SUSTAINABILITY AT UVM

PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION

u In 1994, Professor Stephanie Kaza proposed and initiated the Environmental Council at UVM.

u Under the coordination of Gioia Thompson, the Council created a baseline review of campus operations environmental impact

u A few of the projects undertaken include:

u Publishing Greening UVM and Tracking UVM

u Hosting the first Vermont Campus Sustainability Network Conference

u 2007, President Fogel signed on to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (now called the Carbon Commitment). UVM became a charter signatory of the commitment.

u This led to disbanding of the Environmental Council and the establishment of the Office of Sustainability in 2008

u Office of Sustainability’s mission:

u To foster sustainable development and promote environmental responsibility at the University of Vermont by strategically bridging the academic activities of teaching, research, and outreach with the operations of the University.

u The Office works to:

u Educate and involve the campus community and public on sustainability issues

u Track UVM’s campus-wide sustainability performance

u Support organizational strategic planning for the “Environmental University”

u Facilitate the implementation of sustainability-related projects

u Socially Responsible Investing Advisory Council (SRIAC)

u Aids the VP of Finance and the University Treasurer in their responsibilities

u The Council uses UVM’s “Our Common Ground” as a criteria to take on issues based on ethical, moral, and socially responsible criteria in their decision-making.

EDUCATION & RESEARCH

u In 2011, Campus Sustainability class piloted the documentation of the Operations section for AASHE STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System sponsored by AASHE).

u Due to the pilot documentation and support from campus stakeholders, President Sullivan signed onto AASHE STARS in 2012.

u The first STARS report (version 1.2) was submitted in February 2014.

u The Clean Energy Fund was approved in 2008 after first gaining momentum in 2005 as a student-led initiative

u Designed to advance renewable energy research, education, and infrastructure on campus

u $10 per semester student fee supports the fund

u 40+ projects document in the projects portfolio from 2009-present

u Installations

u Equine Center Solar PV

u Aiken Solar Trackers

u Feasibility Studies

u Biomass Feasibility Study for Trinity Campus

u Comprehensive Campus Renewable Energy Feasibility Study

u Green Labs Program

u Lecture Series

u Climate Action Seminar

u Energy Action Seminar (2013-2017)

u Internships

u Clean Energy Industry Internship Program

u Clean Energy Internships

u Research

u Clean Energy Greenhouse

u Compost Power: Using Compost Power to Heat a Greenhouse

u Hybrid Street Lamp System with Helix Bamboo Wind Turbines and Solar Panels

u Off-Campus Student Energy Conservation Study

u Internshipsu Clean Energy Industry Internship Program

u Clean Energy Internships

u For a list of the CEF projects and their progress go to: www.uvm.edu/sustain/cef

u In March 2015, UVM Faculty Senate approved the Sustainability General Education requirement

u All newly matriculated undergraduate students are now required to take a course that satisfies this requirement.

u For a list of the sustainability courses offered at UVM, go here.

OPERATIONS

u In 2012 became a part of the Real Food Campus commitment

u Goal: 20% real food by 2020

u “Real food is defined as that which is locally grown, fair trade, of low environmental impact and/or humanely produced.”

u In 2009 a student sustainability intern began tracking Real Food using the Real Food Calculator

u Most recent data shows 12% real food in Spring 2013 at UVM.

u In 2005, President Fogel committed UVM to the US Green Building Council’s new construction policy, which by 2007 included all new buildings minimum LEED silver or higher.

u Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines address the use of:

u Water

u Materials

u Energy

u Land Use

u Quality of indoor air

u UVM currently has 12 LEED-certified buildings on campus including research labs, dorms, the Aiken Center and the Dudley H. Davis Center.

u Davis Center was the first LEED Gold certified student center in the US.

u The Aiken Center, hub of RSENR is working on transitioning towards becoming a Net-Zero energy building.

u Built in 1982, Aiken Center was renovated in 2012 becoming LEED platinum certified.

u UVM is recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a “Bicycle Friendly University”

u UVM’s fleet has both hybrid electric and compressed natural gas-powered buses

u Two Toyota Prius vehicles are available on campus to the UVM population through CarShare Vermont

u UVM committed to the creation of a $13 million Energy Revolving Fund

u In 2012, UVM became the 34th

college in the US to commit to the Sustainable Endowment Institute’s Billion Dollar Challenge.

u Establishment of a revolving fund to finance energy efficiency improvements on campus with up to a 7-year payback on projects.

ENGAGEMENT u The student population at UVM is a huge driving force for many of the

commitments and changes on campus

u For example:

u Signing the Real Food Campus Commitment

u AASHE STARS

u Creation of the Clean Energy Fund

u The Eco-Reps Program is the second oldest college peer-to-peer education program in the US, beginning in 2004

u Throughout the year they host events and educate students on sustainability issues and the power of making simple changes in our lifestyles

u A few other examples of clubs focusing on sustainability around campus include: VSTEP, SEEDS, REN and BUG

UVM’s Operations Data & PV System Data

https://goo.gl/UizZo2

LINKS TO VIDEOS

https://vimeo.com/uvmsustain/commitments1 https://vimeo.com/uvmsustain/commitments2