Looking for examples of what other campuses have done to make an environmental difference? Click on a location below for more details:
Ball State University: Procurement
Ball State University, in Indiana, is currently working with Barnes & Noble to make more environmentally and socially preferable products available to students on campus. In addition, the university made 30% post-consumer recycled paper its default paper, and made 100% post-consumer recycled paper available to all departments on campus.
Colby College: Food Service/agriculture
In Maine, Colby College's sustainability programs extend to the school's dining halls, which spent 20% of their budget on local products in 2005. One dining hall regularly has more than 20 organic items on the menu. In addition, Colby is committed to purchasing only sustainable seafood, has eliminated paper cups from the dining hall, and has implemented a just-in-time strategy so that food is cooked to order, thereby reducing pre-consumer waste by 80%.
College of the Atlantic: Waste
Maine's College of the Atlantic held the first ever green college graduation with no waste generation. All trash was reused, composted or recycled. Anything left over was used for a student sculpture displayed at graduation. In addition, electric-powered buses transported guests between events and their hotels to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
To cut water use by 30%, Duke University developed a comprehensive water saving plan in 2005. The plan will reduce the volume of water used by irrigation systems, limit the watering of new trees and shrubs, and shut off fountains. The school has already installed low-flow toilets and shower heads to reduce residence-hall water use.
East Coast Colleges/Universities: Transportation
Twenty campuses on the East Coast participate in car-sharing programs. Students and faculty members pay a reduced membership fee in these programs and partner schools provide reserved parking spots, perform basic maintenance and clean the cars. Each car used takes seven to 10 cars off the road.
Oberlin College's "Green Building"
The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College is listed as one of the top 10 green projects by the American Institute of Architects. The building uses less energy than a typical building, has solar-friendly design features, is constructed from certified wood that meets Forest Stewardship Council standards, and houses a living machine to process waste water.
University of Boulder's Wind Challenge
The Environmental Center at the University of Boulder started a campus Wind Challenge to provide a way for students to purchase wind energy. In the spring of 2006, students offset 2% of housing energy consumption through this program. In addition, the school powers three buildings on campus with wind energy and intends to expand this to new construction.
University of California at Santa Barbara: Hazardous Waste
The University of California at Santa Barbara created an adopt-a-chemical program. Departments that have excess chemicals can put them up for 'adoption' by other departments that need them. The school saves money and reduces the generation of hazardous waste.
University of California at Santa Cruz: Landscaping
The University of California at Santa Cruz has adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to deal with pest control on campus; this strategy relies on alternative pest control methods and products. IPM's restrictions on pesticide use are more stringent than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's requirements or most state regulations.