Campus Sustainability

Campus Sustainability

at

February 2009

Sustainability…meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. (Bruntland Commission, 1988)

With phrases such as:

• Carbon Offset• Carbon Footprint• Ozone Friendly

• Global Warming• Renewable Energy• Biodegradable

What does this whole

Sustainability thing mean?

In other words…… Lets be good stewards of our finite resources(natural and economic)

So how does the State of Louisiana feel about the issue of sustainability?Executive Order No. BJ 2008 - 8Implemented in January 2008 by Governor Bobby Jindal.

“Whereas,

Efficacy should apply to all areas of state government and state government should be a leader in energy efficiency and conservation and demonstrate the benefits of adopting such practices;”

And LSU…..?

Identifies 13 categories of sustainable actions and asks:

What are we doing now? What can we do better?

LSU Green Campus Initiative ReportPrepared by the LSU Office of Campus Planning in the Spring 2007.

MISSION: The “LSU Green Campus Initiative” is a comprehensive sustainability approach aimed at:

• Lowering energy use and cost

• Reducing greenhouse gases

• Water and waste water management

• Improving recycling

• Hazardous waste reduction and disposal

• Materials procurement on our campus

2007

Proposed Sub-Categories for Focused Discussion

Energy Management Facility Management Process Management Material Management

LSU Green Campus Initiative - 13 Point PlanEnergy Conservation

Energy Purchasing

Transportation

Campus Ground and Land Use

New ConstructionCampus Planning

and Design

Purchasing and Administrative Services

Teaching/Research/ Public Education

Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling

Water Conservation and Waste Management

Hazardous Waste Management

Disaster Management

Food and

Food Service

In Progress

Recent Sustainability Efforts by

LSU

2003 Campus Master Plan

Major precepts dealing with sustainability:

Create a predominantly pedestrian oriented campus with alternative forms of transportation

“Green Corridors” linking major districts, and the expansion of the mature tree canopy

2003 Campus Master Plan….Sustainability related projects

Transportation Master PlanProvides a “greening up” of existing parking lots with new pedestrian sidewalks.

Pedestrian CorridorsOver 5 miles of pedestrian corridors have been constructed since 2003, complete with lighting and benches.

2003 Campus Master Plan….Sustainability related projects

Easy Streets Phase IRestricts student and visitor parking from campus core to improve pedestrian safety. Resulted in 62% decrease in campus traffic.

Easy Streets Phase IICreates one way streets and dedicated bike lanes. Also closes streets to allow for true pedestrian corridors.

Bus Service StudyStudy to improve bus service, including routes, schedules, cost and alternate fuel.

The Campus Committee for Sustainability was formed to advance LSU’s efforts towards sustainability.

The Following Campus Group are Represented:

Student Government

Environmental Conservation Organization(Student)

Environmental Graduate Organization(Graduate Student)

Planning

Architecture

Utilities

Academic Affairs

Finance and Administrative Services

Facility Development and Design Committee

Chancellor’s Office

Faculty Senate

Staff Senate

Public Affairs

*Note…25% of Committee is Student Representation!!

Campus Committee for Sustainability….CCS

Get Buy-In From Campus Community!

Campus Committee for Sustainability….CCS

The CCS Has Been Tasked With Formulating a Plan to Accomplish the Following:

• Inventory LSU’s existing carbon footprint (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions)

• Acknowledge LSU’s existing efforts towards achieving sustainability

• Develop an action plan to improve LSU’s sustainability efforts

• Promote public awareness of LSU’s efforts toward sustainability

Proposed Sub-Categories for Focused Discussion

Energy Management Facility Management

Process Management Material Management

Campus Committee for Sustainability….CCS

Energy ManagementCurrently• Energy Star appliances• Building Automation System monitors HVAC• Energy efficient equipment standards• Cogeneration unit (provides 60% power needed)

Short term goals• Res Life Energy Competition• Computer energy reduction/e-waste program• Carbon footprint analysis• Energy Star certification of buildings• Classroom utilization

Facility Management

Short term goals• Bus transit system green vehicles• Easy streets – bike lanes and pedestrian corridors• VendingMiser• Bike racks and facilities• Tree farm

Currently• Easy Streets Ph I – 62% reduction• Easy Streets Ph II and Bus Transit Study• Sustainability Review of construction projects• 15% student trips - alternate transp. (bus, bike,

walk)

