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University
of Oregon and
Sustainable Campus Practices
The University of Oregon has been pro-active in all Sustainable Campus practices. This is demonstrated in the Comprehensive Campus Environmental Policy implemented in 1998 through the Administration. To view the document, see listed web site and click on policies: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~eic
INTEGRATES ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE INTO ALL RELEVANT DISCIPLINES:
Many classes at the University of Oregon address Environmental Issues
through class projects, guest speakers and class lectures. There are many
opportunities for students to do internships and attain research credits for
projects involving environmental issues. Many students get involved with research
or internship projects directly relating to the University of Oregon Campus,
while others gain internships in outside organizations, government offices
or businesses focusing on environmental issues. Of note: the Environmental
Studies Program at the University of Oregon, is an interdisciplinary program
that integrates environmental knowledge into the course work. Though these
courses are not specifically entitled Environmental Studies, they are applicable
to the major and are available to other majors. These courses include: Anthropology,
Chemistry, Business, Management, Biology, Geography, Planning Public Policy
and Management among other courses. All incorporate environmental issues into
the curriculum.
Examples of on-campus academic opportunities for environmental issues: Campus Recycling Program, Community Internship Project, Student Environmental Groups, Facilities, Land Air and Water, among other groups and departments, offer academic opportunities (either for a class project or internship / independent study) for students to work on environmental issues. Projects from students in College of Business, Journalism, Allied Arts and Architecture, Environmental Studies, Planning Public Policy and Management, have shaped many of the University's environmental projects. Some projects have included: developing advertising campaigns for waste reduction, cost-benefit analysis of environmental practices, energy design projects, coordination of several campus environmental conferences and energy / environmental campus audits.
IMPROVES UNDERGRADUATE ENVIRONMENTAL COURSE OFFERINGS:
The University of Oregon has been a leader in developing and implementing
a comprehensive Environmental Studies Program. Over the last few years, a
masters and doctorate program were added in addition to an Environmental Sciences
Major. Currently there are officially 4 FTE Faculty who are the official Environmental
Studies Professors. There are ~100 associated faculty with the Environmental
Studies Program. They collectively teach over 500 courses that are available
for students to apply to the Environmental Studies and Science majors. These
are spread out through many disciplines. Courses are always being evaluated
and new courses are being proposed and implemented. Additionally, the number
of students applying to this program is increasing annually.
Currently there are:
450 Environmental Studies Majors
100 Environmental Science Majors
50 Environmental Studies M.A/M.S.
3 Environmental Studies PhD. Candidates
PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY CAMPUS AND LOCAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
As stated previously, many majors require internships in order to graduate.
The University of Oregon provides many opportunities on and off campus for
students to be involved with environmental issues through internships. On-campus
was mentioned above. There are over 60 places off campus, throughout the local
community, where students are placed to do Environmental Studies/issues internships.
Additionally, there is an opportunity for students to participate in any of the assorted campus committees that deal with Environmental Issues as follows: Campus Environmental Issues Committee, Planning Committee, Transportation Committee among several others.
CONDUCTS A CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
The University of Oregon is continuously auditing itself on environmental
issues. The Campus has remained pro-active on these issues. The Students initiated
a formal audit in 1990. Through the Campus Environmental Issues Committee,
an more comprehensive audit was performed in 1995 through the Community Planning
Workshop (campus department) and administered through the VP of Administration.
Recommendations were addressed and the Campus Comprehensive Environmental
Policy and Recycled Paper Policy were created as a result. Additionally, a
Campus Environmental Audit class was recommended through the Campus Environmental
Issues Committee. It was taught in Fall term, 1999, and though it is supported
through the committee, is has been a challenge to find a qualified person
to continue to teach it annually.
INSTITUTES ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING PRACTICES
The Campus Comprehensive Environmental Policy addresses the issue of instituting
environmentally responsible purchasing practices. The University, Facilities
and Print Shop Purchasing Managers, have been working hard on: integrating
waste reduction into vendor contracts, considering purchase of products made
from Recycled materials as well as products with low-toxicity. This is a huge
challenge as the marketplace is just beginning to open up to provide materials
that meet the performance specs and competitive pricing.
Here are some of the accomplishments and on-going projects
regarding purchasing:
-The University Printing Department has been encouraging the purchase of recycled
content paper for over 10 years. As the paper has become cost competitive
and able to perform to high standards, the University has actively been eliminating
use of non-recycled content paper. Currently, over 95% of the copy papers
used at the University of Oregon has at least 50% recycled content. The default
copy paper (chlorine-free now in white and multi-colors) is 100% post-consumer
recycled content paper. Additionally, the Campus Recycled Paper Policy supports
this practice.
