UAlbany Sustainability
programs
Presentation to G3 students
May 6, 2011
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 What is sustainability?
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Brundtland definition – 1987 UN commissioned report
“meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their needs”
Not just “going green” or environmentally friendly
Broader scope
Mallia definition – “smarter and more efficient use of
our resources over the long term (20 + year time
horizon)”
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Triple bottom line
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 The Need for Sustainability
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Cost savings (materials and avoiding carbon costs)
Green economy
Energy independence
Healthier environment
 Executive Mandates
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EO 2, 4, 18, 24, 111, 134, 142
SUNY plan, new strategic plan
Federal: EPACT, EPA requirement
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 UAlbany commitments
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Talloires Declaration
American College and University
Presidents’ Climate Committee (ACUPCC)
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Develop institutional structure
Commit to interim actions
Conduct GHG inventory within one year
 UAlbany emitted 63,300 metric tonnes in
2009, 76% from energy and electricity
Develop carbon neutral action plan within two
years
 Interim plan completed last summer
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Overview of UAlbany infrastructure
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Establishment of Environmental Sustainability task force
Created the Director of Environmental Sustainability and
Energy Manager as two stand alone, full time positions
Formation of student group: UAlbany Students for
Sustainability
Created student Sustainability Councils
Created Sustainability coordinators program for faculty &
staff
Environmental sustainability housing
New in fall: living, learning community
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 In addition, all areas of the University have begun to
integrate sustainability into their practices
 Emphasis is on collaborative efforts, individual actions
that add up to a collective goal
 Communication of progress and goals is essential
 At UAlbany, we use our go green website, sustainability
bulletins, student newsletter, alumni newsletter, UAlbany
news, student newspaper and blast emails among our
outlets to achieve this
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Recycling
 Paper, commingled,
batteries, ink jet,
electronics
 Recyclemania
 Energy management
 Dorm campaign, fake
electric bills, office
energy management,
intersession shutdown
 Green IT
 Power management
 Alternative transportation
 UAlbany Shuttle, Free
CDTA bus lines, bike
share, carpool and ride
share programs starting
 Waste management
 Give and Go program
 Electronics collection
days, shredding events
 Distribution of reusable
mugs and canvas totes to
residents
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Green purchasing
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Mandates on paper – 100%
post consumer recycled
(office, janitorial and
publications)
Energy star rated
appliances
 Healthy living
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 Food and dining
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 Community outreach
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Presentations to campus
and community groups
Collaboration with
elementary schools
Gyms in each quad, SEFCU
facilities, classes offered
(SEFCU and EAP),
nutritionist on campus
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Purchase of local food;
grass fed beef
Elimination of trays
Colonial quad dedicated to
healthy choice
Fall farmer’s market
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Sustainability housing
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One upperclassmen house on Colonial
Freshman living learning community on
Indian
Contract with expectations delineated
 Calculate
carbon footprint
 Participate in the implementation of one
campus wide program each semester
 Participate in the planning of one dorm
activity each semester
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Energy Programs
 Energy campaigns – Dorm and Podium
 Competition
against own baseline of
electricity use
 Savings are returned to the dorms, overall
goal set for podium
 Various programs to support this: energy
brochure, video, musical chairs in the dark,
fake electric bills, CFL exchange, RA
educational programs
 5 campaigns have resulted in over $100,000
worth of savings in the dorms
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Operational policies and procedures
 Temperature set point policy
 Intersession shut down
 Upgrading buildings (window replacement,
lighting)
 LEED certification
 Shift to hybrid, electric and off road vehicles
from traditional diesel or gas
 Solar panels
 Geothermal heating system
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Empire Commons electricity bills
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Residents billed monthly on electricity use
Lowest usage win reward
 CFL exchange programs
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Received grant from National Grid
Look for opportunities to donate old bulbs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Recycling
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Participate in Recyclemania
Fliers reminding to recycle, did you know
posters
Training seminar for RA’s
Several RA programs on recycling
Recycling bin shoot
Returnable collection drive at home
basketball games and apartments (cans
donated to local charity)
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Sustainability Councils
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Goal of program is to communicate and
initiate sustainability programs throughout
campus
Students apply for council and chair
positions through the green scene web site
Chairs receive $500 stipend
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Give and Go program
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Bins provided at each quad to collect items still
usable but unwanted
Items collected, sorted and donated to local
organizations
Great way to divert waste and help the community
 Closed loop paper towel purchase
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Our recycled paper at one point served as the raw
material for paper towels used in bathrooms
 Clothing exchange on Earth Day
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Gently used clothing collected and exchanged
within campus community
Remaining clothes donated
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
 Closed loop paper towel purchase
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Our recycled paper at one point served as the raw
material for paper towels used in bathrooms
(education campaign with this)
 Alternative transportation offerings
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Car share (Connect by Hertz)
Carpooling program
Universal access to CDTA, UAlbany shuttle
Bike sharing
Sustainability Programs and
Businesses
 Operationally: How can a company and its units
support the goals of sustainability?
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Energy conservation strategies: office practices,
purchasing
Waste reduction: elimination of paper, other waste,
sustainable meetings and events
Recycling efforts: how to improve infrastructure and
availability of bins at events
Ethic of corporate social responsibility
Product stewardship, life cycle costing, triple bottom
line
Responsibility to shareholders and public perception
Sustainability Programs and
Businesses
 Culturally
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How can management communicate the goals of
sustainability?
 Set targets, reinforce message, set up rewards
What types of informational material can be made
available?
What types of benefits given to employees reinforce
the goals?
How do corporate actions back up goals?
 Operationally
 Supply chain: product stewardship, packaging
UAlbany Sustainability Programs
Questions?
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UAlbany Green Scene
 Follow us on Twitter:
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UAGreenScene