Collective Impact of Sustainability!

1. Collective Impact of Sustainability! AASHE 2013: Resiliency and Adaptation October 6th – 9th Nashville, TN Norman Christopher, Grand Valley State University

2. The Sustainability Journey at GVSU Change in our behaviors Change What’s the long-term value and collective impact of sustainability? Progress What are the results of sustainability? Application Where can GVSU apply sustainability“best practices?” Value and Impact Visionary leadership and commitment Understanding What does sustainability mean to GVSU? Awareness Where are we regarding sustainability? 2008 (progress/improvements) 2012 (Value/Impact) 2004 (status/assessment) Time

3. What is Economic Impact? • “Effect of a trend, change force, event policy, program, project, or activity on the economy of a given area.” • Which would you rather have: • Dollar of cash? • Dollar of profit? • Dollar of economic impact? Source: Varied

4. GVSU Sustainability Areas of Focus • Education for Sustainable Development • Sustainable Food Systems • Recycling and Waste Minimization • Energy Efficiency and Optimization • Water Efficiency and Conservation • Alternative Transportation and Fuels • Sustainable and Local Purchasing • Fiscal Sustainability and Reporting • Health and Wellness • Buildings and Land Use • Community Engagement and Service Source: Sustainability Guide; www.gvsu.edu/sustainability

5. 1. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) ~$45MM Economic Impact • 386 courses 1, 2, or 3 sustainability content areas (economic, social, environmental) • 46% 1 courses content area • 39% courses 2 content areas • 14% courses 3 content areas • Student credit hours in ESD 18.4% of all credit hours • Average cost student credit hour $385

6. 2. Sustainable Food Systems ~$2.5MM Economic Impact • Purchased products: • 930, 500 lbs of local food (~$2.2MM) • 164,000 lbs of MI Brand local food (~$221K) • 1100 lbs of certified seafood (~$6K) • 11,000 lbs of fair trade coffee (~$77K) • ~35+ Sustainability certified vendors and local suppliers • Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP): • 1 acre land • 2 hoophouses • 11 CSA shares sold (~$1K) • Sale of produce (~$1K) • Student Farm Club; ~400 student visits

7. 3. Recycling and Waste Minimization ~$30K Economic Impact • Generated 2357 tons of total waste with a landfill disposal rate of 57.4% • Recycled 1005 tons of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, scrap metal, computers, batteries, pallets, food waste, and light bulbs for a recycling rate of waste diversion rate of 42.5% ($30K savings) • Composted 234 tons of food waste and ~10,000 pizza boxes • “Zero Waste” football game(s)

8. 4. Energy Efficiency and Optimization ~$1.8MM Economic Impact • Invested $2,689,744 in energy projects and achieved $1,640,301 in annual energy cost avoidance • One time cost avoidance projects have saved $1.3MM over the last 12 years • Reduced housing community energy costs by $10,760 per year since 2006

9. 5. Water Efficiency and Conservation ~$33K Economic Impact • Going tray-less in campus dining saved 2.5 gallons of water per person, or 1,482,749 gallons of water ($9K) • University reduced water consumption by 25MM gallons from 2007 – 2011 ($163K savings) • Irrigation and retention ponds accounted for 15MM gallons of water usage • Water bottle filling stations

10. 6. Alternate Transportation and Fuels $27.7MM Economic Impact • Recycled 3,000 gallons of cooking oil which was used as feedstock for biodiesel fuel • Achieved 3MM bus rides • Avoided 36,737,480 passenger vehicle miles ($21.3MM savings automobile costs) • Avoided 1,836,874 gallons of fuel ($6.4MM cost savings) • Avoided 15,864 MT CO2E • Reduced parking passes by 15% • Bike Plan and WeCar Services

11. 7. Sustainable and Local Purchasing ~$49.4MM Economic Impact • $6K for the fair trade coffee and tea • $40K Adidas apparel (FLA member) • $991K apparel (Worker Rights consortium member) • $221K recycled paper products • $46.2MM LEED building and construction products • $2.1MM minority owned vendor purchases

12. 8. Fiscal Sustainability and Reporting ~$1.5MM Economic Impact • Sustainability Reinvestment Fund (SRF) project ROI 109% ($45K original investment) • Energy Reinvestment Fund capitalized ~$3MM in projects over last 5 years (~$600K annually; 2-3 year pay back) • Retired $1.7MM in debt ahead of schedule (~$400K interest savings) • Letter of credit rate changes (~$500K savings) • Variable rate swap agreement on bondissue (~$665K savings) • AASHE STARS program

13. 9. Health and Wellness ~$500K Economic Impact • ~600 faculty and staff participated in wellness and work life programs • ~650 faculty and staff participated in “Know Your Numbers” program • Participation Michigan Universities Self Insurance Corporation (~$170K dividend) • Participation Michigan Universities Coalition on Health (~$344K savings) • Increased share of employee pay for health insurance to 20% expects to save ~$10MM in next 5 years

14. 10. Building and Land Use ~$32.8MM Economic Impact • 12 LEED certified projects (957,845 square feet) • 5 projects registered with intent to gain LEED certification • Seidman Business College • Mary Idema Pew Library • $32MM invested for new and remodeled facilities that created 700 trade and construction jobs • Estimated savings of $800K for LEED buildings in energy, operations, water, and waste cost avoidance

15. 11. Community Engagement and Service ~$33MM Economic Impact • 6811 students participated in internships, practica and student teaching (~$25MM employer savings • Students participated in 924,383 hours of volunteer service work (~$7.5MM employer savings) • 655 volunteers participated in Presidents’ 50 hour service challenge, providing 25,733 hours to 933 community organizations (~$520K employee savings) • Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership (www.grpartners.org) • Seeds of Promise (www.seedsofpromise.net)

16. Thank you!Norman Christopher Executive Director Sustainable Community Development Initiative Grand Valley State University chrisfn@gvsu.edu 616-331-7461