Sustainability
January 2012
Learning and Working Environment
Reduce the University’s carbon footprint and solid-waste disposal, increase the sustainability of operations and the built environment, and transform the campus into a “learning laboratory” for demonstration of sustainable initiatives.
Initiatives and Goals:
- Reduce Carbon Footprint through Energy Reduction Strategies
Team: Facilities Management, Residence, ITSS, Food Service, Athletics & Recreation, Library
Initiatives
-$ 5.2million Energy Project completed that reduced CO2 emissions by 33% through to conversion to natural gas and reduced energy use by 18% through upgrades to the lighting, plumbing, and heating and ventilations systems.Reporting conducted to monitor consumption versus targets. Part of this program is the implementation of the dashboard web page, which will show sustainability activities and current energy and water use by building.
-Energy Management Committee established. The committee has met several times with the goalto understand what energy measures have been put in place, how they can support the measures and identify additional measures that may be possible.
Goals
-Performance Indicators using APPA FPI comparative peer analysis have been in place for several years. The goal is to implement a CAUBO initiative Campus Sustainability Green Globes measuring system. This will identify areas of high energy use and areas of improvement relative to comparative standards.
-Conversion of 980 Tower Road heating to natural gas is planned as part of the North East Campus Project resulting in additional reductions of CO2 emissions.
-ITSS implemented a program to shutdown faculty and staff computers at night. The goal for the coming year is to implement a program for automatic shutdown of all computers when they are idle
-STARS scorecard being submitted this fall. It will show where the university stands in terms of academic, operational, and awareness activities. STARS is a Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment Rating System that was designed by AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education).
-Joint Transportation Demand Management Study with local institutions.
-Ongoing monitoring of utility consumption.
- Reduce Solid Waste
Team: Facilities Management, Residence, ITSS, Food Service, Athletics & Recreation, TESL, SMUES, Students employed by Facilities Management
Initiatives
-Food and solid waste output reduction through Food Services programs including and not limited to: All-you-can-eat dining, promotion of reusable mug, provision of reusable utensils, use of disposable items that have a reduced impact or breakdown faster in the landfill.
-Waste reduction through the implementation of the 4-R philosophy.Working with the departments chosen for the Sustainability Waste Sorting Program: ITSS, TESL, Residence, Athletics and Recreation, Food Services.
Goals
-Waste-separation program in place. Continue to expand the waste-separation program through discussions with departments for the removal of individual garbage cans in offices.
-Working with our waste contractor to identify area for recycling improvement.
- Increase the Sustainability of Operations and the Built Environment
Team: Facilities Management, Food Service, Procurement Management
Initiatives
-Paper towel, toilet paper and garbage bags 100% recycled material.
-Proactive preventive maintenance to operate efficiently and achieve a long life of materials
-Energy and building material affective design standards
-Water fountains in pace in all major buildings
Goals
-Green chemicals program using 78% of cleaning chemicals on campus. A new contract in place to increase to 87% of cleaning chemicals to be certified green.
-Microfiber cleaning system to be put in place, Laundering system to support the use of microfiber cleaning processes on campus in place. Microfiber cleans without chemicals or reduced amounts of chemicals.
-Local food program in pace. Plan to be developed to increase the percentage of local food purchased.
-ISI renewing sustainable procurement policy
-LEED certification for the Atrium is in progress.
- Engage the University community in the culture of sustainability at Saint Mary’s
Team: Facilities Management, External Affairs, SMUES, SMUSA,Students employed by Facilities Management
Initiatives
-Volunteer program for students is place to engage them in initiative design and/or project management.
-Guest speaker sessions provided by the Facilities Management Sustainability team to various classes in all faculties as requested. The sessions promote initiatives on campus and offer opportunities to students for in class operations sustainability projects.
-Pledge on Sustainability Website to allow community members to commit to living sustainably, Website also provides a monthly newsletter, and information on green initiatives on campus and upcoming events
-Get caught recycling programin place by SMUES. This is run several times a year.
-Community gardenin place .This project is managed by the SMUGAG society.
-Three Sustainability Conversation Speaker Series events are held annually
Goals
-Dashboard to be launched in the fall on the Sustainability website. The Dashboard will provide real time view of utility consumption on campus by building. The Dashboard will monitor electricity, water and thermal consumption/production on campus. It will show the energy intensity per building consumed daily, weekly, monthly and annually. Within the Dashboard a feature converts the consumption campus wide into an equivalent to trips around the world on an airplane, loads of coal in cargo containers, tanks of propane, etc.
- Transform the campus into a “learning laboratory” for demonstration of sustainable initiatives.
Team: Facilities Management, Science, Environmental Studies and Arts Faculty, SMUES, SMUSA, SMU Garden Action Group,Students employed by Facilities Management
Initiatives
-Identification of trees on campus
-Classroom presentation to Science class on university facilities operations
-2 research based green roofs on campus.
-Green map of campus established
-Community Garden in place
Goals
-A course for the regeneration of the Oaks forest is being proposed
-Geology rock classroom at the Oaks being established