Sustainability Accomplishments and Pending Projects
Sustainability Accomplishments and Pending Projects
University Commitments and Memberships
- Signatory of American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACU PCC) (2013).
- Made commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Charter Participant in Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS); achieved Bronze status in 2011, Silver status in 2013.
- Selected one of Princeton Review’s 322 Green Colleges in 2012; one of 334 Green Colleges in 2014.
- University membership in the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
- First Catholic university in the nation to begin to divest from fossil fuels as part of overall sustainability initiatives and in alignment with our social justice mission.
- Participant in the Downtown Dayton Partnership Sustainability Sub-committee.
- Member of Southwest Ohio Council on Higher Education (SOCHE) sustainability committee.
- Several members of the Facilities Management department have LEED AP certification.
Curriculum and Educational Opportunities
- Ohio’s first Master’s degree in clean energy established in conjunction with other area schools Fall 2008. Demand is 3 times projected enrollment.
- Sustainability, Energy and the Environment (SEE) living-learning community established 2008; expansion into Minor.
- Annual Stander Symposium 2009 focus on energy and sustainability issues.
- New Student Orientation sustainability messaging for the first time, Fall 2009.
- SEE Special Interest Houses created in 2011.
- New comprehensive sustainability website and Green Guide in 2012.
- Solar demonstration project installed summer 2013.
- Rivermobile created in 2012.
Student Involvement
- Sustainability Club represented UD in Washington D.C. at Powershift 2009.
- Student Government Sustainability Committee has purchased reusable mugs for every member of the student senate as a way of modeling green behavior to other students.
- Two students serve on the Committee on Environment, and the Student Government Association has two sustainability liaisons.
- Students complete academic work each semester in sustainability. Projects are coordinated through professors and the Office of Sustainability.
- Each October, students create programming and events for our annual Environmental Sustainability Week. This usually includes films, discussions, creative or hands-on workshops, guest speakers, forums, or teach-ins.
- Every spring, students organize Greensweep - a half-day neighborhood clean-up.
Energy Conservation
- Utility Reporting program in student neighborhood results in ~$50k avoided cost per year.
- Learn, Lead, Conserve initiative to reduce lighting and HVAC costs: saved over $600,000 in 2009.
- A study of the alternative energy generation potential of campus resources was done 2009-10 to determine if UD could implement technologies like solar, wind, or geothermal.
- Policy requiring the purchase of EnergySTAR rated appliances and equipment.
- Some campus parking spots have been designated for Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles.
- Infrastructure Improvements:
- Continued installation of motion-occupancy sensors throughout campus, which reduce electricity demand by turning off lights in unoccupied spaces.
- New energy efficient windows in many campus buildings.
- Additional insulation added to Library and Science Center in 2012-13 renovations.
- LED lighting pilots in LTC, Art dept. Raymond L. Fitz Hall 2nd floor, Cronin Athletics Center, KU, other areas.
- Vending Misers installed 2012 on all Vending Machines.
- Many flat roofs are being replaced with a highly reflective “white roofs” that significantly reduce heat absorption, helping reduce energy costs.
- Daylight controls have been piloted in several areas to reduce electricity consumption on bright days.
- Conversion to Compact Fluorescent Lighting in student neighborhood houses.
- Thermostats in Neighborhood houses set range of 70-74 F.
- Washing machines in campus apartments are being replaced with front-loading, water-saving models.
- Tankless hot water heaters are being installed in neighborhood houses. 30% more efficient than traditional.
- Participation in a DP&L program of demand reduction on peak days.
- Utilization of a DP&L rebate program for new efficient lighting ballast and HVAC components.
- Utilization of a rebate program with Vectren for installing 92% efficient furnaces.
Improved Recycling and Resource Conservation
- ‘Move Out’ program diverts thousands of pounds of donations to local organizations each year.
- Asphalt is recycled during parking lot resurfacing projects.