-The University maintains a reusable office supply exchange and furniture exchange. Administration, Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students and Student Groups all can leave things they don't need anymore and take what they need. The Reusable Office Supply Exchange has averaged about $16,000 in annual savings from purchasing new office supplies, while the Furniture Exchange has give out about $75,000 in office furniture annually.
-There is a surplus-exchange list serve that all departments participate in. This also is an exchange of materials to reduce costs in disposal and purchasing. This has saved money for all departments, while reducing costs of treating equipment as State Surplus.
-The Campus vending machine contract includes a charge to the vendor for energy use and waste production.
-The office supplies contract was reviewed for waste reduction in packaging of materials. The company pro-actively reduced all packaging as recommended and changed from a daily shipping/ordering to weekly.
-In Facilities, packaging has been reduced in bulk purchasing of materials. When possible, packaging is eliminating through the vendor contracts.
-The University has recently started purchasing carpet made from 100% recycled materials. Additionally, when the carpet wears out, it is recycled as part of the original contract, thus saving landfilling cost and impact.
-A Buy Recycled teleconference was held in November.
-A Buy Recycled presentation will be held for all Campus Purchasing Managers on May 10. The Recycling Program Manager and Facilities Purchasing Manager will be the guest speakers.
-All copy machines on campus now do double sided copying and also contain energy saving features.
-More and more contracts are being evaluated and specified to encourage waste reduction.
-More and more purchases of products made from recycled materials are being pursued as the products become available.
The University is taking many steps to support environmental purchasing practices. As more and more companies are presenting these types of products, the opportunities will increase to take these steps.
REDUCES CAMPUS WASTE
The University of Oregon has a comprehensive Campus Recycling Program
which services over 1500 collection sites, while employing 5 full-time staff,
~42 student employees and countless academic interns. Waste reduction and
public education are fundamental to the Campus Recycling Program. The Campus
Recycling Program at the University of Oregon is an award winning program
that is serving as a model nationwide for other colleges. One of the cornerstones
of the Campus Recycling Program is student involvement. Students not only
have opportunities for employment which adds to their education, students
also have opportunities for professional and leadership development through
this program. Not only does the program function to recycle campus waste,
the program has been active in all other aspects of the campus community to
incorporate waste reduction into all campus practices. Recycling is the starting
point for sustainability issues involving resource conservation.
The Campus Recycling Program Manager serves to work with the campus community and operations to incorporate waste reduction and sustainable practices into all aspects of University business. Currently, the Manager is involved in: all C/D projects and does a presentation for all pre-constructs; is working with all project contracts to incorporate waste management into all contracts; working with all contracts to incorporate recycling stations into all remodels/new construction; working with purchasing folks to provide information on environmental purchasing opportunities; working with the Resource Conservation Team on creating educational programs to reduce individual impact on campus resources.
MAXIMIZING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The University of Oregon has been pro-active on incorporating energy conservation
and efficiency into all operations and campus environmental education. As
stated above, the Campus Environmental Policy addresses the issue of energy
conservation in all campus practices. The Campus Environmental Policy acts
as a support document for all practices that the University is striving towards.
Here are some of the steps the University has taken in this direction:
-Hired an Energy Specialist to work on all new construction and remodel projects to analyze and advocate for energy efficiency and practice in all projects. Additionally, this position exists to improve existing systems, through project proposals and partnerships with local electric company.
-Working with EWEB on energy efficiency projects such as exit sign lighting upgrade, ballast and bulb replacement, maintenance projects to improve energy efficiency
-Research and acquire energy conservation rebates
-Buy energy efficient equipment
-Analyze energy use
-Examine existing energy use to determine priorities in upgrading for energy savings
-Formed the Resource Conservation Team, which includes Power Plant Manager, HVAC Manager, Energy Specialist and Recycling Program Manager. Systems and individual impact are reviewed. Goal is to additionally educate campus on ways to reduce impact and increase energy efficiency.
-Analyze emissions and develop projects to reduce impacts
-Work with purchasing to encourage purchases of energy efficient equipment such as computers and copy machines
MAKE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY A TOP PRIORITY IN CAMPUS
LAND-USE,
TRANSPORTATION AND BUILDING PLANNING
During 1999, the Campus Planning Committee began creating Sustainable
Development Guidelines for the long-range plan at the University of Oregon.
These guidelines address land-use, transportation and building planning among
other issues such as environmental purchasing in construction and incorporating
sustainable lifestyles (such as recycling) into all projects. This document
is currently in the feedback and evaluation process. After final approval
of the document, it will be implemented into the campus long-range plan and
steps will be taken to inform user groups and integrate these guidelines into
all campus plans, including specs on all new construction/demolition projects.
