Sustainability Initiatives at Pacific Lutheran University: An Integrated Approach

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Sustainability Initiatives at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityAn Integrated Approach
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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University
Grounded in Mission
to empower students for lives of thoughtful
inquiry, leadership, service and carefor others,
for the community, and for the Earth
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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University
Integration Across Campus
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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityHistory/Timetable

• 1974 Environmental Studies Certificate and
  committee created
• 1992 Environmental Studies Minor and First
  Campus Environmental Audit
• 1994 Environmental Issues Committee Appointed
• Fall 1998 Environmental Studies Major
  Implemented
• Spring 2002 Campus Sustainability Committee
  Established
• 2004 Talloires Declaration Signed
• 2006 Presidents Climate Commitment Signed

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityApproach and Strategy

• Set Clear Goals and Timetables
• Establish Priorities
• Involve Students, Faculty and Staff

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityGoals and TimetablesAdopted 2006

• Build all buildings to LEED Silver or better and
  seek LEED Certification
• Recycle 80 of campus wastes by 2010
• Reduce water consumption by 20 by 2011
• Reduce energy consumption by 25 by 2011
• Become carbon neutral by 2020

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityGoal Build to LEED Standards and
Seek LEED Certification

• Provides an External Measure of Performance
• Reduces Environmental Impact/Operating Costs
• Represents Long Term Approach

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New ConstructionLEED Gold

• Morken Center for Learning and Technology

• Geothermal energy
• Local and durable materials
• Recycled and recyclable products
• Recycling during construction
• Low VOC paints and fabrics
• Certified wood
• Water conservation
• Operable windows
• Drought tolerant native plants for
  landscaping
• Landscape mulch from recycled construction
  wood

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New ConstructionMartin J. Neeb CenterKPLU
Radio/Administrative Offices

• Construction begins in
• early 2008
• Designed to LEED Gold
• Incorporates key Morken Center design elements

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Restoration The New University Center and
Dining Center

• Water Conserving Dishwashers
• New Compactors to Support
• Recycling
• Composting Program for Food
• Waste
• Low Maintenance, epoxy sealed
• concrete floors
• Waste down by 80
• LEED Silver Certification Pending

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RestorationEastvold HallPerforming Arts
Center/Chapel

• LEED Silver restoration
• planned
• Adaptive use of historical
• building

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Building to LEEDThe right people on the bus

• Architects
• Engineers
• Project manager
• Owner
• Contractor
• Subcontractors
• Students
• Donors

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University

• Goal
• Reduce Waste
• and Recycle
• 80 by 2010

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University
The Can the Can Campaign

• Over 50 of employees have exchanged trash cans
  for small 1.5 quart containers.
• Eliminates use of 100,000 trash containers
  annually.

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityResidence Hall Move Out Project

• Large garbage totes arrive move out week
• Non-perishable food collected for Womens Shelter
• Blankets collected for Homeless Center
• Clothing collected, washed and soldproceeds buy
  childrens school backpacks
• Carpet, wood waste, furniture recycled or sold
• Book, paper, cardboard recycled
• E-waste recycled or donated

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityRecycling Initiatives

• Invasive species recycled using goats
• Regular program of surPLUs sales
• Key collaborations
• Recycling supported by Environmental
• Services Coordinator/Student Staff
• Partnership with Tacoma Public Schools
• Transition Students pick-up and sort paper
• for recycling
• Close working relationship with local waste
• management company (PLU Alum)

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityRecycling and Waste Reduction Awards

• Current recycling rate estimated at 76

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityGoal Reduce Water Consumption by
20 by 2010

• Low flow faucets and toilets in all renovations
• Residence hall plumbing retrofits six halls
  completed
• New dish machine
• New irrigation plan and controls
• Native, drought resistant plants

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityGoal Reduce Energy Consumption by
25 by 2011

• Lighting retrofits partially funded by BPA
• Motion sensors on lights
• Compact fluorescents in all halls
• Geothermal (ground source heat pumps)
• Energy Star appliances
• Fuel efficient vehicles

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityGoal Become Carbon Neutral by 2020

• Sightlines GreenLine pilot to measure carbon
  production

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityPresidents Climate
CommitmentTangible Actions

• Green Building Policy
• Energy Star Procurement Policy
• Air Travel Offsetting
• Provision of Public Transportation
• Green Power Production or Purchasing
• Climate-Friendly Investing
• Waste Minimization/Recyclemania

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University
An Integrated Approach

• Campus-wide Sustainability Committee
• brings together faculty, students, and
• key administrators
• Committees key roles
• Leadership from faculty
• Coordination across campus
• Campus public support
• Open membership

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University
Strong Student Leadership

• Sustainability Fellows Program
• Class Projects and Student/Faculty Research
• Residence Hall Competition
• Local Foods Initiative
• Campus Signage Project
• Student Fee (Tuition increase allocated to
  dedicated fund for sustainability projects and
  purchase of green energy.)

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Sustainability at Pacific Lutheran University
Challenges/Next Steps

• OperationsPacific Northwest
• Replace inefficient electric heat in vintage
  buildings with efficient HVAC systems
• Building insulation
• Transportation
• Develop attractive alternatives to single
  occupancy vehicle trips to campus
• Air traveloffsets that are cost effective,
  measurable and authentic
• Academics
• Campus as classroomstudent projects/fellowships/c
  apstones

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Sustainability Initiatives at Pacific Lutheran
UniversityAn Integrated Approach