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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Julie Cahillane
Title: Manager or Recycling & Refuse
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
The Northwestern University Commitment to Environmental Sustainability can be found at http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/environmental_sustainability.htm.
From the site: “Sustainability is an important global issue and NU is committed to taking appropriate steps to minimize our impact on the natural environment.” The commitment addresses renewable energy, temperature set-points, occupant responsibility, mandatory Energy Star purchases, LEED certification for all buildings, energy efficiency, water conservation and recycling.
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC:
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[ ] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
[ XX ] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
One of the eight basic Planning Principles of Northwestern's Campus Framework Plan, adopted by the University in April 2009, is "Design in accordance with the University’s sustainability guidelines." For the entire Framework Plan, visit http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/ and click on 'Evanston Campus Planning' banner.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[ XX] Yes
If you answered "No" to question 5, please proceed directly to question 11.
6) Please provide the name of the committee and list the number of meetings held since August 2008.
Name: Sustainability Working Group (SWaG)
Number of meetings: The group meets every other week during the academic calendar. 13 meetings were held during the 08-09 academic year.
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[# ] Administrators
[# 5 ] Faculty
[# 10 ] Staff/Administrators
[# 12 ] Students
[# 3 ] Other. Please describe: Campus vendors (food service & book store)
8) Please provide the name of the chair(s) of the committee for the 2009-2010 academic year, and indicate which stakeholder group the chair(s) represents.
If 2009-2010 academic year information is not yet available, please provide information for 2008-2009 instead.
Name of chair(s): Burgwell Howard (Student Affairs) & Julie Cahillane (Facilities Management)
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student): staff
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)?
VP for Student Affairs
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August 2008.
Key issues/programs that the group has addressed/implemented since August 2008:
- Hosted the SCUP webcast for Campus Sustainability Day (October 2008).
- Co-sponsored a guest lecture & workshop, “Campus Sustainability & Universities’ Response to Climate Change,” conducted by Jeremy Friedman, NYU (February 2009)
- Co-sponsored the campus Earth Day event – Mt. Trashmore (April 2009)
- Co-sponsored the “NU Sustainability Strategy Workshop” (May 2009). This event brought together stakeholders representing faculty, staff and students with a goal of discussing sustainability on campus and developing suggestions for how the campus should move forward on sustainability efforts.
- Developing a web site highlighting NU sustainability efforts, groups, etc. (on-going)
- Provided opportunities for collaboration, networking and a forum to vet ideas for sustainable programming on campus (on-going)
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[# 1 @ NU Recycling and 4 @ ISEN ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [NU Recycling – Manager of Recycling & Refuse. ISEN -- Director Operations & Outreach, Research Admin, Project Coordinator, Program Assistant]
[# ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ ]
The campus Manager of Recycling & Refuse works on sustainability issues and ISEN has 4 staff members. See #13 below for details.
12) Does the head of the sustainability staff report directly to the president or another high-level administrator (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor)?
[ ] N/A
[ ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
ISEN falls under the VP for Research.
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[ XX] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created):
The Initiative for Sustainability & Energy at Northwestern University (ISEN). ISEN's mission is to create, advance and communicate new science, technology, and policy for sustainability and energy. ISEN has a research focus but also supports outreach activities related to energy & sustainability. ISEN sponsors and collaborates on many campus sustainability efforts including lectures, workshops and events. For the next academic year ISEN will host the One Book One Northwestern program, featuring Thomas Friedman’s “Hot Flat and Crowded: Why we need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew America.” The University community will focus its attention on the book with projects, discussions, performances, lectures and events tied to the book’s content. See http://www.northwestern.edu/onebook/index.html for more details.
(ISEN web site below)
NU Recycling, the campus recycling office works to promote sustainability on campus. The office created “Sustainable You” a guide to green living on campus (http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/operations/recycling/GreenGuideReaderSpread%20(3).pdf). A sustainable office checklist is also available via the recycling web site (http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/operations/recycling/Sustainable%20Office%20Checklist.pdf). NU Recycling works with the campus community to support and encourage sustainable efforts – presenter for IT Tech Talks on going green; speaker at Departmental meetings and conferences related to being more sustainable on campus; advisor to GREEN House; coordinator for campus participation in Earth Hour; working with the Study Abroad office to incorporate sustainability in study abroad/travel; member of the One Book One Northwestern Committee; advisor to students/groups on sustainability-related projects and proposals on campus.
