Researched and Compiled by Kyle Thomas
Intern, Office of the Chancellor
Washington University in St. Louis
Summer 2001
Improving a university’s operations environmentally has only recently received attention. Universities around the country are in different stages of improving their operations environmentally. This report looks at local universities as well as the “Top 25 Universities in the Country” as defined by U.S. News and World Report. The purpose of this report is to present information about what other institutions are doing in order to provide Washington University insight.This report looks at howWashington University is currently operating environmentally and at what different academic departments are doing in terms of research on environmental issues.
For most universities the Facilities department is responsible for recycling. There is a recycling or energy conservation department within facilities that handles recycling. Energy services handle conservation and is either apart of Facilities, Operations or Utilities. While it was difficult to find information on energy conservation, most of the universities contain detailed information and examples on the environmental and economic benefits of recycling, reducing and reusing items. Comprehensive plans on how to recycle and what to recycle are also given. Two of the best sites are www.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/recycle/overview.html, and http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Who/Recycle.asp.
Items that most universities recycle are: aluminum cans, separated PETE #1 and HDPE #2 Plastic; white paper; colored paper; envelopes; manila envelopes; telephone books; glass; laser toner; inkjet cartridges; cardboard; batteries; Styrofoam packing peanuts; transparencies; scrap metal and wood; fluorescent light tubes; computers and other electrical appliances; office furniture; and clothing. The money collected from recycling is usually used to help fund the recycling program.
Waste reduction comes about by purchasing materials with minimal packaging and making sure that paper or other products are not used in excess of actual needs. Tips on waste reduction include: using both sides of a sheet of paper; purchase long lasting, durable products; buy in bulk when possible; purchase recycled toner cartridges; reduce the amount of unnecessary packing; attempt to buy refills as opposed to a new product (for example: liquid soap refills instead of new liquid soap dispensers); reuse bags, containers, and other items; borrow, rent, or share equipment or tools used infrequently; and sell or donate goods instead of throwing them out.
Many universities also support recycling in their purchasing activities, and by encouraging conservation of electricity and water. Many also provide information on energy and water conservation such as replacing all regular showerheads with low-flow showerheads; water flow restricters in every campus toilet and urinal flush valve; a computerized Irrigation Management System that, based on weather data, controls the watering of large landscape areas on campus; installing compact fluorescent light bulbs in dormitory hallways and rooms; urging students to use more energy efficient room lighting; installing motion sensors in campus bathrooms; purchasing energy-efficient computers; and incorporating passive solar design in the construction of new buildings. Two of the best sites are http://www.stanford.edu/group/enviro-reps/res.actions.html and http://www.princeton.edu/~perc.
Locating information about the University’s stance on environmentalism was difficult to find. The Chancellor’s site contained limited information about the Committee for Effective Resource Utilization. The Committee advises the Chancellor about strategies for effective and efficient resource utilization. Two of the nine subcommittees are 1) Cumbersome Processes, Jim Bunton, Chair, and its goal is to “identify inefficient processes and streamline or eliminate them” and 2) Better Use of Infrastructure, Lori Franz, Chair, and its goal is to “study the efficiency and effectiveness of campus policy with respect to space and infrastructure utilization.” The Chancellor’s site also contained information about standing committees. The Environmental Affairs Committee “makes recommendations to the Provost on the development of policies for environmental issues and to develop formal and informal mechanisms for improved education enhance environmental awareness.”
Web site did not contain any information about their operations or committees concerning the environment.
Web site, did not contain any information about their operations or committees concerning the environment
The Web site did not contain any information concerning their environmental policy on operations. The administrative services link contains an inactive link to Environmental Health and Safety. The “from the chancellor” page and facilities management page did not contain any information on environment operations.
The home page contains a link to the administrative page, which has a link to the Environmental Health and Safety page http://www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/. The Environmental Affairs Office identifies and communicates environmental issues and standards of significance to the faculty, students, staff, and administration. The office also creates awareness and responsibility among the people at Harvard and integrates environmental considerations into the academic and administrative missions of the University. There are various committees in the EHS office. Of particular interest, the Environmental Health and Safety Management Committee established the following principles to guide faculty, staff, and students in their activities at Harvard: 1) comply with all applicable environmental and safety laws and regulations; 2) minimize waste through efficient and appropriate use of resources; 3) encourage personal accountability for responsible environmental and safety behavior within the University community; 4) minimize hazards to students, faculty, staff, and visitors; 5) participate in the development of sound environmental and safety policies and regulations; and 6) require those who do business with Harvard to perform their work in a manner that protects the University from environmental and safety risks.
The Facilities Maintenance Operations page is also on the administrative page. It contains detailed guidelines for residential and office recycling as well as an overview of Harvard’s Trash and Recycling Data. www.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/recycle/overview.html
The facilities maintenance page also links to Solid Waste and Recycling- Why Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? http://www.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/recycle/why_rr.html.?#1 An interesting fact from the page is that removing materials through recycling costs Harvard no more than waste disposal, and provides more employment than trashing, especially in the city where labor is available. Additionally, on January 1, 1993, recycling became mandatory for the residences, businesses, and institutions of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Working at Yale link on the main page links to the administrative departments which links to Office of Facilities page. This page links to Custodial Services, which contains detailed information about Yale’s recycling program. http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Who/Recycle.asp. There is information about guidelines for recycling, where the recyclables go, Yale’s recycling and trash tonnage figures since 1988 http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Who/Recycle.asp#tonage, frequently asked questions about recycling as well as the different departments and their responsibilities.
