Office of Environmental Policy · and hair ties. The Women’s asketball Green Game Day was held on February 28th as the women won their second straight American Athletic onference

www.ecohusky.uconn.edu 1

Office of Environmental Policy

Sustainability E-Newsletter

Spring/Summer 2015

From the OEP Director

Greetings! As the dust (or is it pollen) settles on another busy academic year, it’s clear from the success of new initiatives and the improvement of longstanding annual events that engagement in sustainability at UConn continues to flourish.

Three new programs were aimed at helping staff and faculty green their workplace, campus and home. The rollout of a revamped Green Office Certification Program exceeded expecta-tions by enlisting team leaders from 45 depart-ments across the University and awarding doz-ens of certificates. More recently, the start-up Green Campus Academic Network provided new-er faculty members from multiple departments with ideas for engagement and opportunities for networking. And Solarize U offered incen-tives for all employees to install solar PV on their homes. Additional EV charging stations on campus will make it easier for many to reduce their vehicle-related carbon footprint.

As always, student engagement was a focal point. OEP interns and EcoHusky helped re-establish Eco-alition—a broad caucus of student environmental leaders. And we were excited to host the first UConn Arbor Day celebration, held in conjunction with the 8th annual Earth Day Spring Fling. EDSF, EcoMadness and Green Game Days each set participation benchmarks this year.

In the fall, OEP published UConn’s first Sus-tainability Progress Report and organized 80 earth-minded UConn students to join in the world’s largest-ever environmental demonstra-tion: The People’s Climate March in NYC.

Thanks to OEP’s team of dedicated sustainabil-ity staff (pictured left), and our many partners across UConn, the 2014-15 AY will be a tough act to follow!

Rich Miller

Contents

From the OEP Director ........................................................... 1

Electric Vehicle Charging ........................................................ 2

Green Office Certification Program ....................................... 2

Solarize U ................................................................................ 2

Mixed Recycling ...................................................................... 3

EPAC Meeting ......................................................................... 3

Green Game Days ................................................................... 3

EcoHusky Clothing Swap ........................................................ 4

EcoHusky Food Waste Study .................................................. 4

Arbor Day ................................................................................ 4

Earth Day Spring Fling............................................................. 5

Senior Farewell ....................................................................... 5

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Electric Vehicle Charging

UConn has recognized the importance and efficiency of both hybrid and fully electric

alternative fuel vehicles. Its light-duty fleet of approximately 300 vehicles contains 18

hybrids and 12 fully electric vehicles. The Clean Fuel program, which reimburses a por-

tion of the cost of clean-energy vehicles, along with federal

and state laws, has helped the UConn fleet begin to in-

crease the number of efficient, alternative-fuel, and hybrid

vehicles on campus. Those numbers will continue to in-

crease as UConn replaces its old fleet with new vehicles in the coming years. Although alter-

native energy vehicles only comprise a small percent of the current fleet, UConn is making

great strides to incorporate more high efficiency vehicles. Recently, grants have been ac-

quired to allow UConn to install Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the Storrs

Campus. There is one EV station in the Motor Pool parking lot off of North Hillside Road, and

two in North Garage on North Eagleville Road since early-February. There are plans to install

additional charging stations in the South Garage in the near future. All stations located on

campus are free of charge for public use for the first 5 years of operation.

Green Office Certification Program

A new Green

Office Certi-

fication Pro-

gram gave

staff an op-

portunity to

answer the

question:

How green is

your office?

Encouraged by an end-of-year announcement in the

Daily Digest, people from 45 offices enrolled in the pilot

program. These Green Office Team Organizers (Go-To

list) filled out surveys that were designed to assess and

score the environmental responsibility of behaviors

and practices in their respective offices. Ultimately,

based on these scores, 25 offices were certified bronze,

silver, gold or platinum. Once awarded, several Go-To

members, along with a few of their guests, attended a

Green Office Breakfast meeting featuring sustainable

options from UConn Dining/Catering Services. OEP in-

terns led a discussion about common gaps gleaned

from the surveys and additional ways to green their

offices. Now that’s professional development!

Solarize U

The University of Connecticut was one of the first four

universities selected to participate in Solarize U, a pro-

gram sponsored by the CT Green Bank, that allows state

homeowners, specifically university faculty and staff, to

invest in solar panels at low rates from reputable install-

ers. The OEP has been diligently promoting the program

since its launch on March 4th, and has thus far accumu-

lated 58 webpage property listings, 39 quotes, 1 sale,

and 1 pending sale. Through outreach methods such as

Earth Day Spring Fling, a Solarize U workshop, the Daily

Campus, the Daily Digest, and flyer distribution through-

out the campus, the initiative has reached a significant

number of faculty, staff, and students. Many have ex-

pressed interest in the program. Apart from accumu-

lating as many solar sales as possible, the office’s main

goal has been to spread awareness about the affordabil-

ity of renewable energy installations, as well as the long

term cost savings and environmental benefits.

Mixed Recycling

Efforts to improve recycling and waste diversion rates remain a constant at UConn.

This past year, Facilities purchased new mixed recycling lids and labels to help prevent

commingling with trash and to transition away from “single stream” terminology that

has confused many. The Recycling Workgroup met this spring and a great turnout

from multiple departments enabled informed

discussion on a wide range of issues. Notably,

we discussed how our total diversion rate in-

creased from 35% to nearly 44% in 2014, largely

through agricultural and food waste composting,

e-waste recycling, re-use through the surplus

store and Give & Go (move out) programs,

mattress recycling and mixed recycling. Also, an

EcoHusky-led waste audit at the McMahon Building determined the amount of

recyclables that were incorrectly put in the trash. The audit found that the recy-

cling rate for McMahon on that day would have increased from 18.3% to 33.4%

had trash and recyclables been properly separated.

EPAC Meeting

The Environmental Policy Advisory Council (EPAC) gathered for its spring meeting on April 7th. Designed to serve as a liaison with, and advisor to, senior administration, the council meets twice a year. Nearly 30 mem-bers representing academic and operational departments, as well as students and alumni, were present to share information about UConn’s environmental and sustainability performance, including: An overview of UConn’s ambitious Sus-

tainability Framework to the Campus Master Plan, which was adopted in Feb-ruary by UConn’s Trustees.

The pending 102-acre expansion of the 64-acre Hillside Environmental Education Park on UConn’s North Campus

A summary of key 2014 STARS metrics, like the greenhouse gas inventory, waste diversion rate, and additions to our clean vehicle fleet.

Facilities’ recent installation of low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators in all residential buildings.

Updates for key environmental academic programs, centers and institutes.

Afterwards, several test drove the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen ZEV, with a 300-mile cruis-ing range and 5-minute refuel time.

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Green Game Days

Every Spring, the OEP sponsors a

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Green

Game Day in Gampel Pavilion. This

year, the men’s game was held on

February 4th as the team played East

Carolina. Approximately 20 students

from EcoHouse and EcoHusky volun-

teered, promoting recycling and hand-

ing out green giveaways and infor-

mation sheets. Jonathan the Husky

wore an EcoHusky shirt and the cheer-

leading team supported the cause as well with green wristbands

and hair ties. The Women’s Basketball Green Game Day was held on

February 28th as the women won their second straight American

Athletic Conference regular season crown. Volunteers from Eco-

Husky, EcoHouse,

and the Office of

Environmental

Policy encour-

aged fans to recy-

cle, promoted

future green

events, and col-

lected countless

bags of bottles

after the game.

EcoHusky Clothing Swap

The 2015 EcoHusky Clothing Swap

took place over the span of two

days, Tuesday, April 21st, and

Wednesday, April 22nd, an improve-

ment that was suggested by several

participants in last year’s swap. The

purpose of the event was to encour-

age sustainable consumption by

recycling old or unused clothes in

exchange for the recycled clothes

that other participants donated to

the cause. Students and faculty donated hundreds of clothing items to

this year’s swap, and in the end, eight large boxes and garbage bags full

of clothes were donated to

UConn PIRG’s Hunger and

Homelessness campaign.

In addition, EcoHusky

earned just under $200,

providing the group with

the funding that helps

them continue educating

our campus community

about sustainability.

EcoHusky Food Waste

Study

On March 30th, EcoHusky members

launched a week-long food waste

study in South Dining Hall. Volunteers

weighed food scraps from students’

plates at dinner, collecting a total of

over 660 pounds of waste throughout

the study, with an average waste of

2.1 ounces per student. The study

helped raise awareness about the

negative environmental, economic,

and social implications of food waste.

Arbor Day

UConn celebrated Arbor

Day this year at an event

held in conjunction with

Earth Day Spring Fling.

Student volunteers and

staff from multiple depart-

ments, helped the Univer-

sity proudly demonstrated

why it is recognized as a

Tree Campus USA. This

designation acknowledges the University for taking care of its trees and

promoting forestry. A $500 contest prize from the Arbor Day Foundation

also helped fund festivities that included a 32-square-foot tree cake

(enjoyed by many EDSF visitors), the planting of a blue and white UCONN

floral bed in front of the Union, and the planting of a Franklinia tree near

the Business School. Thanks especially to Student Activities, Landscape

Architects in Planning, Dining Services, and Facilities Operations/

Landscaping Services, for making this event possible.

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Earth Day Spring Fling

On April 22nd, the OEP collaborated with the Department of

Dining Services’ Local Routes Program to host the 8th annual

Earth Day Spring Fling (EDSF), UConn’s largest environmental

awareness event. Dining Services provided an outdoor zero-

waste barbeque featuring local, sustainable food with vegan

and gluten-free options. Thousands of students, faculty, and

staff enjoyed the 40 exhibitors. Susan Park brought natural

soaps, FreshPoint handed out delicious, local apples, Diana by

Design sold upcycled clothing, and EcoHouse and Spring Valley

Farm provided students with a variety of plants. EDSF has

served as an interactive opportunity to educate the UConn community about environ-

mental initiatives and sustainable living!

Senior Farewell

This spring, three interns graduated from UConn, leaving

a void in the OEP team. Emily McInerney (left) is gradu-

ating with a B.S. in NRE. She plans on living in NYC be-

fore pursuing opportunities in her field. An OEP intern

since her second semester, Em was also EcoHusky presi-

dent, Udall Scholar nominee, and all-around student

environmental leader for the past few years. Meredith

Hillmon (center) is graduating with a B.S. in ENVS. She

also had an internship at UTC and plans on a career as a

corporate EHS professional. Marisa Smith (right) is grad-

uating with a B.S. in NRE and B.A. in Poli. Sci. She plans

to pursue a job with a government agency, like EPA, and

to travel with her fiancé. We’re very proud of everything

they’ve accomplished, both within and outside of the

OEP, and excited to see where their bright futures will

take them. Congratulations and best of luck!