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please provide URL:
**http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/environmental_sustainability.htm http://www.northwestern.edu/nucuisine/nugreen/index.html
http://www.isen.northwestern.edu/index.html
http://www.sustainability.northwestern.edu/
http://ceet.mccormick.northwestern.edu/
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available:
http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/purchasing/policy.pdf
Incorporated in the purchasing policy as:
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Environmental impact should be considered in purchasing decisions, when appropriate. NU encourages departments/schools to consider the use of products and services that impact the environment less than competing products, when it is a good best value decision to do so. A good best value decision based on a thorough total cost of ownership analysis considers the initial cost of the item as well as factors such as:
Energy Efficiency. Purchase equipment that is Energy Star-rated (or, if there is no Energy Star rating, equipment that is highly energy efficient). Energy Star is a program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
Shipping Materials. Purchase products that are shipped in containers that are returnable or reusable and made from recycled content (i.e. cardboard boxes). Also request bulk packaging when multiple items are ordered for delivery at the same time.
Recycled Content. Purchase products made with recycled content suitable for the intended use. Look for a high percentage of post consumer content. ‘Post Consumer’ is material that has served its intended purpose and has been discarded for disposal or recovery by a business or consumer. Other recycled content includes post industrial wastes which are by-products of a manufacturing process that would normally not be reused in the process.
Other. Environmental performance of the supplier and/or producer should also be considered, such as waste prevention, waste reduction, pollution prevention, clean air and water programs, re-use of materials, minimization of scrap material, and any other green factory initiatives, etc.
The University strongly desires to minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills. Both the product purchased and the packaging materials associated with it should be minimized to prevent waste as much as possible.
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ XX ] All
As directed in the NU Commitment to Environmental Sustainability “All University equipment purchases must be Energy Star-rated (or, if there is no Energy Star rating for the desired equipment, individuals are asked to purchase highly efficient equipment).”
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Some. Please describe:
NU business card stock is FSC certified with 20% post-consumer recycled content. The 20,000 pounds of stationary used annually (campus letterhead & envelope stock) is Green Seal certified and contains 30% post-consumer recycled fiber and 25% cotton fiber. The contracted printer uses only vegetable-based inks, is FSC & SFI certified and holds Chain of Custody (COC) Certification. The vendor has provided training in FSC & SFI paper options for campus users.
The campus office supply catalog highlights the many environmentally preferred products offered. The catalog is printed on FSC certified paper, using 30% post-consumer recycled content.
Many of the contracts established by Purchasing Resource Services on behalf of the University (office supplies, business cards and letterhead, janitorial supplies, etc.) include products that contain recycled content that can then be purchased by individual departments and schools.
[ ] All. Please describe:
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Some. Please describe:
Custodial contractors use Green Seal certified products. On the Chicago campus, these products represent 80% of cleaners used and include Stride Neutral Cleaner, Alpha HP Multi-Surface Cleaner, Glance Non-Ammoniated Glass Cleaner, and Crew Restroom Cleaner & Scale Remover.
On the Evanston campus 50% of cleaning products are Green Seal certified. All high volume cleaners are Green Seal including Green Solutions All-Purpose, Industrial, Glass & Carpet cleaners and Quik Fill Neutral, General-Purpose, Glass and Bathroom cleaners. Chemicals that are not certified are purchased with environmental consideration in recyclable containers and highly concentrated to minimize packaging waste. The group also purchases CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) certified equipment whenever possible.
Contracts established by Purchasing Resource Services on behalf of the University (janitorial supplies, etc.) include environmentally friendly cleaning products that can then be purchased by individual departments and schools.
[ ] All. Please describe:
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Some. Please describe:
The computer contracts established by Purchasing Resource Services on behalf of the University (Dell, Lenovo, Apple, etc.) all include standard products that are certified by EPEAT that can then be purchased by individual departments and schools.
