Prevention Nomination (1992) Green Star for Waste Reduction (1994) Charter Member AK DEC Commissioner’s Award for Pollution Prevention (2001) Green Star Air Quality Award (2001)

Future Environmental Awards That We’re Working On Right Now

What can you do? Find out more about Sustainability Visit the Resource Room at the Library Use the UAA Office Resource Conservation Checklist Get involved!! Sustainability Coordinators Program/Network http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/sustainability/help.cfm Learn more about Green Star!!