- Pilot neighborhood in City of Dayon program bringing 96 gal. recycling containers to each residence. City has increased recycling by 200%+.
- Implementation of battery, toner cartridge, scrap metal, and electronics recycling program.
- Collection containers purchased for VWK and RecPlex fall 2013.
- Quality reusable materials are donated to local charities during renovations.
- Composting program diverts more than 200 tons of food and organic waste from landfills every year.
- Successful grant application in 2011 for Ecovim equipment ($28k).
- Replacement of all disposable products in Dining Services with biodegradable products.
- A computerized work order system has been implemented in Facilities Management saving thousands of sheets of paper each semester.
- Hundreds of pounds of carpet samples from our design process are returned to manufacturers and kept out of the landfill.
- Mailing Services sells all waste paper to a local chip board manufacturer.
- Over $5,000 of usable equipment was salvaged from the ME Building prior to demolition.
- Over 80% of the waste from elevator renovations is recycled.
Campus Planning and Sustainability
- Sustainability Manager hired November 2008.
- President Curran established the first Committee on Environment Fall 2008.
- The University’s carbon footprint was first measured in 2008; results drive carbon reduction efforts and the study is repeated yearly to measure progress.
- The Campus Master Plan establishes the guideline that all major new projects and renovations will be designed per LEED standards. (Silver or equivalent commitment – Aug 2013)
- Sustainability policy reviewed and updated by Committee on Environment 2012. (pending approval)
Land and Water Management
- On-demand hot water heaters and low flow toilets/ urinals have become the standard on all renovations and construction projects.
- Rain gardens have been completed at 3 locations around campus.
- Pervious pavers have been installed along University Circle to minimize runoff.
- Campus landscaping is maintained largely with mulch produced by our grounds department.
- Recent acquisitions of campus property are formerly developed industrial sites, ensuring reuse for future expansion and reducing the use of green space.
- Central irrigation control system will drastically reduce water used in landscaping.
Contracts, Services and Purchasing
- Campus cleaning service is Green Clean Institute Certified.
- Working toward Cleaning Industry Management Standard – Green Building certification for all campus custodial operations.
- Use of environmentally friendly paper towels, tissue and soap products.
- Construction and renovation waste is recycled according to provisions in our contracts.
- Purchase of a hybrid vehicle for Facilities Management.
- Office Depot program eliminating packaging, use of reusable totes and paper shopping bags.
- The University also worked with Office Depot to identify a greener option for copier paper and now all copier paper University-wide will be 30 percent recycled paper.
Construction and Renovation
- The renovation of the chapel, completed in 2015, has achieved LEED Gold certification..
- Ten houses recently built in the student neighborhoods are certified as green buildings under National Association of Homebuilders standards.
- GE EPISCENTER completed in Fall 2013 with LEED Gold certification:
- 200+ components from <500 miles
- Heat recovery chiller to reuse heat from research space to heat office space
- 90%+ construction waste was recycled
- 40% water savings through fixtures, aerators, urinals, etc.
- Several buildings designed according to LEED standards but not certified: Marianist, Recplex, Caldwell Apartments.
- LEED principles used in major renovations, but projects not certified: Stuart, Marycrest, Founders, Raymond L. Fitz Hall, 1700, Science Center, Library, etc.
- Dayton Regional Green 3: working toward green building certification for all campus buildings.
- 7 buildings, including the Arena, are already certified. (Only NCAA arena with this kind of certification.)
Additional Initiatives / Accomplishments
- RecBikes bike sharing program initiated 2011.
- Enrollment Management Bike giveaway fall 2013 – 100 bikes to incoming students who pledged to not bring a car for 2 years.
- New bike path along S2 parking lot, Brown St. through neighborhood connecting downtown to Kettering/Oakwood/Centerville.
- New bike path extension past Stewart St. to Arena, Baseball Stadium.
Contact
Steve Kendig
Executive Director Energy Utilization and Environmental Sustainability
(937) 229-3769