[ ] All
20) Does your school use only pesticides that meet the standards for organic crop production set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Canadian Organic Standards (excluding on-campus farms)?
[ X] No: However, our Grounds Division uses as little pesticides as possible. We incorporate IPM (integrated pest management) practices in whatever is used. Serious pest problems are rare on campus but when they do occur, we always look for the solution with the lowest toxicity.
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
Please check all that apply.
[ XX ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ ] Yes. Please provide total annual GHG emissions (in metric tons of CO2e). Also, include the start date for each year as well as the URL to each inventory, if available online, or attach the document.
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
The purchase of carbon offsets does not count toward greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for this indicator. They are counted in a subsequent indicator.
22) Has your school made a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by a specific amount?
[XX ] No
[ ] Yes. Please list details.
Reduction level:
Baseline year:
Target date:
If you answered only "No" or "In progress" to question 21, please now skip to question 27.
REALIZED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
23) Has your school achieved a reduction in GHG emissions?
[ ] No
[ ] Yes. Please list details.
Percentage reduced:
Baseline year:
Date achieved:
24) Please provide the total heating and cooling degree days averaged over the past three years.
Data on total degree heating and cooling days is available at: http://www.degreedays.net/. This information will be used to help reduce bias between schools in different climates.
Cooling degree days average over the past three years:
Heating degree days average over the past three years:
25) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-thousand-square-foot basis for the past three years.
Per-Thousand-Square-Foot Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total maintained building space in thousands of square feet.
2008:
2007:
2006:
26) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-full-time-student basis for the past three years.
Per-Student Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total number of full-time enrolled students.
2008:
2007:
2006:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)?
The University has undertaken a major Investment Grade Energy Audit with significant funds dedicated to implementation. ALL major buildings on both campuses will be included. Audits have been completed or are in progress for 29 buildings. Implementation has started in one building (see details in #49) with 2 more to begin in the next month and 4 moving to design phase in September. One building has had retro-commissioning independent of these audits (details in #49).
Retro-commissioning of air handling system controls has been initiated and HVAC systems operating schedules are being refined. An automated interface between the DDC (Direct Digital Control) system and the two main Event Management Systems that are used by departments to schedule events and spaces is being pursued. This will enable systems to operate in an unoccupied mode whenever a space is not scheduled for use.
NU mandates 20% better than energy code requirements for new construction and renovation. University policy requires premium efficiency electric motors and installation of LED exit signs and occupancy sensors as repairs are made. Programs are in place to retrofit lighting, replacing T12 lamps with T8s.
Temperature set points are included in the Commitment to Environmental Sustainability “Indoor temperature in all spaces controlled by the University's energy management system will be set at 68°F during the heating season and at 76°F during the cooling season. Occupants who control the temperatures in their spaces are expected to follow this policy by using these ranges. During off-hours and on weekends and holidays, the temperature in most non-residential spaces will be allowed to drop to 55°F before heating occurs and will be allowed to rise to 86°F before cooling occurs.”
NU Information Technology (NUIT) is converting to virtual servers which will decrease power consumption.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
28) Do you facilitate programs that encourage members of the campus community to reduce energy use (e.g., cash incentives, signs reminding individuals to turn off lights and appliances)?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe:
Occupant responsibility is part of the Commitment to Environmental Sustainability which states. “Individuals are expected to turn off lights when exiting rooms that are no longer occupied and to turn off office equipment (including personal computers, where possible) at the end of the day. Facilities Management employees will turn off lights and equipment (other than personal computers and fax machines) that have not been turned off by occupants at the end of the normal business day.
NU participated in Earth Hour as a flagship campus in 2009. E-mails were sent to all faculty, staff and students encouraging members to participate not only that weekend but routinely as well.
NUIT utilizes e-mail and webcasts to promote reduced energy use via personal and departmental computers. The group also developed green technology guidelines http://www.it.northwestern.edu/hardware/eco/index.html to encourage more environmental computing habits.
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify percentage of overall electricity generated from each of the following sources and describe details below.
