The onset of creating a model sustainable institution: A case study analysis of Yale University

1. The onset of creating a model sustainable institution: A case study analysis of Yale University Julie Newman, Ph.D. Sustainability Director Yale University www.yale.edu/sustainability

2. Presentation outline Part I: Lessons learned from comparable institutions Part II: Yale University’s strategic plan for sustainable development Part III: Yale Sustainability Indices: Measuring progress, successes and failures

3. “Lessons Learned” from comparable institutions

4. Rapid institutional assessment • Level of commitment • Management structure • Interpretation of Sustainability • Institutional policy and standards • Metrics

5. Yale University

8. Evolution of Sustainability at Yale Environmental principles Yale Green Plan Grassroots ACEM Sustainability Director 1990 2002 2003 2004 1998 2001 2002 2004 Ad hoc Sustainability Committees RecyclingDepartment Green fund Yale Sustainable Food Project

9. Why should Yale choose to be a leader in sustainability? • Opportunity to become a model university by creating policy, taking actions and setting institutional examples that can lead to a sustainable society. • Opportunity to shape today’s students who are tomorrow’s leaders. • Yale’s leadership can contribute to and advance the national and international dialogue on sustainable development. • Opportunity to bridge world renowned scholarship with operational practices.

10. Yale Environmental Principles • The actions of Yale University's faculty, staff and students in the conduct of the University's activities affirm our commitment to protect and enhance the environment through our teaching, research, service, and administrative operations. Our decisions and actions will be guided by the University's Mission Statement, reflective of the University's resources, and informed by the Yale University Framework for Campus Planning. • To accomplish this, the University is committed to: • Managing its operations and facilities in a manner that protects and enhances the local and global environments, assesses the impact of its operations and facilities on the environment, sets quantitative goals for environmental performance, and monitors its environmental progress. • Striving for outstanding environmental performance in the design, renovation and construction of its facilities. • Defining and moving toward environmental sustainability through wise use of resources, purchasing recycled products, conservation, reuse and recycling of materials and supplies, waste minimization, and energy management. • Incorporating environmental education, management, and training into its objectives and practices. • Striving for continuous environmental improvement across the entire range of its operations.

11. The Yale Organic Garden • The Yale garden is a one-acre garden plot, located on Edwards St., organically growing an enormous variety of vegetables, including eggplant, bok-choy, pumpkins, sun-gold cherry tomatoes, and watermelon. • The garden was created May 2003, with funding from Yale's Advisory Committee on Environmental Management and the generous help of dozens of student interns, who worked through the summer. ACEM ACEM

12. Hybrid Car Subsidies • This project is subsidizing the purchase of hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles in place of the gasoline vehicles that would normally be purchased by Yale departments and organizations. HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID ACEM ACEM

13. Challenges

14. Source: New Yorker

15. Growth Trend of Yale’s Emissions and Energy Use Annualized growth from 1990 to 2004: Campus GSF 1.2% Emissions 2.6% Total Energy 1.8% • Steam 0.6% • Chilled Water 5.1% • Electricity 1.6%

16. Projected Yale University Carbon Emissions 550,000 500,000 450,000 400,000 ad Base Case 10% Reduction from Base Case 350,000 20% Reduction from Base Case Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent (MTCE) 300,000 1990 Emissions 7% Reduction from 1990 Emissions – Kyoto Emissions Target 250,000 10% Reduction from 1990 Emissions – CT. State Legislation 200,000 150,000 100,000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 Fiscal Year Note: Yale’s 2004 Total Carbon Equivalent Emissions were 55% higher than 1990.

17. Challenges • Succeeding in having the Yale community embrace sustainability when the culture at large has not. • Succeeding in integrating sustainability principles into the cultural fabric of the institution as opposed to sustainability being an “add-on”.

18. Strategy for institutionalizing sustainability at Yale

19. Strategy for Institutionalizing Sustainability at Yale • Be inclusive, drawing upon the expertise of students, faculty and staff • Embrace an iterative process • Promote accountability, with measurement of results and benchmarking against comparable institutions • Allow for feedback and “course correction”

20. Steps towards a sustainable institution • Creation of an institutional strategy and vision • Continued engagement of grassroots community efforts • Development of a governance/decision-making structure that engages a broad based coalition. • Development of a management structure that outlines a clear system of policy development. • Institutionalization of recommendations – (ie. Ad-hoc committees/ Director projects/ ACEM grants) • Establishment of a sustainability metrics to measure progress

21. Yale Sustainability Strategy Spectrum of Sustainability Issues Use of Natural Resources Systems and Processes Culture • Food • Energy • Water • Land • Air • Energy • Landscape • Building Design & Construction • Integrated Waste Management • Transportation • Procurement • Water management • Curriculum • Research • Human health • Governance

22. Current Status: Ad Hoc Committees Spectrum of Sustainability Issues Use of Natural Resources Systems and Processes Culture Energy Task Force Transportation Policy Committee Integrated Waste and Discard Management Marketing & Communication Committee Building Design and Construction FY05 Ad Hoc Sustainability Committees

23. Proposed Management Structure: Committees & Membership Officers and Budget Process as needed Provost VPFA Sustainability Management Committee [NEW] Members: Provost Office Rep AVPFA Rep. Dir. Sustainability Advisory Committee on Environmental Management (ACEM) Members: Faculty Students Staff Dir. Sustainability Annual Ad Hoc Sustainability Committees Members: Operational Unit Dir’s Students Group Reps ACEM Reps Dir. Sustainability Faculty Information

24. Proposed Management Structure: How results will be achieved Ad hoc Sustainability Committees Community based efforts Independent Initiatives coordinated by Sustainability Director Operational change recommendations Green Fund Initiatives Operational Units e.g. Facility Ops. Institutional Results

25. Measuring Progress: Proposed Yale Sustainability Index (YSI) Spectrum Category Indicators Units

26. Northeast Campus Sustainability Coalition- a regional commitment to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: 2005- 2014 ME - Bowdoin College (rep. MGCC) NH - University of New Hampshire & Keene State VT - Middlebury College (rep. VTGCC) MA - Harvard University & MIT RI – Brown University CT – Yale University (Chair) NJ – Rutgers University (rep.NJHEPS) NY – Skidmore College PA – Allegheny College ECP – Dalhousie University NGO’s & Gov’t rep. regional & int’l initiatives: Regional – Clean Air – Cool Planet and EPA Nat’l/Int’l – University Leaders for a Sustainable Future + Eastern Canada

28. Green Fund Investment 2002 – 05:$ spent and future commitment $682.6K