Process Management

Short term goals• Green cleaning policy• Product standardization• Curriculum audit, Freshman experience• Website and newsletter• Student sustainability survey

Currently• Partnership with HORT class• 40% local or organic food service• Purchasing recycled content - 30% office paper,

100% business cards, 100% restroom paper

Material Management

Short term goals• Increase recycle bins• Compost and biodiesel facilities• Eliminate phone books, reduce packaging, • Water quantity use analysis – by building• Lakes and water quality

Currently• Existing hazardous waste disposal system• 10% diversion from landfill, 100 tons/month• Biodiesel production for landscape equipment• 70% grounds maintained organically• RecycleMania + material exchange program

Sustainability Officer….

The full time position titled Manager – Campus Sustainability was formed to advance LSU’s efforts towards sustainability.

Query the Campus

Establish Benchmarks

Identify areas for improvement

Education of the campus community and general public of sustainability issues and efforts

Major Duties:

Denise Scribner, PE LEED APLSU Alumnus – Civil Engineering

Results

Sustainability Report Card - 2009The Sustainability Endowment Institute released the “2009 Sustainability Report Card” for Higher Education on September 24, 2008.

LSU ranks in the top ½ when compared to other SEC schools, with only Arkansas, Florida, and Auburn scoring higher

The National average is a C+, with only 15 schools nationwide scoring an A-

LSU improved it’s grade from a C- in 2008 to a C+ due to recent sustainability initiatives

2009 Sustainability Report Card – SEC Schools Comparison

Note:There are multiple benchmarking organizations nationwide…be choosy.

In the Works

Organizational Membership…

AASHE• Comprehensive sustainability coverage.• High membership among Universities.• National and Regional conferences.• Manages the PCC (Presidents Climate

Commitment)

USGBC• Focuses on Green Buildings only.• High membership among Universities.• National and Regional conferences.• Manages the LEED Certification.

LSU, in an effort to improve Networking to learn Best Management Practices in regards to sustainable issues, will join and participate with the following professional organizations:

http://www.aashe.org/index.php http://www.usgbc.org/

Presidents Climate Commitment…LSU provided a Peer Review Analysis to the Chancellor early February.

The stated goal of the PCC is to have colleges and universities formulate a plan to ultimately achieve “climate neutrality” with a “zero carbon footprint”

By signing the PCC, universities are agreeing to the following:

• Set a target date to become climate neutral

• Make tangible and measurable efforts towards achieving climate neutrality

• Document efforts and successes in a public formathttp://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/

Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHG)

Climate Action Plan (CAP)

2 Months

Implementation Plan

1 Year

2 Years TBD

Presidents Climate Commitment…

http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/

Carbon Footprint

& GHG Emissions

Establish Climate

Action Plan

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Student(In Progress)

Consultant (Recommended)

Establish Organization

Structure

Establish Organization

StructureManager of Campus Sustainability(Office of Campus Planning / Facility Development)

(Established October 2008)

Sign the PCC

Do Not Sign the PCC

Establish Climate

Action Plan Transportation

Energy

Campus Committee for Sustainability(Students, Faculty, and Staff)

(Established August 2008)

Focus

Complete Complete

In Progress In Progress

Transportation

Energy

Purchasing

Planning

Water Management

Waste Management

Construction

Land Use

Food Service

Public Education

Focus

Spring 2009

Student positions with Office of Campus Planning through Chancellor’s Student Aid

Sustainability related classes available (ARCH, CE, RNR, BIOL, HORT, COASTAL)• Architecture 4041: Issues in Sustainability• CE 4155: Sustainability Engineering• OCS 3101: Global Environmental Cycles

Chancellor

Vice Chancellor Finance & Admin.

Services

Facility Services

Facility Development

Campus Planning

Campus SustainabilityFacility

Process

Materials

Energy

Campus Committee for Sustainability

(Students, Faculty, Staff)Chair

LSU Sustainability Organization Chart

Student Initiatives….

• Green Build workshop (February 28th)

• RecycleMania (Jan-March)

• Res Life Energy Competition (March)

• Stadium Recycling (April 18th)

• LSU Earth Day (April 24nd )

Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO)

Freshman Leadership Council

Students in Free Enterprise

Emerging Green Builders

Geaux Green

Peace……Later!

Questions, Debate, and Discussion: