Green Campus Initiative

Institute for Sustainable EnergyAt Eastern Connecticut

State University

“ It’s not easy being GREEN ! ”Kermit T. Frog

The Green Campus Initiative • Universities have an obligation to operate in a manner

that is ecologically and socially sound as well as economically viable.

• To do this they need to act in a sustainable manner considering all three when making planning and operational decisions.

• Universities are being asked to support the regional, national and worldwide climate change efforts. This includes actions to lower emissions, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

• Most organizations are also internally driven to reduce unnecessary energy use and reduce cost for energy and maintenance.

• Universities should become “Learning Laboratories” for the future citizens and leaders of the world.

Twelve Steps to a

Sustainable (Green) Campus1. Teaching and Research2. Purchasing and

Administrative Services

3. Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling

4. Energy Conservation5. Energy Purchasing6. Water and Waste

Water Management

7. Hazardous Waste Management

8. Transportation9. Food and Food

Service10. Campus Grounds and

Land Use11. New Construction12. Campus Planning

and Design

Teaching and Research• Teach Environmental

Literacy• The Campus as a

“Learning Laboratory”• Engage in Community

Outreach• Take an

Interdisciplinary Approach

• Strengthen Core Programs

Purchasing and Administration• Only buy what you need• Buy environmentally friendly

products• Use Energy Star Standards• Buy post consumer recycled

materials• Include in all requirements

for providing all goods and services

• Use your Buying Power and Investor Influence to recognize and encourage responsible behavior in suppliers

Solid Waste Management and Recycling

• Establish a Waste Reduction Ethic

• Perform Analysis • Minimize

• Provide Convenient Stations• Special Collection Days• Promote Repair and Swap• Recognize Performance

Energy Conservation• Track Use and Cost• Meter & Sub-meter• Benchmark• Life Cycle Analysis• Retrofit and Renovate• Participate in Existing

Utility Programs• Encourage Student

Involvement• Investigate Performance

Contracts

Energy Purchasing• Improve Campus

Efficiency First• Improve Campus

Load Profile• Convert from High

Emission Fuels• Purchase Green

Power • Install Renewables• Consider CHP• Consider Carbon

Sequestering

Water and Waste Water Management

• Report, Respond and Repair

• Retrofit with “Water Savers”

• Try Waterless• Minimize Irrigation• Capture Rainwater• Protect

Groundwater

Hazardous Waste Management

• Exceed Haz-Mat requirements

• Educate Generators• Develop Tracking• Implement Swapping• Switch to Non-Toxics• Recycle & Recover

CFCs• Ensure Proper

Disposal

Transportation

• Encourage

Car- Pooling• Support

Ride-Share• Use Public

Transportation• Support Bikes

and walking• Convert Vehicles

to Alternate Fuels

Food and Food Service• Buy Locally in Season• Eat “Low on the Food

Chain”• Minimize Disposable

Trays, Plates, Utensils• Support Organic Food

Producers• Promote Reusable

Mugs

Campus Grounds and Land Use

• Redefine Campus Beauty

• Reduce Lawn Areas• Protect Wetlands,

Watershed and Wildlife• Protect Trees• Plant Native Species• Natural Walkways

Evolve

New Construction

• Don’t Oversize & Overbuild• Use High Performance

Building Standards• Exceed Energy Codes• Use Natural Systems• Incorporate Renewables• Use Environmentally

Friendly Materials• Use Life-Cycle analysis• Recycle Construction

Debris

Campus Planning and Design

• Develop a Master Plan• Preserve Green Space• Minimize On-Campus

Driving• Maintain Indigenous

Plantings• Preserve Solar Access• Perform Impact Review

of All Expansion Plans

Steps in the Process• Commitment – get buy-in at the top and at all

levels• Inventory – collect energy, emissions and disposal

data & establish a base case• Action Team – involve key players in the Team

• Brainstorming – evaluate all options. Perform life cycle analysis. Look for funding from federal, state and local utility programs, and third party sources.

• Action Plan – develop a short (1- 5 yrs.) and long range action plan (10 to 50 yrs)

• Implementation – put your plan to work

• Monitoring – create indices and measure your progress

• Communicate &Recognize –publicize and reward success

Resources

• www.sustainenergy.orgLinks to other schools and resources

• www.ulsf.org Talloires Declaration• www.nwf.org/campusecology Report card• www.cleanair-coolplanet.org for CO2

• www.energystar.gov for higher education• www.ase.org for green campus pilot• www.unep.org/ decade for education on

sustainable development

Institute for Sustainable Energyat Eastern Connecticut State University

Willimantic, CT 06226(860) 465 - 0251

www.sustainenergy.org

Established in 2001 

….to identify, develop and become an objective energy

and educational resource regarding the means for achieving a sustainable

energy future