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 2^nd 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.