UAlbany Sustainability programs

1. UAlbany Sustainability programs Presentation to G3 students May 6, 2011

2. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • What is sustainability? • Brundtland definition – 1987 UN commissioned report • “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs” • Not just “going green” or environmentally friendly • Broader scope • Mallia definition – “smarter and more efficient use of our resources over the long term (20 + year time horizon)”

3. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Triple bottom line

4. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • The Need for Sustainability • Cost savings (materials and avoiding carbon costs) • Green economy • Energy independence • Healthier environment • Executive Mandates • EO 2, 4, 18, 24, 111, 134, 142 • SUNY plan, new strategic plan • Federal: EPACT, EPA requirement

5. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • UAlbany commitments • Talloires Declaration • American College and University Presidents’ Climate Committee (ACUPCC) • Develop institutional structure • Commit to interim actions • Conduct GHG inventory within one year • UAlbany emitted 63,300 metric tonnes in 2009, 76% from energy and electricity • Develop carbon neutral action plan within two years • Interim plan completed last summer

6. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Overview of UAlbany infrastructure • Establishment of Environmental Sustainability task force • Created the Director of Environmental Sustainability and Energy Manager as two stand alone, full time positions • Formation of student group: UAlbany Students for Sustainability • Created student Sustainability Councils • Created Sustainability coordinators program for faculty & staff • Environmental sustainability housing • New in fall: living, learning community

7. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • In addition, all areas of the University have begun to integrate sustainability into their practices • Emphasis is on collaborative efforts, individual actions that add up to a collective goal • Communication of progress and goals is essential • At UAlbany, we use our go green website, sustainability bulletins, student newsletter, alumni newsletter, UAlbany news, student newspaper and blast emails among our outlets to achieve this

8. Recycling Paper, commingled, batteries, ink jet, electronics Recyclemania Energy management Dorm campaign, fake electric bills, office energy management, intersession shutdown Green IT Power management Alternative transportation UAlbany Shuttle, Free CDTA bus lines, bike share, carpool and ride share programs starting Waste management Give and Go program Electronics collection days, shredding events Distribution of reusable mugs and canvas totes to residents UAlbany Sustainability Programs

9. UAlbany Sustainability Programs

10. Green purchasing Mandates on paper – 100% post consumer recycled (office, janitorial and publications) Energy star rated appliances Community outreach Presentations to campus and community groups Collaboration with elementary schools Healthy living Gyms in each quad, SEFCU facilities, classes offered (SEFCU and EAP), nutritionist on campus Food and dining Purchase of local food; grass fed beef Elimination of trays Colonial quad dedicated to healthy choice Fall farmer’s market UAlbany Sustainability Programs

11. UAlbany Sustainability Programs

12. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Sustainability housing • One upperclassmen house on Colonial • Freshman living learning community on Indian • Contract with expectations delineated • Calculate carbon footprint • Participate in the implementation of one campus wide program each semester • Participate in the planning of one dorm activity each semester

13. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Energy Programs • Energy campaigns – Dorm and Podium • Competition against own baseline of electricity use • Savings are returned to the dorms, overall goal set for podium • Various programs to support this: energy brochure, video, musical chairs in the dark, fake electric bills, CFL exchange, RA educational programs • 5 campaigns have resulted in over $100,000 worth of savings in the dorms

14. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Operational policies and procedures • Temperature set point policy • Intersession shut down • Upgrading buildings (window replacement, lighting) • LEED certification • Shift to hybrid, electric and off road vehicles from traditional diesel or gas • Solar panels • Geothermal heating system

15. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Empire Commons electricity bills • Residents billed monthly on electricity use • Lowest usage win reward • CFL exchange programs • Received grant from National Grid • Look for opportunities to donate old bulbs

16. UAlbany Sustainability Programs

17. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Recycling • Participate in Recyclemania • Fliers reminding to recycle, did you know posters • Training seminar for RA’s • Several RA programs on recycling • Recycling bin shoot • Returnable collection drive at home basketball games and apartments (cans donated to local charity)

18. UAlbany Sustainability Programs

19. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Sustainability Councils • Goal of program is to communicate and initiate sustainability programs throughout campus • Students apply for council and chair positions through the green scene web site • Chairs receive $500 stipend

20. UAlbany Sustainability Programs

21. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Give and Go program • Bins provided at each quad to collect items still usable but unwanted • Items collected, sorted and donated to local organizations • Great way to divert waste and help the community • Closed loop paper towel purchase • Our recycled paper at one point served as the raw material for paper towels used in bathrooms • Clothing exchange on Earth Day • Gently used clothing collected and exchanged within campus community • Remaining clothes donated

22. UAlbany Sustainability Programs

23. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Closed loop paper towel purchase • Our recycled paper at one point served as the raw material for paper towels used in bathrooms (education campaign with this) • Alternative transportation offerings • Car share (Connect by Hertz) • Carpooling program • Universal access to CDTA, UAlbany shuttle • Bike sharing

24. Sustainability Programs and Businesses • Operationally: How can a company and its units support the goals of sustainability? • Energy conservation strategies: office practices, purchasing • Waste reduction: elimination of paper, other waste, sustainable meetings and events • Recycling efforts: how to improve infrastructure and availability of bins at events • Ethic of corporate social responsibility • Product stewardship, life cycle costing, triple bottom line • Responsibility to shareholders and public perception

25. Sustainability Programs and Businesses • Culturally • How can management communicate the goals of sustainability? • Set targets, reinforce message, set up rewards • What types of informational material can be made available? • What types of benefits given to employees reinforce the goals? • How do corporate actions back up goals? • Operationally • Supply chain: product stewardship, packaging

26. UAlbany Sustainability Programs • Questions? • Like us on Facebook: • UAlbany Green Scene • Follow us on Twitter: • UAGreenScene