Campus Sustainability

1. Campus Sustainability at February 2009

2. With phrases such as: • Carbon Offset • Carbon Footprint • Ozone Friendly • Global Warming • Renewable Energy • Biodegradable • What does this whole Sustainability thing mean? • Sustainability • …meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. (Bruntland Commission, 1988) • In other words…… Lets be good stewards of our finite resources • (natural and economic)

3. So how does the State of Louisiana feel about the issue of sustainability? Executive Order No. BJ 2008 - 8 Implemented in January 2008 by Governor Bobby Jindal. “Whereas, Efficacy should apply to all areas of state government and state government should be a leader in energy efficiency and conservation and demonstrate the benefits of adopting such practices;”

4. And LSU…..? • 2007 LSU Green Campus Initiative Report Prepared by the LSU Office of Campus Planning in the Spring 2007. MISSION:  The “LSU Green Campus Initiative” is a comprehensive sustainability approach aimed at: • Lowering energy use and cost • Reducing greenhouse gases • Water and waste water management • Improving recycling • Hazardous waste reduction and disposal • Materials procurement on our campus Identifies 13 categories of sustainable actions and asks: What are we doing now? What can we do better?

5. LSU Green Campus Initiative - 13 Point Plan Hazardous Waste Management Energy Conservation Campus Planning and Design New Construction Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Energy Purchasing Water Conservation and Waste Management Disaster Management Campus Ground and Land Use Food and Food Service Teaching/Research/ Public Education Purchasing and Administrative Services Transportation Proposed Sub-Categories for Focused Discussion Energy Management Facility Management Process Management Material Management In Progress

6. Recent Sustainability Efforts by LSU

7. 2003 Campus Master Plan Major precepts dealing with sustainability: • Create a predominantly pedestrian oriented campus with alternative forms of transportation • “Green Corridors” linking major districts, and the expansion of the mature tree canopy

8. 2003 Campus Master Plan…. Sustainability related projects Pedestrian Corridors Over 5 miles of pedestrian corridors have been constructed since 2003, complete with lighting and benches. Transportation Master Plan Provides a “greening up” of existing parking lots with new pedestrian sidewalks.

9. 2003 Campus Master Plan…. Sustainability related projects Easy Streets Phase II Creates one way streets and dedicated bike lanes. Also closes streets to allow for true pedestrian corridors. Easy Streets Phase I Restricts student and visitor parking from campus core to improve pedestrian safety. Resulted in 62% decrease in campus traffic. Bus Service Study Study to improve bus service, including routes, schedules, cost and alternate fuel.

10. Campus Committee for Sustainability…. CCS • The Campus Committee for Sustainability was formed to advance LSU’s efforts towards sustainability. • The Following Campus Group are Represented: • Student Government • Environmental Conservation Organization • (Student) • Environmental Graduate Organization • (Graduate Student) • Planning • Architecture • Utilities • Academic Affairs • Finance and Administrative Services • Facility Development and Design Committee • Chancellor’s Office • Faculty Senate • Staff Senate • Public Affairs • Get Buy-In From Campus Community! • *Note…25% of Committee is Student Representation!!

11. Campus Committee for Sustainability…. CCS The CCS Has Been Tasked With Formulating a Plan to Accomplish the Following: • Inventory LSU’s existing carbon footprint (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions) • AcknowledgeLSU’s existing efforts towards achieving sustainability • Develop an action plan to improve LSU’s sustainability efforts • Promote public awareness of LSU’s efforts toward sustainability Proposed Sub-Categories for Focused Discussion Energy Management Facility Management Process Management Material Management

12. Campus Committee for Sustainability…. CCS Energy Management Facility Management • Currently • Energy Star appliances • Building Automation System monitors HVAC • Energy efficient equipment standards • Cogeneration unit (provides 60% power needed) • Currently • Easy Streets Ph I – 62% reduction • Easy Streets Ph II and Bus Transit Study • Sustainability Review of construction projects • 15% student trips - alternate transp. (bus, bike, walk) • Short term goals • Res Life Energy Competition • Computer energy reduction/e-waste program • Carbon footprint analysis • Energy Star certification of buildings • Classroom utilization • Short term goals • Bus transit system green vehicles • Easy streets – bike lanes and pedestrian corridors • VendingMiser • Bike racks and facilities • Tree farm Process Management Material Management • Currently • Existing hazardous waste disposal system • 10% diversion from landfill, 100 tons/month • Biodiesel production for landscape equipment • 70% grounds maintained organically • RecycleMania + material exchange program • Currently • Partnership with HORT class • 40% local or organic food service • Purchasing recycled content - 30% office paper, 100% business cards, 100% restroom paper • Short term goals • Green cleaning policy • Product standardization • Curriculum audit, Freshman experience • Website and newsletter • Student sustainability survey • Short term goals • Increase recycle bins • Compost and biodiesel facilities • Eliminate phone books, reduce packaging, • Water quantity use analysis – by building • Lakes and water quality

13. Sustainability Officer…. • The full time position titled Manager – Campus Sustainabilitywas formed to advance LSU’s efforts towards sustainability. • Major Duties: • Querythe Campus • EstablishBenchmarks • Identifyareas for improvement • Educationof the campus community and general public of sustainability issues and efforts • Denise Scribner, PE LEED AP • LSU Alumnus – Civil Engineering

14. Results

15. Sustainability Report Card - 2009 The Sustainability Endowment Institute released the “2009 Sustainability Report Card” for Higher Education on September 24, 2008. LSU improved it’s grade from a C- in 2008 to a C+ due to recent sustainability initiatives The National average is a C+, with only 15 schools nationwide scoring an A- LSU ranks in the top ½ when compared to other SEC schools, with only Arkansas, Florida, and Auburn scoring higher Note: There are multiple benchmarking organizations nationwide…be choosy. 2009 Sustainability Report Card – SEC Schools Comparison

16. In the Works

17. Organizational Membership… LSU, in an effort to improve Networking to learn Best Management Practices in regards to sustainable issues, will join and participate with the following professional organizations: • USGBC • Focuses on Green Buildings only. • High membership among Universities. • National and Regional conferences. • Manages the LEED Certification. • AASHE • Comprehensive sustainability coverage. • High membership among Universities. • National and Regional conferences. • Manages the PCC (Presidents Climate Commitment) http://www.aashe.org/index.php http://www.usgbc.org/

18. Presidents Climate Commitment… LSU provided a Peer Review Analysis to the Chancellor early February. The stated goal of the PCC is to have colleges and universities formulate a plan to ultimately achieve “climate neutrality” with a “zero carbon footprint” • By signing the PCC, universities are agreeing to the following: • Set a target date to become climate neutral • Make tangible and measurable efforts towards achieving climate neutrality • Document efforts and successes in a public format http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/

19. Presidents Climate Commitment… http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/

20. Spring 2009 Student positions with Office of Campus Planning through Chancellor’s Student Aid • Sustainability related classes available (ARCH, CE, RNR, BIOL, HORT, COASTAL) • Architecture 4041: Issues in Sustainability • CE 4155: Sustainability Engineering • OCS 3101: Global Environmental Cycles

21. Student Initiatives…. • Green Build workshop (February 28th) • RecycleMania (Jan-March) • Res Life Energy Competition (March) • Stadium Recycling (April 18th) • LSU Earth Day (April 24nd ) • Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) • Freshman Leadership Council • Students in Free Enterprise • Emerging Green Builders • Geaux Green

22. Questions, Debate, and Discussion: Peace……Later!