[ %] B100 biodiesel
[ %] Clean biomass
[ %] Concentrating solar power (CSP)
[ %] Geothermal
[ %] Low-impact hydropower
[ %] Solar photovoltaic’s
[ %] Wind
[ %] Other
Description:
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify number of systems and total BTUs generated annually, if available:
RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE
31) Has your school purchased electric energy from renewable sources or renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs and electricity from renewable sources must be Green-e certified or meet the requirements of the Green-e standard.
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract: 2006 - 2010
Quantity (kWh): 40,000,000
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents:
Our purchase represents 20% of total usage. RECs are Green-e certified and NU participates in the US EPA Green Power Partnership which ranks NU 2nd in the Big Ten and 9th nationally in green power purchases. Northwestern is helping prevent the release of more than 62,760,000 lbs, or about 28,467 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This has a similar carbon reduction impact of planting 6,469 acres of forest or removing 5,213 average passenger vehicles from US roadways for a year.
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (BTUs):
Percentage of your total non-electric energy use that it represents:
ON-SITE COMBUSTION
33) Please provide total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion: Information is available for the Evanston campus only:
FY 08 Total 1,270,207,432 kBTUs STEAM
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source:
100% Gas
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ %]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [# ]
Description of renewable energy sources used for on-site combustion for heating and cooling:
FOOD & RECYCLING
The food portion of this category is covered in a separate dining survey.
RECYCLING OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
36) Please indicate which traditional materials your institution recycles (check all that apply).
[ ] None
[ XX ] Aluminum
[ XX ] Cardboard
[ XX ] Glass
[ XX ] Paper
[ ] Plastics (all)
[ XX ] Plastics (some) Plastics numbered 1 – 5 are recycled.
[ XX ] Other. Please list: Steel cans, Aseptic packaging, newspaper, magazines, books
37) Diversion rate: [ 30 %] NU has a comprehensive recycling program. The program was expanded in 2008 increasing the number of items collected on campus. Recycling was added to football games and other Athletic events in 2008. An estimated 8 tons of cans/bottles were collected from fans during the 2008 football season (7 home games). The campus also participated in RecycleMania for the first time in 2009 and ranked in the 84th percentile for per capita recycling. Through NUs recycling efforts more than 690 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions are avoided which is equivalent to removing 604 cars from the road annually (source National Recycling Coalition’s Environmental Benefits Calculator).
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[ XX ] Batteries
[ XX ] Cell phones
[ XX ] Computers
[ XX ] Light bulbs
[ XX ] Printer cartridges
[ XX ] Other E-waste. Please list:
Misc electronic items including TVs, printers, copiers, microwaves, computer peripherals and lab equipment. The 2008 tonnage for electronic waste recycling is 79 tons. This does not include printer cartridges, light bulbs and some batteries for which we do not have weights.
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 100 %] All landscape waste is composted.
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ XX ] No Current IL law makes establishment of commercial food waste composting all but impossible with a cost-prohibitive siting process. A change in the law has been proposed that may help to expand options. See http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/GH_ShowArticle.asp?HID=1300 and http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=0099&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=40422&SessionID=76.
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
SOURCE REDUCTION
41) Do you have any source-reduction initiatives (e.g., end-of-semester furniture or clothing swaps and collections)?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe: The surplus property exchange site http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/office/surplusproperty/index.html provides an option for selling, giving away or soliciting items between campus entities. Campus Kitchens uses leftover food from dining halls to feed people in need in the community (see Dining survey submission for more details).
Furniture items are donated for reuse as possible. In 2008, 5 trailer loads of furniture (approximately 87 tons) were sent to Haiti & Nicaragua. Tablet arm chairs that are replaced are regularly donated to local school districts. Abandoned, unclaimed bicycles are sold to the campus community at discounted prices. Bikes not sold are donated to local bike co-ops.
