Green Campus Initiative 12 steps to a more sustainable campus “It’s not easy being !” Kermit T. Frog William M. Leahy Director of Operations Institute for Sustainable Energy At Eastern Connecticut State University

The Green Campus Initiative Universities have an obligation to operate in a manner that is ecologically and socially sound, as well as economically viable. To do this they need to act in a sustainable manner considering all three when making planning and operational decisions. Universities are being asked to support the regional, national and worldwide climate change efforts. This includes actions to educate, lower emissions, reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Organizations are also internally driven to reduce unnecessary cost for maintenance and energy. Universities should become “Learning Laboratories” for the future citizens and leaders of the world.

Twelve Steps to a more Sustainable Campus 1. Teaching and Research 2. Purchasing and Administrative Services 3. Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling 4. Energy Conservation 5. Energy Purchasing 6. Water and Waste Water Management 7. Hazardous Waste Management 8. Transportation 9. Food and Food Service 10. Campus Grounds and Land Use 11. New Construction 12. Campus Planning and Design

Teaching and Research The Campus as a “Learning Laboratory” Demonstrate Sustainable Technology Teach Environmental Literacy Engage in Community Outreach Take an Interdisciplinary Approach Strengthen Core Programs to Promote Sustainability

Purchasing and Administration Buy environmentally friendly products Use Energy Star Standards Include in all requirements for providing all goods and services Only buy what you need Use Buying Power and Investor Influence to recognize and encourage responsible behavior in designers and suppliers

Solid Waste Management and Recycling Establish a Waste Reduction Ethic Perform Analysis Minimize Waste Provide Convenient Stations Special Collection Days Promote Repair and Swap Recognize Performance

Energy Conservation Track Use and Cost Meter & Sub-meter Benchmark Life Cycle Analysis Retrofit and Renovate Participate in Existing Utility Programs Encourage Staff and Student Involvement Investigate Performance Contracts

Energy Purchasing Improve Campus Efficiency First Improve Campus Load Profile and Demand Convert from High Emission Fuels Purchase Clean and Green Power Install Renewables Consider Combined Heat and Power Carbon Sequestering

Water and Waste Water Management Report, Respond and Repair Specify and Retrofit with “Water Savers” Try Waterless Minimize Irrigation Capture Rainwater Protect Groundwater

Hazardous Waste Management Exceed Haz-Mat requirements Develop Tracking Implement Swapping Educate Generators Switch to Non-Toxics Recycle & Recover CFCs

Transportation Design for Bikes and Walking Convert Vehicles to Alternate Fuels Support Ride-Share Encourage Car- Pooling Use Mass or Public Transportation

Food and Food Service Buy Locally in Season Eat “Low on the Food Chain” Minimize Disposable Trays, Plates, Utensils Support Organic Food Producers Promote Reusable Mugs

Campus Grounds and Land Use Redefine Campus Beauty Reduce Lawn Areas Protect Wetlands, Watershed and Wildlife Protect Trees Plant Native Species Natural Walkways Evolve

New Construction Don’t Oversize & Overbuild Use High Performance Building Standards Exceed Energy Codes Use Natural Systems Incorporate Renewables Use Environmentally Friendly Materials Use Life-Cycle analysis Recycle Construction Debris

Campus Planning and Design Develop a Master Plan Preserve Open Space Maintain Indigenous Plantings Preserve Solar Access Minimize On-Campus Driving Perform Impact Review of All Expansion Plans

Steps in the Process Commitment – get buy-in at the top, Inventory – energy, emissions and disposal data & establish a base case, Action Team – involve key players, Brainstorming – evaluate all options. Perform life cycle analysis. Look for funding from federal, state, local utility programs, and third party sources, Action Plan – develop a short (1- 5 yrs.) and long range action plan (10 to 50 yrs), Implementation – put your plan to work, Monitoring – create indices and measure your progress, Communicate & Recognize – publicize and reward success

Resources - Links to this presentation, resources, and examples of best practiceswww.sustainenergy.org - Talloires Declarationwww.ulsf.org - Report cardwww.nwf.org/campusecology - for CO2 inventorywww.cleanair-coolplanet.org - for higher educationwww.energystar.gov - decade for education on sustainable developmentwww.unep.org/ - LEED Green Building Rating Systemwww.usgbc.org/

Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, CT (860) Established in 2001 ….to identify, develop and become an objective energy and educational resource regarding the means for achieving a sustainable energy future