UM Sustainable Campus Committee Annual Report
To UM President George Dennison
From the UM Sustainable Campus Committee, April 22, 2005
Representing SCC Work and Discussion from May 2004 – April 2005
OVERVIEW
Recent years have demonstrated a strong commitment on the part of UM students, staff,
faculty, and administration toward creating a sustainable campus environment. This UM
commitment was highlighted in 2002 by President Dennison’s signing of the Talloires
Declaration and his appointment of the Sustainable Campus Committee (SCC) to guide and
document UM's efforts in meeting the goals of the Talloires Declaration.
In the previous State of the Sustainable UM Campus Report (2003 – 2004), the SCC
documented projects that contribute to a sustainable campus. During this academic year, the
SCC has continued and expanded these projects. While valuable, the SCC recognizes that
these projects remain fragmented and lack the direction of a coordinated effort that would
integrate sustainability projects and programs into all campus activities.
In this Report, the SCC presents new directions that might establish UM as a leading
academic institution in sustainability among campuses of the Rocky Mountain West. We
highlight three specific recommendations that would reflect and demonstrate a campus-wide
commitment to sustainability. However, the SCC believes the ultimate success of these and
similar efforts requires an expanded programmatic commitment. Thus, the first section of this
document describes the need for a Sustainability Coordinator. Only then can the UM campus
begin to realize the full complement of benefits from a well-integrated, forward-thinking
sustainability program: cost-savings, research and grant opportunities, student recruitment,
and recognition as a regional and national leader in campus sustainability.
SCC 2004-05 REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS IN BRIEF:
A. THE VITAL STEP: Establish a UM Sustainability Coordinator Position
B. RENEWABLE ENERGY: Follow the example of UM College of Technology by
investigating and instituting all reasonable avenues for using and generating renewable
energy at UM.
C. PAPER USE AND PROCUREMENT: Commit to campus-wide procurement of
100% PCW (post-consumer waste) paper through a competitive bidding process.
D. SUSTAINABLE BUILDING: Register all major UM building projects with USGBC
(US Green Building Council) and commit to some level of LEED (Leadership in Energy
& Environmental Design) review and/or certification for their construction.
These four recommendations are explained in more detail below.
A: The Vital Sustainability Step: Establish a UM Sustainability Coordinator Position
The successful implementation of the three specific recommendations described below and
other campus-wide initiatives require UM to move beyond its current progressive, yet still
incomplete, vision of sustainability and toward a more integrated program that more fully
benefits the campus both financially and academically.
Where is UM now? UM has embraced the principles of the Talloires Declaration, and
numerous sustainability projects underway demonstrate movement towards meeting these
goals. These efforts are to be applauded, but it should also be recognized that the University
is at the beginning stages of sustainability. As with other small- to medium-sized institutions
with nascent sustainability programs, this stage is characterized by a growing number of
individually-driven sustainability projects that are not yet fully coordinated, systematic, or
intentional at the institution level.
Where should UM be heading? At the other end of the spectrum are universities that have
fully integrated sustainability into their campuses. The University of Colorado-Boulder, The
University of British Columbia, and Harvard University are examples of schools with highly
developed sustainability programs on their campuses. Each campus has an office dedicated to
promoting sustainability with full-time directors and additional staff. These schools have
chosen to make sustainability an integral part of everything that they do, from operations to
educational courses and research. Below are some examples of these sustainability programs
and how these efforts benefit their respective campuses.
Contributing to student curriculum: The Environmental Center at The University of
Colorado-Boulder was created in the late 1970’s, was funded by student fees, and
arose out of student government and student environmental groups. The Center
assists the UC-B by providing information on environmental issues to students,
faculty, staff, and the community. It gives students experience in interdisciplinary
environmental problem solving. In addition, the Environmental Center assesses the
environmental performance of the University and works with other parts of campus to
improve their environmental performance. The Center provides direct services to the
University community, including the UC Recycling program, the student bus pass
program, and the management of the University’s wind power program.
A cost-savings driver: At University of British Columbia (UBC), the new Campus
Sustainability Director funded her office from energy savings (she had $50,000 in
seed money from an outgoing president). In the first year she focused on "free"
savings (behavior change) and netted $75,000. This provided funds for other energy
savings measures that can provide even larger cost savings in the long run. For
example, Ecotrek is Canada’s largest campus energy and water retrofit. The lighting
portion of the retrofit project alone saves the university $600,000 per year.
Opportunities for research: At UBC, many faculty scholars focus on sustainability,
including ecological theory and green architecture. Campus think tanks ranging from
the Sustainable Development Research Institute to the Institute for Health Promotion
Research are conducting cutting-edge research work. Faculties of departments such as
Agricultural Sciences and the School of Community and Regional Planning have
adopted sustainability as a core value. The university also offers more than 40 courses
directly related to sustainability.
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How does UM get there? The programs described above may appear a long reach to the UM
at the moment. However, with visionary planning and leadership the University could make
great strides towards becoming the regional leader in campus sustainability. In October 2004,
the SCC, with generous support from President Dennison’s Office, sponsored a committee
member to attend the North American Conference on Sustainability and Higher Education at
the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. SCC and UM are members of this national
organization and in close touch with the growing network of higher-education sustainability
professionals. This conference was an excellent opportunity to attend interest sessions and to
network with people from campuses all over the country to discover their approach to and
progress with sustainability issues. From all sources, the single most important idea
emphasized was the need to institutionalize and coordinate campus sustainability efforts. A
first step is to create a paid position that is responsible for coordinating and directing the
sustainability efforts across campus. This maximizes efficiency, avoids duplication of effort,
and encourages a more holistic approach to campus sustainability.