The annual campus move-out program, “Take It or Leave It,” encourages student reuse and donation. The program has been in operation since 1995 with more than 10,000 pounds of clothing and food collected during each of the last two years’ move-outs.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available:
LEED is the standard for design and construction for all new construction and major rehabs. The goal is silver or above with LEED certification at a minimum. http://www.northwestern.edu/fm/environmental_sustainability.htm
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[# 2 ] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ 81,385 GSF ] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center LEED NC
[ 26,000 sq ft] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Wieboldt School of Continuing Studies LEED CI
[ sq ft] Platinum-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
44) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 3 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria -- There are 3 buildings (Silverman Hall, Harris Hall and Searle Student Health) currently under construction which seek LEED certification for a combined gross square footage of ~ 220,000. One, Silverman Hall, will be completed and certified this fall.
[ sq ft] Certified-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
45) Please indicate buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of ENERGY STAR buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
RENOVATIONS AND RETROFITS
46) Please indicate LEED-EB certified buildings.
[# 0 ] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 0 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED-EB criteria but are not certified. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
48) Please indicate renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
49) What energy-efficiency technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., HVAC systems, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, T5 lighting, LED lighting, timers, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of maintained building space have been retrofitted with motion sensors; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
Of the 45 "major" buildings on the main campus: 33% have been retrofitted with T8 Lamps (several additional buildings out for bid) and 2% have ambient light sensors. 4 buildings have some T5 lamps – accounting for 4% of maintainable space in these 45 buildings. 15 buildings have occupancy sensors - 5-8% of maintainable space (several additional buildings out for bid). LED lighting is used in exit lights, accounting for about 40% of the signs. 100% of exterior lighting is timer or photocell controlled. Metered energy savings from lighting retrofits have varied from 3.5% to 19%, depending on the building.
An LED mock-up is being conducted in one location to determine energy savings calculations for a full-scale replacement of downlighting in the building. This summer LED lights will replace mercury vapor and metal halide lighting in two buildings. And it is likely that LED’s will be installed in the campus basketball arena, replacing mercury vapor lamps as well.
Enthalpy-based air-side economizer controls have been installed in four buildings to replace temperature-based economizer controls. This represents approximately 5% of campus space.
The first implementation resulting from the Investment Grade Energy Audits (see 27) will retrofit the HVAC system in the campus student center. All 10 of the building’s air handling systems will be converted from constant volume to Variable Air Volume, with improved economizer controls. The project is also installing CO2-based demand control on select air handling systems. Constant volume heating hot water systems are being converted to variable volume with improved temperature reset controls.
The Retro-Commissioning Project (also referenced in 27) was completed as part of the Com Ed Smart Ideas for Your Business program. The RCx program identified efficiencies to be gained through physical adjustments to equipment such as dampers and valves. Adjustments to control logic and set points improved efficiencies in systems such as the chilled water and condenser water systems, heat recovery system, aid handling systems. Installation of new control devices allowed for incorporation of economizer controls.
50) What water-conservation technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., low-flow faucets, low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, gray water systems, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of the maintained building space have been retrofitted with low-flow faucets; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
In 2003 all toilets in educational buildings were upgraded from 3.5 to 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) models, all urinals from 1.5 gpf to 1.0 and faucets reduced to .5 gpm (minute). 11 residential buildings have had toilets replaced with 1.6 gpf. GREEN House also has 1.5 gpm shower-heads, dual-flush toilets and .5 gpm urinals. A graduate apartment building is replacing 208 toilets (from 3.5 gpf to 1.28 gpf) this summer. Over the next year 500 toilets in housing units will be replaced with 1.28 gpf. There is an on-going effort to switch shower heads from 2.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm as replacements are needed or remodeling is performed.
The Evanston campus Central Utility Plant (CUP) generates chilled water for air conditioning (as well as steam for heating & process). CUP draws cooling water from Lake Michigan. The lake water is used to operate the industrial sized refrigeration machines and equipment which provide chilled water for campus building air conditioning. Water is an integral part of this process, and the use of lake water offsets the need to draw 212,037,161 cubic feet of water from the municipal water supply. When lake water is below 40º F, chilled water is produced by circulating water through refrigeration machine heat exchangers without the operation of 4,700 bhp compressors, saving energy.
Storm water is used for irrigation in one location on campus. Two new parking lot projects have incorporated bioswales to handle surface water run-off.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ %] For current projects, Silverman Hall, is projecting an 82% total recycling rate for C & D waste. The Harris Hall demo is at 90% recycling of C & D waste. The Searle Student Health project has recycled 89% of waste through the super structure framing & exterior enclosure phases of the project.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program: Group Residence for Environmental Engagement at NU (GREEN)
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house): Residence Hall
Number of students involved: Occupancy of 48 with involvement from others as well.
Additional details: GREEN opened in September 2008 and is an environmentally-themed living community whose mission is to inspire future leaders to act in ways that will protect and sustain our planet. With a belief that change occurs when people with different skill sets and different experiences come together over concern for the same issue, GREEN is open to students of all backgrounds, majors, and academic interests who are interested in living sustainably and being actively engaged with the world around them and the impact that their actions have upon it.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour):
The One Book One Northwestern selection, “Hot, Flat & Crowded,” has been sent to all freshmen and transfer students with a note encouraging them to read the book before coming to campus and be prepared for a common discussion around the book and issues presented. A sustainable living session is offered during new student orientation. Every incoming student is given a reusable water bottle with information on discounts offered for using it. Recycling information is provided in every dorm room.
Beyond orientation, the Office of Residential Life incorporates sustainability education into their programming. Two Residential Life staff serve on the Sustainability Working Group.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ XX ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ XX ] No – However, some residences, including fraternities & sororities, opt to have a recycling or environmental chair. It is an unpaid position.
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available:
[# ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Positions that award academic credit. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Uncompensated positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
56) Does your school have active student-run organizations devoted to sustainability efforts on campus?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available:
1. SEED – Students for Ecological & Environmental Development. SEED’s mission is to pioneer, teach, and model environmental stewardship so as to inspire our future leaders to act in ways that protect and sustain our planet. SEED is very active and supports many activities on campus including a student-run recycling collection effort which uses a bicycle and trailer to collect recycling from outdoor recycling stations across campus grounds. http://groups.northwestern.edu/seed/index.html
2. ESW -- Engineers for a Sustainable World. ESW mobilizes engineers through education, training, and practical action, building collaborative partnerships to meet the needs of current and future generations. http://msgroups.mccormick.northwestern.edu/esw/index.html
3. ECO -- Ecological Campus Outreach at Hillel. ECO is dedicated to bringing a deep spiritual and intellectual commitment to improve sustainability on campus. http://www.ecohillel.com/.
All three groups collaborate on projects including Green Cup and the Earth Day event.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please list details for all competitions.
Name of competition: Green Cup
Year initiated: 2006
Frequency of competition: Annual, 6-weeks in winter quarter
Participants: All residence halls
Incentives: Prizes, trophy and party for the winner
Goal of competition: Reduce energy & water consumption by students living in campus residences. Instill students with an understanding of the impact of daily activities, engage them in conversation and education regarding conservation and create lasting habits that reduce energy & water waste.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Winners reduced energy usage by an average of 16% and water by an average of 28%.
Lasting effects of competition: (see goals)
Website: http://groups.northwestern.edu/seed/greencup.html
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[# 137 ]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[# 6 ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models: 5 Toyota Prius & 1 Toyota Highlander
[# ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[# ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[# 3 ] Other. Please describe: Dual-fuel gasoline/natural gas. Unfortunately the local CNG fueling station closed so we are unable to use CNG for the vehicles at this time.
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[# .82 ] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled. (Calculated using averages and http://www.3degreesinc.com/carbon_calculator/)
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students):
NU just announced a rideshare program to facilitate carpooling opportunities. The program is a joint effort between the University, local hospitals, City of Evanston & Rotary International. This collaboration of will increase the pool of participants and opportunities for carpooling. An Emergency Ride Home Program (ERH) in the event of a personal and urgent emergency is available for NU participants. Qualified ERH reimbursements will cover taxi rides and single Metra, Pace, or CTA tickets home.