The Recycling Department consisting of the recycling coordinator and student employees plans, implements and coordinates campus recycling efforts. Custodial Services removes recyclables from buildings and places them outside for Grounds maintenance. Dining Services removes recyclable from kitchens and dining halls and places them outside for Grounds. Grounds Maintenance collects cardboard in a rear-loading packer truck, papers, commingled cans, bottles and foil in compartmentalized trucks and delivers the recyclables to the New Haven transfer station for delivery to the processors. Grounds also collects scrap metal and collects leaves for composting. Yale Recycling, an undergraduate student organization, began recycling in 1970 and handed over most of the recycling duties to Facilities in 1990. Currently the group recycles computers and plastics. Also, all faculty, staff, and students—all members of the Yale community are required by Connecticut State Law, City of New Haven Ordinance and Yale University Policy to recycle. The Utilities and Plant Engineering office http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Who/Overview handles utilities controls, automation and the design and management of energy conservation projects.
On the home page, under the Administration site under the Executive Vice President is a link to the Physical Plant Web site. The Physical Plant's Buildings and Grounds Department operates the Recycling Center. The Recycling page contains limited information about what to recycle and recycling do’s and don’ts. http://www.its.caltech.edu/~cetfers/recycling.html
The Environmental task force http://www.its.caltech.edu/~cetfers/cetf.html composed of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff has the main goal of reducing the impact that the members of the Caltech community, as individuals and as part of the institute, have on the environment. They accomplish this by educating the campus and by changing ecologically irresponsible practices at Caltech. Current projects they have worked on are the Annual Caltech Earth Day Fair, instituting a campus environmental policy, setting up action field trips and campus speakers, and bicycle advocacy in Pasadena with the Foothill Bicycle Initiative.
The Safety Office page links to the Environment, Health, and Safety office http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~safety. The office prevents degradation of the environment through responsible environmental management and through loss control programs to conserve resources and minimize losses.
On the main page, the Administrative Offices page links to the Facilities Operations page http://www-facilities.stanford.edu/, which links to the Energy and Conservation page. There is a detailed list of energy conservation ideas for the home, office and classroom; and water saving ideas for outdoors, lawn and garden as well as recycling, waste reduction, and reusing materials.http://www.stanford.edu/group/enviro-reps/res.actions.html
The Stanford Energy Management Group Web Site contains information about Stanford's Energy Management and Control System (EM&CS) http://www.stanford.edu/group/EMG/html/emcs.html which is responsible for promoting, facilitating, and documenting energy conservation on campus. Additionally, the Energy Retrofit Program (ERP) http://www.stanford.edu/group/EMG/html/erp.html was established to reduce the overall energy costs on the Stanford University campus by improving building level energy efficiency.
On the main page, there is a link to administrative offices and departments. The Facilities Management page contains a link to Operations. Scrolling down there is the title “other services” and recycling is listed. The Northwestern Universities recycling department is responsible for all recycling activities and source reduction on campus. Source reduction involves preventing the generation of waste, and reducing toxicity.
http://www.northwestern.edu/facilities-management/recycling/
There are recycling contacts in all of the offices and residence halls to help educate participants about recycling and to coordinate with the recycling office. The Northwestern custodial staff assists with the collection of recyclables, stays on the lookout for contamination and posts contamination alerts where they observe problems.
The main page contains a link to administration. Under the office of the Executive Vice President for Administration is the link to Facilities Management, which has a link to Columbia Conserves. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/green/index.html
There is information about Campus Developments and Initiatives, recycling, reducing and reusing, living green and the advisory committee on the environment. Columbia Conserves is responsible for overseeing the University’s efforts to implement and maintain environmentally responsible practices and to provide education and information to students, faculty, and staff on "living green" every day at Columbia. The Advisory Committee on the Environment reviews administrative initiatives related to the environment and makes recommendations for continued improvements in environmental practices.
The administration link on the home page links to the administration departments. The Office of Facilities and Engineering is in charge of recycling and conservation. Specifically, Custodial and Grounds handles recycling stewardship and Operations handles energy stewardship.
Operations assure efficient building systems operation and cost-effective utilization of campus utilities by: monitoring and assuring efficient operations of Facility Control and Monitoring System (FCMS); HVAC scheduling and operating guidelines; Utility meter operation; maintenance and analysis; an F&E Communications Center (primary campus contact 75% of the time); campus conservation efforts regarding education and coordination, project review and recommendations, building systems & equipment modifications, retrofits & upgrades, and new construction.
Custodial and Grounds did not list any additional information on recycling.