Already, the Energy Specialist is working on all new projects to recommend and advocate for energy efficient systems and the Recycling Manager is working on all new projects to reduce and recycle all the waste generated, while incorporating recycling systems into new projects. Transportation issues have additionally been being addressed through a new position of a Bicycle Coordinator, who advocates for alternative transportation opportunities in all projects (such as covered bicycle parking). The Campus Planning Committee examines all the land-use issues that challenge the University as it grows.
There is a proposal to create a Transportation Resource Center
for the campus community to utilize in finding alternatives to and from campus
that would reduce car impact. The campus has funded bus passes for all students,
faculty, staff and administration for years in order to facilitate energy,
emissions and parking impact not only at the University but in the community
at large.
The Sustainable Development Guidelines can be found on the Campus Planning
page under projects:
PDF Document
ESTABLISHES A STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Student investment in solar panels on the roof on the EMU will provide the
student union with green, clean electricity to supplement its energy usage,
earning students money in energy savings. As the cost of power is skyrocketing,
there is no better time to put the University of Oregon on the map as a leading
green campus.
http://edc.uoregon.edu/solar
SUPPORTS STUDENTS WHO SEEK ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CAREERS
The University of Oregon has established an on-line network for internships
and has a Career Center who works with students to find professional jobs
in their fields. The Environmental Studies Department has a resource center
and additionally seeks out and posts/networks environmental careers to all
interested parties. Student groups have been working with the student population
to create awareness in students seeking employment. This Earthweek, students
worked with a national campaign called Ecopledge, to encourage students to
think about finding positions with companies who operate sustainably and promote
environmental stewardship. Additionally, the Campus Recycling Program works
directly with students to keep them posted on job and Internships postings
related to environmentally responsible careers.
EUGENE--Gov. John Kitzhaber's executive order,
signed today (May 17) and setting state agencies on a course toward greater
sustainability, is in harmony with a broad range of efforts already under
way at the University of Oregon.
"We are energetically pursuing an integrated approach to increasing sustainability," says Dan Williams, UO vice president for administration. "These efforts range across all aspects of our work-in our facilities and long-term planning, our academic programs, our extensive recycling program and our work in energy management and conservation."
This commitment to sustainability leaves
its mark on the physical layout of campus.
"We fully integrate sustainable approaches into building design and construction-that's
just how we do business," says Chris Ramey, University Planning director and
university architect. "One measure of this, for example, is that there are
more places to park bicycles on campus than there are places to park cars."
The university is a leader in another key area of sustainability-recycling. The UO Campus Recycling Program, founded in 1991, has received national recognition and was honored as the 1997 Outstanding School Recycling Program by the National Recycling Coalition.
"We are pleased to see the governor's executive order that recognizes the benefits of environmental stewardship in state business practices," says Karyn Kaplan, Campus Recycling Program manager. "This move is right in line with our work here at the UO, where we are very proactive in our stewardship practices."
Among the many efforts related to sustainability
at the UO are:
For example, more than 95 percent of the copy paper used at the UO has at least 50 percent recycled content. The default copy paper contains 100 percent post-consumer recycled fiber. All campus copy machines now do double-sided copying and contain energy-saving features.
The UO
maintains the Reusable Office Supply Exchange and a furniture exchange where
campus groups can contribute surplus items and acquire what they need. The
furniture exchange redistributes about $75,000 in office furniture annually.
The campus vending machine contract includes a charge to the vendor for
energy use and waste production.
The university
has recently started purchasing carpet made from 100 percent recycled materials.
Additionally, when the carpet wears out, it is recycled as part of the original
contract, thus saving landfill costs and reducing environmental impact.
A copy of the UO Comprehensive
Environmental Policy
Make environmental sustainability a top priority in campus land-use, transportation and building planning. During 1999, the Campus Planning Committee began creating Sustainable Development Guidelines for the university's long-range plan. These guidelines address land-use, transportation and building planning among other issues such as environmental purchasing in construction and incorporating sustainable lifestyles (such as recycling) into all projects. This document is currently in the comment-and-evaluation process. After final approval, it will be implemented into the campus long-range plan.
Support for students who seek environmentally responsible careers. The UO has established an on-line network for internships and has a Career Center that works with students to find professional jobs in their fields. The Environmental Studies Program has a resource center and, additionally seeks out and posts information about environmental careers. This spring during Earth Week, students worked with a national campaign called Ecopledge, to encourage students to think about finding positions with companies who operate in a sustainable manner and who promote environmental stewardship.
E.I.C
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