www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/commuter/rideshare.html
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe the program including the size of the discount (as a percent of full price) and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students):
NU promotes public transportation through a variety of methods:
- use of pretax dollars for purchase of transit fares on CTA, Metra and Pace
- provides and subsidizes employee commuter shuttle bus service to all downtown Chicago Metra train stations. See schedule at http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/shuttles/chicago/trainstation.html
- promotes shuttle bus services with distribution of maps via bulk mail, newsletters and websites
- conducts transit fairs on campus to promote transit use, available programs, and benefits
- hired a student as a transportation alternatives intern to promote walking, biking, ridesharing, car sharing, and public transportation
- select schools on campus (Medill, Law and Graduate schools) offer U-Passes (public transit pass) to students
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe:
Both the Ryan Field shuttle and the evening Purple Express offer free rides around campus. Schedules can be found at: http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/shuttles/evanston/index.html
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please describe:
The Intercampus (runs between the two Northwestern campuses), Shop N Ride, Purple Line, Frost Bite Express and the Ryan Field routes offer free rides off campus. Schedules can be found at: http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/shuttles.
The Northwestern-Argonne Carpool is a user-run service that travels daily between the Northwestern Evanston Campus and the Argonne National Lab Campus. Students, professors and researchers affiliated with Northwestern are encouraged to take advantage of this carpool, which is fully funded by the Northwestern University Office for Research.
http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/shuttles/argonne.html
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ XX ] No However, unclaimed bicycles are sold to the campus community at discounted prices. Bike parking is offered across campus, including a secure indoor bike storage room on the Chicago campus (http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/parking/bicycle.html). NU Police provide bike registration for loss prevention/control and sell Kryptonite bike locks through its offices.
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created:
Number of bikes available:
Fees for participation:
Repair services provided:
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ ] No
[ XX ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created: In 2006, NU developed a relationship with I-GO to place a vehicle on its Evanston campus. NU now has two cars on its Evanston campus, one just off campus and one on its Chicago campus. ZipCar also has vehicles near the Chicago campus.
Total number of vehicles: 3 Evanston, 1 Chicago
Number of hybrid vehicles: 1
Fee for membership: A discounted registration fee of $25 is offered to new members. Several plans are available depending on the needs of the member. See links at http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/commuter/carsharing.html.
PLANNING
67) Does your school have policies that support a pedestrian-friendly or bike-friendly campus (e.g., in the school's master plan, a policy prohibiting vehicles from the center of campus)?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[XX ] Yes. Please describe:
One of the eight basic Planning Principles of the Campus Framework Plan is "Develop the core of the campus as a pedestrian environment, and move parking to campus entrances. Provide pedestrian links along north/south, east/west, and public transit routes, including those that extend into the adjoining community." This principle is supported by design recommendations for various districts described in the plan that include sites for new parking structures at campus gateways.
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ %] According to a survey done in 2007, on the Chicago campus, almost 80% of faculty, staff and students use environmentally preferable transportation. For the Evanston campus this information is unknown. However, both campuses have a ‘designated walking zone’ and individuals who live within these boundaries are not allowed to purchase parking permits. Evanston map is shown at http://www.northwestern.edu/up/parking/walking_zone.html and details for Chicago campus zone are at http://www.northwestern.edu/uservices/transportation/parking/permits/eligibility.html. No freshman, sophomore or junior students who live on campus are eligible for parking permits. Details are at are http://www.northwestern.edu/up/parking/eligibility_students.html. See question 62 above for more details on promotion of public transit. Both campuses are on major train, bus and rail lines.
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ XX ] Suburban (Main, Evanston campus)
[ XX ] Urban (Chicago campus)
[ ] Other. Please describe:
70) Total number of buildings: [# 207 (includes both Evanston & Chicago campuses)]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [# 9.25 million ]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 16,130 ]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 3,180 ]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load:
[# 18,300 FTE ]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [ 55% of undergrad students live on campus (11% of graduate students)]
Questions 76-87 are for informational purposes only; responses will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
OTHER AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Please mark an "X" next to each item that applies to your institution.
76) Outdoors club: [ XX ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ ]
78) Participation in Recyclemania: [ XX ]
79) Student trustee position: [ XX ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ XX ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [XX ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [XX ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ ]
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