Three of the key decisions required in creating such a position at UM are 1) identifying
resources to support a sustainability coordinator position, 2) defining the location of such a
position, administratively, and within the campus community, and 3) determining at what
level to establish a Coordinator position in terms of FTE. The SCC has researched different
methods for funding a sustainability coordinator and several models for housing a campus
sustainability office.
RECOMMENDATION: A Sustainability Coordinator position should be funded for at
least half-time equivalency by AY 2006-07, with a goal of full-time equivalency as soon
as possible thereafter. After research and discussion the SCC further recommends -A Sustainability Coordinator position should be located and administered either
in the Student Union, with some oversight by student government, or
should be directly responsible to the President’s Office, with oversight
responsibility to the SCC and its combination of faculty, staff, students, and
administrators, or
some combination of the above two options.
A Sustainability Coordinator position should be funded from any practical and
available combination of any of the following sources:
Fee for service programs
Written into the budget of a new project
Grants
Independent fundraising
Cost savings from increased energy efficiency
Seed money from university administrator(s)
Student fees
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B: Renewable Energy
The tenuous energy environment that we live in will continue to be exacerbated by world
events and a changing regional, national, and international energy economy. At the same
time, the ability of the University to keep pace with increasing budgetary demands,
especially in the area of energy supply and consumption, weigh heavy on the fiscal stability
of the institution. Recently, UM College of Technology has become involved in promoting
and moving the College to a more sustainable energy future through the Montana Hydrogen
Futures Project. These efforts to find, develop, use, educate, and demonstrate the viability of
alternative energy sources and conservation are viewed by the Sustainable Campus
Committee as important steps that the entire campus should support and implement as much
as possible. When successful, the economic, environmental, and international implications
could be significant demonstrations that positively influence lifestyles in Montana and on
campus. The University would be able to join many other institutions in this endeavor and
provide a model as to how higher education institutions can better exist in their environments
– encouraging students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters and others to become more
cognizant of the relationship that energy use has with their work, their studies, and their
campus community.
RECOMMENDATION: Follow the COT example by investigating and instituting all
reasonable avenues for using and generating renewable energy at UM.
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C: Paper Use and Procurement
This year the SCC has undertaken an initiative regarding paper procurement on campus. The
purpose of the initiative is to assess the feasibility of campus-wide procurement of 100%
PCW (post-consumer waste) paper for general office and departmental use. The initiative has
several components completed or in progress:
Research on cost and vendors. The Committee has identified a local vendor that could
provide 100% PCW paper at a competitive rate if purchased in bulk. Making paper
procurement part of a formal bidding process would likely lower these costs.
Test of paper in campus copiers. The Department of Communication Studies used a
case of 100% PCW paper for copies during Wintersession and had no problems with
paper jams, a common concern with recycled paper.
Research of paper usage and recycling on campus. The SCC is working in
conjunction with a Research Methods class in Communication Studies to survey
office managers around campus about their needs and concerns regarding paper.
RECOMMENDATION: Beginning AY 2006-07, the University should procure 100%
PCW paper for all office and departmental use through a competitive bidding process.
_______________________________________________________
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D: Sustainable Building
SCC believes it is of great benefit to UM, and to the local, regional, and global environment,
when the most progressive, sustainable practices, materials, and designs are incorporated into
UM building projects. SCC applauds the ongoing and growing efforts by Facilities Services,
particularly FS Director Jesse and Associate Director of Planning and Construction
Krebsbach, to investigate, consider, and use best building practices wherever possible, to
themselves score projects on the USGBC LEED system, and to evaluate life-cycle building
costs. However, the SCC believes the greatest benefits that can accrue to the University--in
terms of public relations, prestige, and recruitment of students and faculty--and the best longterm effects on the environment, will only be achieved if the national standard organization,
USGBC, and the national standard rating system, LEED, are officially incorporated and
contracted with for University building projects. The LEED registration and certification
system is flexible and considers geography, climate, and availability of materials, allowing
registration and certification of projects at many different levels and in a great variety of
ways. The essential element, the SCC believes, is the independent, third-party review and
endorsement that USGBC and the LEED rating system offer. By registering projects and/or
achieving some level of LEED certification, the University can take advantage of the widespread awareness, appeal, and prestige of this nationally recognized system, and the
University can insure verification of the best possible and practical sustainable building
designs, materials, and practices, within the flexible ranges and areas that the LEED system
encompasses.
RECOMMENDATION: Beginning AY 2006-07, all major UM building projects
should be registered with USGBC (US Green Building Council) and committed to some
level of official LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) registration
and/or certification and/or contractual review in their design and construction.
__________________________________________________________
This report and recommendations approved unanimously by all present at SCC
meeting of 6 April 2005. Respectfully submitted April 22, 2005 by-The UM Sustainable Campus Committee Officers:
Chair, Phil Condon, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies
Vice-Chair, Meredith Printz, Dining Services
SCC Annual Report Sub-Committee:
Sub-Committee Chair, Curtis Noonan, Center / Environmental Health Sciences
Meredith Printz, Dining Services
Steve Schwarze, Assistant Professor, Communications
Sarah Cobler, Environmental Studies Graduate Student
Other SCC Members Contributing to Report:
Dean Paul Williamson, College of Technology
Derf Johnson, ASUM Student Senator
Josh Carter, UM Recycling Intern
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