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Advancing Sustainability at Penn: Insights from the Smart & Sustainable Campus Conference

In April 2013, the University of Pennsylvania hosted the Smart & Sustainable Campus Conference, highlighting its commitment to sustainability on a 290-acre campus serving 20,000 students and faculty. Penn has been recognized nationally for its green initiatives, including being a leading purchaser of green power and achieving Tree Campus USA status. Key strategies include the Green Office Certification program, which encourages sustainable practices in campus offices through peer engagement and gamification. This effort aims to change behaviors and significantly reduce environmental impact.

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Advancing Sustainability at Penn: Insights from the Smart & Sustainable Campus Conference

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  1. Implementing and Measuring Sustainable Practices at Penn Smart & Sustainable Campus Conference - April 2013

  2. Penn Today 290 acres 14 million sf in 180 buildings 20,000 students 20,000 faculty and staff 12 schools 1 campus

  3. Penn’s leadership continues to be recognized nationally and locally: • Princeton Review‘Top Greenest Schools in America’ • Tree Campus USAPenn an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus • EPA Green Power PartnershipSixth consecutive year as the #1 green power purchaser among American colleges and universities • Creating CanopyOver 120 trees distributed to Penn employees in partnership with the City of Philadelphia

  4. 2007: Dr. Gutmann signs American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment September 2009: Climate Action Plan submitted January 2012: ACUPCC Progress Report 2007 – 2009: Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee writes Penn’s Climate Action Plan Climate Action Plan Implementation 2008 2009 2010 2013 2007 2011 2012 2014

  5. Penn’s Climate Action Plan • Six initiatives: • Utilities & Operations • Physical Environment • Waste Minimization & Recycling • Transportation • Academics • Communications • Outreach to faculty, staff, & students

  6. University Strategies Purchase clean energy University sustainability: Efficient Operations Stakeholder Engagement

  7. Stakeholder Engagement Green Campus Partnership website GCP Newsletter Power Down Challenge Move-in Green Green Labs program Eco-Reps programs Green Office Certification program

  8. Stakeholder Engagement • Engagement Programs: • Peer education & modeling • Provide feedback to facilities • Changing behavior • People are influenced most by peer behavior, not by information STUDENTS & STAFF • Goal is to change the middle of the bell curve: to make average performers into high performers

  9. Why focus on Offices? Penn offices: • House over 15,000 Penn staff • Practices influence behavior in classrooms, labs, & research • Offices & classrooms are responsible for ~$20M in utility costs • Generate recycling (and landfill waste) • Penn Energy Use (2009)

  10. Why focus on Offices? Penn offices: • Responsible for Penn’s purchasing and “upstream environmental impact • Control the indoor environment • Impact commuting and travel choices • Order food and organize events Campus Emissions by Source (2009) 66% Electricity 3% Commuting 20% Steam (heating) 1% Solid Waste 9% Air Travel

  11. What is Green Office Certification? Voluntary program to improve office sustainability • Requires participation of the entire office • Point-based system to achieve Levels 1 through 4 • Points assigned for green actions accomplished • Higher point values for actions with greater impact and/or difficulty • Rewards actions by staff & administrators – is not based on building management or mechanical controls

  12. What is Green Office Certification? Certification program: • Focuses on daily operations • Actions within offices’ control: • Waste minimization • Purchasing • Energy use • Water • Indoor Air Quality & Human Health • Transportation / commuting • Staff Engagement

  13. Program Structure • Checklist of actions to implement • Actions are assigned point values • >250 possible points • Certification Levels: Level 1 > 25 points Level 2 > 70 points Level 3 > 130 points Level 4 > 180 points

  14. Green Offices at Penn • Kicked off March 31, 2012 • 36 Offices Certified by December 31, 2012 • 748 Staff Involved • 1, 794 Sustainability Actions Implemented

  15. Sample Checklist Points

  16. Gamification Strategies • Immediate feedback on scoring • Point system promotes competition • Teamwork necessary for the office to be successful • Metrics provide an indication of real-world impact • Certification provides a public recognition of accomplishment • Award “ceremony” creates an event to talk about accomplishments • Office green champions are recognized • It’s fun!

  17. Gamification Strategies Incentive: Level 4 Office points can be used as frequent flyer miles

  18. Gamification Strategies Incentive: Level 4 offices get a certificate signed by Penn President Amy Gutmann

  19. 36 Offices Certified as of Dec. 2012 Offices Certified 4 Level 1 19 Level 2 • Level 3 3 Level 4

  20. Program Participants Big hitters: • Research & Policy Centers (7) • University Administration (6) • College House Offices (6) Entire entities: • Department of Public Safety • Office of the General Counsel • Office of the Treasurer • Annenberg School for Communication

  21. Average Percentage of Actions Implemented Program Analytics

  22. Program Analytics Does size matter? • 16 Small Offices • 11 Medium Offices • 9 Large Offices

  23. Percent of Actions Implemented: Program Analytics

  24. Level 4 Case Studies • Penn Women’s Center • Penn Law Information Technology Services • Business Services Division – Main Office

  25. Level 4 Case Studies Contrasts: • 3 Different Sizes • PWC – 5 staff • Law IT Services – 17 staff • BSD – 42 staff • 3 Different Functions • PWC: Resource Center – student services • Law IT: support function within a school • BSD: university-wide functions (e.g. purchasing, dining, housing, transportation)

  26. Level 4 Case Studies Commonalities: • Renovations: all 3 offices were recently renovated • PWC – New Green Student/Staff Kitchen • Law IT Services – Office Remodeling • BSD – Complete Office Renovation • Champions Received management support

  27. Level 4 Case Studies Commonalities: • All 3 office gained points in all categories: • Waste Reduction & Recycling • Purchasing • Energy • Water • IAQ/Health • Transportation • Involvement

  28. Green Offices at Penn • Kicked off March 31, 2012 • 36 Offices Certified by December 31, 2012 • 748 Staff Involved • 1, 794 Sustainability Actions Implemented

  29. Level 4 Case Studies What made the difference? PWC • Environmental Education Kitchen, including worm composting – with videos, press coverage, signage • Recycled rainwater in bathrooms • Green personal supplies in the lactation and bathrooms BSD • Office sponsored campus-wide Initiatives: Writing Instrument Brigade, Sustainable Transportation Initiatives, OD Tote Program, Penn Moves. Law ITS • Motion Sensors in all offices

  30. Carbon Calculator Example:

  31. Carbon Calculator Example:

  32. Carbon Calculator Example:

  33. Carbon Calculator Challenges for Carbon Measurement • Actions Implemented Before Tracking • Measuring recycling quantities from individual offices

  34. Actions to Be Targeted Actions to Be Targeted • Purchasing Remanufactured Toner Cartridges (3 pts) • Recycling all Electronics that Leave the Office (4 pts) • Consolidating Networked Printers (3 pts) • Power Management Enabled on all Computers/Shut Down at Night (2/4 pts) • CFL/LED task lighting at work stations (3 pts)

  35. Questions Questions? For more information, contact Andrea Kreiner, Sustainability Consultant akrein@upenn.edu Daniel G. Garofalo danielg@upenn.edu http://www.upenn.edu/sustainability/programs/green-office-certification

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