The Administration link on the main page links to Office of Facilities, which links to recycling http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/f/facilities/www/recycle/index.html
The MIT campus recycling program began with white paper only during the summer of 1990 and grew to include other materials as more storage space and funding became available. The recycling home page states “The more we recycle at MIT, the more money is saved, which is in turn used to expand and maintain the recycling program. In 1999, MIT's recycling rate was only 5%. With the expansion in bins and the range of materials collected, this can be increased to at least 30% if not 40% in Y2000.” The site contains detailed information on what to recycle and it also contains information on waste minimization (reduction and reusing) practices for writing and printing on paper, packaging, inventory and purchasing, equipment, and organic waste. http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/f/facilities/www/recycle/wastered.html
The campus services link on the home page links to administrative offices which links to Department of Facilities. The building services office handles recycling but they do not list any specific information about what they do.
http://Fac-web-server.princeton.edu/bldgsvcs/default.htm
Conducting a search through their Web site, the following information was found: The Policy and procedure manual from the Office of Human Resources stated that as of July 1992, recycling was mandated by the State of New Jersey, and all New Jersey institutions must comply.
The recycling Web site contains information about recycling and waste management http://www.princeton.edu:80/~perc/recycling.html but it has not been updated since 1993. The Princeton Environmental Reform Committee (PERC) http://www.princeton.edu/~perc is a group of students, graduate students, faculty, and staff that work with university offices and departments to encourage responsible environmental management in the Princeton University community. The site contains information about the PERC Environmental Audit, and the Environmental Studies Program. The audit contained information on the campus energy use, solid waste/recycling, water use, food procurement and disposal, procurement policies, construction of new facilities, transportation, and academic environmental opportunities. Princeton has experienced economic benefits as a result of energy conservation practices. The campus also has experienced decreased consumption of non-renewable resources as well as generation of air pollution. The University continues to look for energy conservation that provides cost savings and lessens the university’s impact on the environment.
Princeton uses an energy management and control system (called the Central Supervisory Control System or CSCS), that links to remote buildings by means of direct burial cable, modems, and telephone lines and a remote microprocessor data multiplexer (RMDM). Together the instruments transmit temperature readings, status of mechanical equipment, steam-chilled water and electrical meter readings to the central processing computer. The central computer controls the starting and stopping of mechanical equipment, time of day scheduling, and the optimal start time calculations. Thus, based on criteria entered into the computer, the system can calculate the appropriate time to start air conditioning systems. Lighting can also be included in the system to conserve more energy.
The home page has a link to Working at Brown, which links to A-Z, which contains a listing of directory departments. The department of Facilities is responsible for reducing electrical and mechanical energy emissions. http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/energy/
The Department of Plant Operations is in charge of the recycling program and implements many resource conservation efforts.
Brown is Green - Campus Environmental Stewardship is listed under the A-Z listing of directory departments http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/
Brown Is Green is a cooperative effort by all departments, staff, students, and faculty. It is an educational and advocacy program, which links student research and education efforts with administrative offices. The goal is to implement programs that reduce the environmental risks of operations. A committee composed of faculty, students and administration guides it. The Web site contains comprehensive information about Brown’s environmental efforts on recycling, energy and water conservation, http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/big/BrnIsGrn.html#Water waste reduction http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/waste/ and building environmentally efficient buildings http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/greenarch/
Environmentally efficient buildings minimize the environmental impact of the construction process as well as the life of the building by reducing the energy load of the heating, cooling and lighting systems, and substituting non-toxic, renewable or recycled-content materials.
The Office of Facilities services is in charge of recycling. Recycling is listed in the A-Z section of administrative services. http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/getDone/recycle.php3
It contains information about what can be recycled and where the recycling bins are located. The school recycles 50 tons of paper and 3 tons of glass, plastic and cans per week-, which amounts to 30% of Penn’s waste stream. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the top institutional recyclers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Engineering and Energy Management Services is in charge of energy related initiatives.
Grounds, sanitation and recycling services under the department of facilities is responsible for recycling. http://152.3.18.208/services/Grounds.htm The recycling unit collects, sorts and markets glass, assorted paper, newspaper, cardboard, and aluminum can recyclables for reuse. There are recycling containers strategically located in or near virtually every building on campus. Recycling services is also in charge of the compost facility. The recycling office contains the following facilities and equipment:
Electrical services are in charge of energy conservation but no further information was listed.
The administrative link on the home page links to all of the administrative divisions. The facilities management link leads to grounds department, recycling and solid waste page. http://www.fm.cornell.edu/recycling/
The site contains guidelines for recycling, information on safe dumpster use, information on where the recyclables end up and Cornell’s recycling goals. Cornell’s recycling goals are to make recycling easy, recycle as much as possible, keep landfill costs to a minimum, reduce campus waste through sound purchasing practices, and maintain a position of environmental stewardship.
The Utilities department under the Administrative, Facilities and Finance division is responsible for energy conservation. http://www.utilities.cornell.edu/Dept/default.htm
Specifically engineering, planning and energy maintenance assesses the potential of new energy efficiency technologies, encourages the use of promising new equipment to the University community and supports the efforts of building managers to conserve energy.
The Administrative link on the main page leads to administrative services, which leads to environmental services. http://www.uchicago.edu/adm/rescons/ucrecycle_home.htm
The page contains information on waste prevention tips, detailed information on the recycling program and links to other recycling programs. The site also contains a virtual recycling tour showing how the recyclables travel from recycle bins to the Recycling Yard. The company Weyerhaeuser empties the paper and cardboard dumpsters, and the Resource Center empties the glass, plastic, and steel and aluminum dumpsters. The Resource Center also maintains the compost heap. There was no information found about energy conservation.
The facilities operations and management page http://www.dartmouth.edu/~fom/ contains links to recycling and utilities management. Utilities management is in charge of energy and water conservation. Central controls monitored by Utilities controls the heat and air. Energy is also conserved by using fans and when possible shutting heating and cooling systems down. Utilities encourages the community to purchase electrical appliances that have the Energy Star rating.
The recycling page http://www.dartmouth.edu/~fom/Conserves.html contains comprehensive information on recycling, composting and the Dartmouth Save Power and Receive Cash program. All residence halls that reduce their energy from the term prior receive fifty percent of the “saved money” which is allocated towards a dorm party, or buying common room furniture or appliances.
The Environmental Conservation Organization composed of representatives, coordinators, and advisors http://www.dartmouth.edu/~eco/ work to provide an educational resource to students, teachers, faculty, and staff interested in learning more about recycling, composting, energy conservation, and other local environmental issues.
The recycling page is under the Facilities Management page. http://www.emory.edu/FMD/web/Recycling/recycling.html Emory has a Recycling Center which services the campus and surrounding community (such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Wesley Woods Geriatric Center, and the Emory Village). The center has many exterior loading chutes to store commodities collected throughout campus. The huts empty onto a conveyer belt where full-time staff conduct a negative sort to pull contaminates before the commodities are processed through a baler. A machine converts loose recyclables such as aluminum cans, cardboard, plastic, and white paper into compact bales. The center also has three 40-yard roll-off containers that collect clear, green, and brown glass. There are also containers for scrap metal, concrete, and mixed paper (including magazines, phone books, and colored paper).
The Division of Recoverable and Disposable Resources, which is under Facilities Management, is in charge of recycling. http://ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu/ The site contains information on what is recycled and how, a guide to recycling on grounds, their yearly totals and diversion rates, a recycling video that can be downloaded and a virtual recycling tour. The University is currently turning their large recycling area into a recycling park.
The UVA Recycling Center is also involved with the Medical Equipment Recovery of Clean Inventory program. Out of date items, samples, and clean, unused medical supplies from the UVA Health Sciences Center are collected and shipped to people that need these supplies throughout the world. (Found on the guide to recycling on grounds). The Utilities department also under facilities is in charge of energy conservation. They use thermal energy systems, energy efficient lighting, motion sensors, and energy efficient motors to conserve energy. (Found on what’s new.)
The Web site did not contain any information about recycling or energy conservation except that as a component of hazardous wastes and material certain chemicals are recycled. Conducting a search of the site, two articles from the Vanderbilt Register were found. One article contained information of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety’s new program of recycling and redistributing hazardous wastes.
Another article contained information about conservation efforts on campus. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/register/Aug16_99/story4.html The Resource Conservation Advisory Committee spearheads recycling on campus. They coordinate the Student Move-Out program. When students move out they can donate unwanted items to Goodwill by placing them in certain areas. The committee is trying to get more students involved as well as the Medical Center in recycling efforts.
The Campus Planning and Construction Office utilizes resource conservation techniques. After a building’s demolition, the steel, aluminum, copper and other building materials are sorted out and made into new building materials. The office also restricts the use of environmentally threatened wood species in campus construction and protects tree roots around construction sites with crushed stone or filter fabric construction drives.
There is also a compost pile on campus.
The Office of Facilities Operations http://www.nd.edu/~ndfacop/ is in charge of picking up recyclables. Searching the site, a home page for the recycling program was found. http://www.nd.edu/~pohara/recycle.htm The site contains pictures depicting the recycling process from the beginning when the trucks pick up around campus to the end when it is delivered to the warehouse. There was not any other information given.
Conducting a search of the site, the home page for recycling was found. http://recycle.berkeley.edu/ The Campus Recycling and Refuse Services is under the Physical Plant department. They coordinate recycling with Custodial Services and Ground Services. They also provide information on waste prevention, reuse of materials and purchasing recycled-content products. Their Web site contains information on the Physical Plant-Campus Services Corporation Yard; dining hall/Campus restaurants Food Compost, a guide to recycling and a recycling quiz.
The company Berkeley Worms collects virtually all pre-consumer campus food wastes. The waste is processed and composted with a specially designed grinder truck. Then it is bagged and sold at local farmers markets, plant nurseries, and in the bulk landscaping market. The worm castings are a high-end soil amendment, known to boost plant vigor and growth. http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~compost
On February 16, 2001, http://recycle.berkeley.edu/news/02162001.htm Chancellor Berdahl and the ASUC hosted a campus-wide recycling summit with top administrators and active students to discuss the future of recycling. The Chancellor stated that recycling is part of citizenship and that the University has an obligation to support it. Teddy Liaw, President ASUC, stressed the campus duty to provide leadership in environmental consciousness.
Recycling is under Facilities management. http://www.fm.ucla.edu/fm/html/sp_prg/recyc_frames.html The Web site contains detailed information about the recycling program. Of interest to note: Over 14 million pounds per year of waste go to a waste-to-energy plant located in an industrial section of the City of Commerce instead of going to a landfill. The plant converts the waste to electricity. The modern facility was approved by the Southern California Air Quality Management District and meets the most stringent air quality standards. Using waste in this efficient way helps conserve natural resources such as oil, coal and natural gas.
In terms of land conservation, over 1.7 million pounds of green waste from landscaping per year is recycled. Many tree branches are turned into wood chips, which are spread throughout campus and used as ground cover or mulch. Large field grass mowers have mechanisms that cut the grass and then re-cut it into such minute fragments no waste is produced.
For water conservation http://www.fm.ucla.edu/fm/html/sp_prg/water.htm processed cooling water and de-Ionized/reverse osmosis (DI/RO) rejection water is collected and transported to Energy Services for use in air conditioning, heating and electricity.
On the home page there is a link to Carnegie Mellon’s decision to purchase 5% of its energy from wind–generated electricity. This is part of the University’s commitment to the environment. Ten 1.5-megawatt wind turbines will generate the energy. Wind-generated electricity will eliminate the production of 13 tons of nitrogen oxides per year, a precursor of ozone smog; 35 tons of sulfur dioxide, which leads to acid rain; 5,100 tons of carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warming; and 0.18 pounds of mercury, a pollutant that is toxic to humans and the environment.
The Environmental Practices Committee is in charge of recycling. http://www.cmu.edu/epc/index.html The Web site contains information on the benefits of recycling, what can be recycled, information on waste reduction and ozone action tips for individuals. The site offers the following tips for reducing food wastes: keep a reusable mug, plate, or silverware at your desk or in your office; use such items when you purchase drinks or food on campus; do not take a bag unless you need one; pack food that you bring from home in reusable containers.
The custodians collect materials from indoor campus recycling containers on a weekly recycling schedule. The groundkeepers collect the materials from the outdoor recycling containers. The materials are taken to central drop off locations on campus. Haulers pick up the materials from these locations weekly or monthly and take them to local materials recovery facility. At this facility the materials are sorted, baled, smashed or shredded. The product is shipped to a wholesaler or directly to a paper or steel mill, metal foundry, glass manufacturing plant, or plastic reclaimers and converters.
The office of Facilities Management is responsible for the recycling program http://www.georgetown.edu/facilities/facmgmt.html. Their Web site for solid waste and recycling is not working however.
The recycling page http://www.jhu.edu/~recycle/ contains comprehensive information about what items to recycle and information on the greening initiative. The mission of the initiative is to reduce the negative effects of The Johns Hopkins Institutions on the environment and to implement change and increase the scope of positive practices, which are ongoing at Johns Hopkins. It began when the University’s President, Bill Brody, made a statement regarding the University's commitment to protecting the environment. The School is committed to recycling and energy conservation. John Hopkins has retrofitted the lighting in the buildings so they are more efficient. An ice storage system for chilled water (air conditioning) allows the university to produce ice at night when power plants are producing excess energy (that would otherwise go to waste) and then melts the ice during the day. The University is investing in new off road vehicles that are powered by electricity and shuttle buses powered by natural gas. The University also purchases environmentally preferable products.
The Center for a Viable Future is a part of the School of Hygiene and Public Health. Their objectives are to create at Johns Hopkins University an interdisciplinary center to focus on the health consequences of global environmental change arising from human activities; educate the University community about the potential human health consequences of environmental change; identify strategies and policies that will increase the capacity of communities to care for their own environment as an integral component of a strategy for protection of human health; and prepare position statements, journal articles, scientific papers, and other educational materials to mobilize the scientific community and to inform the public about these issues.
In an interview with Ralph Thaman, Associate Vice Chancellor - Facilities Planning and Management, Ed Barry, Assistant Manager - Capital Projects and Records and Edward McMullin, Manager of Technical Operations, the following information was learned:
Facilities Planning and Management is committed to saving energy at Washington University. The University’s utility costs have remained essentially flat over the past nine years even though the School has experienced a 25% increase in building area. Some of the energy saving methods employed by the Facilities Planning and Management Department are as follows:
The use of energy efficient lights (T8 lamps) and high efficiency electronic ballasts on existing and new lighting fixtures has dramatically reduced electrical energy consumption. These devices require less energy for lighting.
Interior lighting is limited to 2 watts per square foot maximum. This lighting level has proven to be adequate for normal lighting applications. During the design of new buildings and renovations, extensive design reviews are conducted to ensure that lighting levels do not exceed standards.
Energy efficient motors are used to reduce the amount of electricity required to drive large equipment like fans, pumps and chillers.
Variable speed drives are used on fan and pump motors to match the speed of the motor to the actual demand, thus saving electricity at off-peak loads.
The current decentralization program of the main high pressure boiler plant into a series of small low pressure boiler plants will reduce fuel consumption by placing boilers closer to the loads, thus minimizing steam losses in the distribution system. The separation of the South 40 from the main boiler plant and the installation of a dedicated hot water boiler plant at the South 40 is one example of this decentralization program. Currently, Thermal Plant #2 (McDonnell Hall) and Thermal Plant #3 (Snow Way Garage) are being built and will be in full operation this fall. Future plants will be built at the Bio-Medical Building, the VADC complex and the new University Center.
The operation of the main boiler plant was changed about ten years ago by shutting down the boilers during the summer months, thereby eliminating the mismatch between boiler capacity and summer heating loads and the corresponding inefficiencies. Small “summer” boilers were placed in individual buildings to provide steam/hot water for summer heating requirements.
High efficiency chillers are used to minimize the electrical power required to produce chilled water for air conditioning.
Digital control systems and automatic valves are used to allow colder condenser water temperatures during cold weather, thus improving chiller compressor efficiency and reducing electrical consumption.
Cooling tower fans are cycled on and off based on demand thereby saving electrical energy.
In the design of new buildings and renovations, space cooling and heating loads are limited to a maximum of 20 btuh/ft2 and 15 btuh/ft2, respectively (British thermal heating units). Design reviews are held to verify that these levels are not exceeded. Maintaining these levels reduces electrical and fuel consumption required for cooling and heading, and also reduces the size and first cost of equipment. Occasionally, architectural and/or space programming changes are made to maintain these levels.
Outside air for ventilation of labs is kept at minimum required levels to conserve energy. In a conditioned building, outside air must be cooled or heated to the inside temperature. On hot or cold days, this can equate to a significant load on the HVAC systems. Ventilation air for labs is minimized by shutting down fume hoods when not in use and by incorporating low velocity (60 fpm) fume hoods that require less exhaust air for safe operation.
Ventilation air for people is maintained at minimum levels as required by ASHRAE. Demand ventilation using CO2 sensors is being used to provide only the amount of air that is required based on occupancy. This limits the amount of outside air during periods of low occupancy to prevent wasted energy. Night setback modes are also used to shut down HVAC equipment at night when buildings are closed.
Outside air/exhaust air heat recovery systems are used to recover the heat in exhaust air before being discharged from the building. This captured heat is used to pre-heat or pre-cool outside air before being brought into the HVAC systems. This reduces steam and chilled water demands thus saving fuel and electricity.
Low-e (emmisivity) glass coatings are used on all windows of new and renovated buildings to limit the amount of solar heat from entering the interior space, thus minimizing the demand on air conditioning systems.
The conversion of the main boiler plant from coal to natural gas has significantly reduced emissions, ash and soot and has also eliminated the need to retrofit the plant with costly pollution control equipment.
Most chillers have been converted from ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) to environmentally friendly hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s).
Additionally, Facilities Planning & Management coordinates with AmerenUE during peak energy demand periods. Facilities decreases energy use in non-essential buildings so AmerenUE can continue to provide energy to area homes. Facilities employs many energy saving methods to keep the University powered while reducing energy usage and costs. Updated technologies and improved efficiencies have improved the reliability and capacity of the utility systems.
The Facilities Planning and Management page contains the following information about recycling:
Recycling is a volunteer program that depends upon each individual contributing to the belief that recycling is a necessity. Containers are located throughout campus. Follow instructions on the containers and the guidelines for paper recycling.
Paper Recycling Information:
Acceptable Paper:
Letterhead Stationary—any light color (no fluorescent, reds or other dark colors), Photocopy paper—any light color, Typing paper—any light color. Envelopes–any light color but brown, plastic windows are acceptable, carbonless duplicate invoice and NCR forms, computer paper, legal pad paper—any light color, chipboard back of pad is NOT acceptable, post-it notes, no bulk amounts, a minimum combined in with other office papers is fine. (Staples are acceptable, but please remove paper clips and reuse them!)
Unacceptable Paper:
Kraft paper (i.e. brown bags, envelopes, packing paper, etc.), newsprint, phone books, slick magazines or catalogues, paper plates, cups or food wrappers, any other shiny or glossy coated paper, plastic, carbon or blueprint paper, copy paper wrappers (they are coated to resist moisture), rubber bands, clips, etc., groundwood computer paper, self-sealing or reusable adhesives.
In an interview with Steve Hoffner, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students/ Director of Operations and Karen Grimes, Assistant to the Director of Operations the following information was learned:
CEQ, the Committee on Environmental Quality, is leading the Living Responsibly efforts. Faculty, staff, students and representatives from the student organizations of the Sierra Student Coalition, Green Action, Progressive Action Coalition (PAC), and the Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI) are on the committee. Their Web site address is www.ceq.wustl.edu . CEQ “allows members of the Washington University community to voice their concerns regarding environmental problems on campus and work together to solve them. We strive to preserve and improve overall environmental quality, implement plans for sustainable development, and heighten environmental awareness.”
The educational component of the effort is multifaceted. Nate Dewart, the new recycling coordinator, will be spearheading the educational efforts, and will also oversee the day-to-day recycling operation in cooperation with Grounds and Housekeeping. One part of the educational component involves meeting with the different schools and with the community to encourage participation in Living Responsibly. CEQ will be visiting each residential floor during the first Residential Advisor’s meetings. There will be signs in every room/suite (on the back of the main door) on campus with details on how one can live responsibly. The sign contains information about reducing waste and energy consumption.
Turning lights on and off can waste more energy than simply leaving them on. Turn off lights in areas when they are vacated for the night or for extended periods of time. Maintaining a consistent temperature in a room reduces excess stress on the heating and cooling systems of the buildings. Make sure the temperature in a room is at a reasonable setting and leave the fan on low. Keep windows closed when the system is on. Make double sided copies. Take advantage of the paper and toner-saving feature on most printers and the power-saving features available on computers and monitors. Only take as many amenities as needed from dining areas. Avoid allowing water to run when applying soap, brushing teeth, etc.
For reusing: avoid purchasing disposable cups, flatware and silverware: purchase reusable items and wash frequently. Use the provided reusable WU dining services mug and save money. Use a hand towel instead of paper towels. Keep your Bear’s Mart bags and bring them back with you when you return. Use the back of paper you no longer need for rough-draft printouts, messages, reminders, etc.
For recycling: recycle bins are located in buildings throughout the South 40 and Hilltop campus. Familiarize yourself with the various groups of materials, which can be recycled. We recycle commingle: plastics # 1 and #2, glass, aluminum and steel (remove lids and rinse containers first); mixed paper: office (white paper) and light colored paper; and newspaper: newspaper, inserts, magazines, phone books, Ternion, course listings.
Also, as part of the educational component CEQ and Dining Services will again be distributing mugs to all campus residents to help with reduction and reusing. People receive a to-be-announced discount off fountain drinks and a $0.05 discount off other drinks every time they use their mugs and additional mugs are available for purchase in the Mallinckrodt food court for $ 3.49.
CEQ has a budget of ten thousand dollars for the year. They are buying approximately 30 recycling containers for classroom areas and for other heavily- used buildings such as Mallinckrodt, Millbrook, Fraternity Row and the Olin Library exterior areas. There will also be a recycling container at Holmes Lounge. The containers are made of recycled materials such as plastic chips. The containers will be labeled commingle: aluminum, glass, plastic; newspaper; and mixed paper. There will also be a container for cardboard collection at Wohl and Mallinckrodt. During the move-in days there will be a cardboard container in the swamp as well. There are labeled recycling containers in each residential hall for students to place recyclables. There are labeled recycling containers outside of the residential halls where Grounds and Housekeeping will place recyclables. Mid-West Waste picks up the recycling and Resource Management sorts it. The committee is researching the possibility of having a receptacle at Wohl for students to place plastic bags. The Grounds and Housekeeping staff will receive training about handling the recycled materials.
Bon Appetite and Dining Services are offering paper plates and 16 oz. paper bowls beginning in August. The paper has a finish that makes it more durable. The cups have a textured feel and will withstand the walks between the dining facility and home/office/class. The dinnerware does not get soggy. The items are to be placed in the mixed paper containers. There are signs up in Ursa’s asking customers to consider how much packaging and napkins they really need. Subway employees also ask customers how much packaging they need. CEQ and Dining Services are also working on additional ways to reduce wastes.
Paul Norman, the University Horticulturist 935-4533, is in charge of the yard composting. Top Care shreds and takes leaves, tree limbs and occasionally the clippings from lawn mowing to the compost facilities, St Louis Composting Inc., 39 Old Elam Ave, Valley Park, MO and Route 66 Landscape Supply Center, 18575 US Highway 66, Pacific, MO. The compost in the form of mulch is then returned to campus. Large trees are cut into logs and donated. Washington University does not compost on campus because Clayton ordinances require that composting be kept out of sight, out of smell and rodent-free. CEQ is researching the feasibility of having food compost.
Curt Harris 935-5076 is the supervisor of housekeeping. The common rooms of Gregg Nemerov, Shepley, Wheeler, Park and Mudd have curbside recycling containers that have one divider. The students are responsible for putting their recyclables in the big recyclable containers in the trash rooms on each floor. All of the freshman dorms have smaller containers in their rooms and are responsible for putting their recyclables in the big containers in the trash rooms on each floor.
Dauten, Shandeling, Rutledge, Hitezman, Hurd and Meyers have recycling containers in the trash rooms on each floor for newspaper and cardstock. The suites have small containers in their rooms for co-mingle and housekeeping empties these containers once a week. The students do not empty these because of safety concerns with the stairwells. Some students in the sophomore suites have contaminated the recycling containers and the trash rooms have had to be locked. It is imperative that students take recycling seriously and not contaminate the containers. Nate will also be working on this issue. Millbrook and Small Group Housing will have the curbside recycling containers in the common areas. The students in Small Group will put their recyclables in containers in the trash rooms and Millbrook students will empty theirs into the containers outside of their buildings (they also empty their own trash).
CEQ coordinates with Purchasing and with Bon Appetite to purchase green products such as recycled paper. Individual departments are working to reduce wastes and Nate will be compiling more specific information. There is an annual phone book recycling program and the proceeds are donated to a not-for-profit organization. Transportation offers a discount Bi-State pass that is valid for one semester
The July, 2001 College Planning and Management Campus Scene section had an article on Washington University: Washington University’s Energy Efforts Save Money.
In the past eight years, Washington University in St. Louis has added 500,000 square feet of facilities, but has kept its budget flat—$5 million—for all energy costs. There are several reasons for this, notes Susan Gallagher of Ameren Corp. All buildings use energy-efficient lighting—no more than two watts per square foot. Administrators are using Ameren Abacus, a wireless energy management/monitoring tool that involves installation of ratio-based meters. They have seven meters that monitor use, allowing them to identify areas where they can conserve energy as well as assess when extra power is needed.
