Sustainability at Denison

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Denison University

• Sustainability at Denison

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Dining Halls

• We have worked with student groups on weighing
  the post-consumer waste from our students'
  plates and trays, to increase awareness of this
  issue.
• We gather cardboard, plastics, glass, paper from
  our kitchens for recycling .
• We help gather recyclable beverage containers
  from Slayter.
• We have "trayless" days in our residential dining
  facilities.
• We offer reusable mugs for purchase at our retail
  outlets, and if you bring your "own" mug, we
  discount our coffee or beverage refill.
• We help support our local food banks, with
  leftovers from our dining facilities weekly
• We do composting of kitchen scraps in all
  kitchens.
• Biodiesel

• We are purchasing and using more biodegradable
  containers in our retail units.
• All of our printer ink is recycled we use
  recycled paper in our offices, and reuse and
  recycle this paper as well, we shred paper and
  supply this to local pottery stores for packing.
• Our Warewashing system is an EcoLab system called
  APEX, which reduces the amount of water,
  electricity, and staffing needed to keep dishes
  and plates clean we use all china and glassware
  in our residential dining facilities.
• In our dining facilities and office, we dim our
  lights, or do not turn them on whenever possible.
• Company wide, our procurement department works
  directly with our purveyors to ensure delivery
  routes are streamlined in order to reduce this
  carbon footprint.

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Sustainable Construction Practices

• All major projects at Denison University are
  required to be USGBC (Leadership in Energy and
  Environmental Design) Silver-certified per
  proclamation by the Denison Board of Directors.
• All non-major projects are required to closely
  follow USGBC LEED Silver planning and
  construction practices, however they are not
  required to be certified.

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How does this impact planning and construction?

• Cleveland Hall our first LEED project
  currently under construction. A major renovation
  and addition project which will house Denisons
  Studio Art and Art History Departments. The
  project includes the following LEED Silver
  recommended practices, products, and methods
• Sustainable Site
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation in Design

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Environmental Taskforce

• In the fall of 2007 the Finance Committee offered
  a proposal to create a new Environmental
  Committee within the University Council. This
  proposal was the direct result of a senior
  research project of a former Environmental
  Studies student, Elizabeth Zultoski (07). Her
  proposal to the Finance Committee initiated a
  broader discussion about Denisons environmental
  impact.
• The Environmental Taskforce was charged with the
  enormous goal of creating a plan to address all
  matters of concern relating to environmental
  sustainability. This includes addressing global
  warming, food issues, recycling, energy and more.

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Environmental Taskforce

• It is envisioned such a policy would speak to
  issues of
• Energy conservation, use ad production
• Guiding principles on care of the campus grounds
• Facility construction, renewal and maintenance
• Conservation in the use of all types of resources
• Materials procurement standards
• Recycling and disposal of materials
• Implementation standards to include financial
  cost/benefit analysis and evaluation tools

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The Homestead

• The Homestead is a living-learning experience
  unique among American colleges and universities.
  It is a student-run intentional community with a
  focus on ecological sustainability.
• The Homestead is an ever-evolving experiment in
  community that is inhabited and maintained by
  Denison University students with strong
  commitments to a socioenvironmentally
  responsible life ethic.
• The college has devoted resources and careful
  consideration to the quality of its surrounding
  environmental for decades. Starting with the
  establishment of the Denison University Homestead
  in 1977, the college has undertaken a number of
  wide-range initiatives that address the
  relationship between humans and their environment.

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Homestead
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Homestead
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Homestead Cabin Phoenix
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In Summary

• Denison University is committed to nurturing
  ecological sustainability both on campus and in
  the world beyond. Active leaders among Denisons
  students, administrators, faculty, staff and
  alumni work every day to challenge traditional
  ideas and look for new solutions.
• Denison recognizes that environmental
  responsibility is a way of life, not just a
  trend, and that new science continually brings
  new opportunities for improvement, so the active
  commitment to nurturing sustainability will never
  end.