Green Campus Initiative

12 steps to a more sustainable campus

“It’s not easy being !”Kermit T. Frog

William M. LeahyDirector 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 Campus1. Teaching and Research2. Purchasing and

Administrative Services

3. Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling

4. Energy Conservation5. Energy Purchasing6. Water and Waste

Water Management

7. Hazardous Waste Management

8. Transportation9. Food and Food

Service10. Campus Grounds and

Land Use11. New Construction12. 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• www.sustainenergy.org - Links to this presentation,

resources, and examples of best practices

• www.ulsf.org - Talloires Declaration

• www.nwf.org/campusecology - Report card

• www.cleanair-coolplanet.org - for CO2 inventory

• www.energystar.gov - for higher education

• www.unep.org/ - decade for education on sustainable development

• www.usgbc.org/ - LEED Green Building Rating System

Institute for Sustainable Energyat Eastern Connecticut State University

Willimantic, CT 06226(860) 465 - 0251

www.sustainenergy.org

Established in 2001 

….to identify, develop and become an objective energy

and educational resource regarding the means for achieving a sustainable

energy future