Administrators are using chilled voluntary curtailment to shut chillers down in summer and let the whole system coast, realizing savings during peak demand periods. Administrators have realized labor savings by essentially re-deploying staff in summer by operating boilers only from October 15 to April 15, shutting off boilers that heat.
Tunnels, for example in colder months, operating fewer boilers closer to their full loads. Coal-fired boilers have been converted to natural gas for generating steam, and they buy spot gas through AmerenEnergy using hedging instruments.
There are many professors on campus involved in academic and research activities related to the environment. The following information is a brief summary on some of the activities.
The page for Environmental Programs and Studies http://zonvark.wustl.edu/enst/Env.Prgms/ provides information on how students can explore the options available in environmental studies. The College of Arts & Sciences offers courses related to the environment in the departments of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Biology, Anthropology, Economics, and Political Sciences. One can major or minor in Environmental studies through the Earth & Planetary Sciences department. It is an interdisciplinary study and draws upon the fields of anthropology, biology, economics, earth and planetary sciences, political science, environmental regulation, and engineering. One can concentrate on either environmental science or environmental social science.
There is also a freshman-level course, Environmental Science and Policy, that studies issues in environmental science and policy. It is part of the FOCUS program that freshman have the option of applying for. The Hewlett Program in Environmental Studies is a two-year interdisciplinary program in environmental studies. The first year students take a core course and choose other courses from the departments of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Anthropology, Political Science, and Philosophy. The second year students take on independent research projects.
The School of Engineering offers courses in environmental policy and analysis and mitigation of environmental problems. One can major in the Environmental Resources Program, or minor in Environmental Engineering. The Environmental Resources Program is an undergraduate program jointly sponsored by the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Policy. The program provides training in engineering approaches to environmental protection as well as solutions to environmental problems. Graduates receive a double degree in Civil Engineering and either Engineering Sciences or Engineering and Public Policy.
The minor in Environmental Engineering Science is useful for those interested in careers as environmental scientists, engineers, and analysts. It also provides a foundation for graduate study in environmental engineering and science. There are also research opportunities available for undergraduates and graduates who are interested in the environment. The Jens Environmental Engineering Lab is also in the School of Engineering.
The Center for Air Pollution Impact and Trend Analysis (CAPITA) in the School of Engineering conducts research concerning the air areas of atmospheric aerosols, regional air pollution, and environmental informatics. http://capita.wustl.edu/CAPITA/ The air areas of atmospheric aerosols analysis looks at state-by-state fuel use trends, sulfur and nitrogen emissions. Historical data from numerous sources are also collected on sulfur and nitrogen deposition and airborne concentration. Visibility trends have been compiled for North America and Europe. The CAPITA visibility trend analysis work contributed significantly to the deliberations for the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990. Environmental informatics deals with the development of data structures for the transmission of environmental knowledge (geographic, animation, hypertext); the use and refinement of interactive, graphic data exploration, and analysis and application and demonstration of multimedia data delivery systems (e.g. Voyager, Movie, Hypertext software).
The School of Law offers an interdisciplinary environmental clinic http://www.wulaw.wustl.edu////Clinics/Intenv/index.html for second and third-year law students as well as undergraduates and graduates in Arts and Sciences and Engineering. Student attorneys and student consultants offer pro bono legal and technical assistance on environmental and community health problems such as lead poisoning, air pollution, water pollution, cleaning up abandoned or contaminated properties, and other concerns affecting urban neighborhoods to individuals and organizations.
The Tyson research center is home to many types of research on animals, plants and the environment. http://www.biology.wustl.edu/tyson/projects.html#research
Of particular interest, Jennifer Eckel of the American Culture Studies Department is researching the effects of the American government bureaucracy on the tasks of repairing government-inflicted environmental damage on public and private grounds.
Diana Bennett, Administrative Officer in the Research Office compiled the following information on Funded Research Activity on Environmental Issues and Research Proposals on Environmental Issues.
Principle Investigator Raymond Arvidson in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences is researching the changes associated with the levee break landforms and deposits from the 1993 Missouri River Floods. The effects of erosion, deposition, vegetation and anthropogenic processes on the landforms and deposits will be studied. In a separate study, he is researching the effects the flood had on the engineered portions of the Missouri system, in particular focusing on the sustainability of the wetlands.
Principle Investigator Rudolf Husar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering is analyzing ozone and PM air quality in support of public needs. The goal is to inform and educate the public in a timely manner on the technical and scientific aspects of the ozone/PM problem because informed people can effectively respond to air quality problems and participate in the shaping of Air Quality management policies, regulations and control implementations.
Project Directors Victoria May and Barbara Schaal in the department of Biology are developing a field-ecology program for K-12 teachers. Two one-week “Science of Nature” courses for K-8 teachers will present fundamental concepts of ecology and consider the impact of science on personal and societal issues. A “Field-based Ecology Laboratory” course for high-school science courses will expose teachers to investigative approaches used by research ecologists and provide opportunities to practice ecological methods.
Principle Investigator Jay Turner in the Chemical Engineering department is working on the National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project. He is assisting in the development of the capacity of electric utilities, water and wastewater utilities, municipalities, engineers, contractors, regulators and other public and private entities to respond to the increasing needs and complexities of decentralized wastewater treatment.
This report looks at what Washington University and other institutions are doing to be environmentally friendly.