<< Back to Report Card
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: Mary Beth McGrew
Title: Associate Vice President of Campus Planning + Design + Construction, University Architect
Date survey submitted: July 17, 2009
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
http://www.uc.edu/af/sustainability/about/about1.html
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC: September 15, 2008
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
Planning + Design + Construction, Facilities and Utilities have combined to produce a sustainable overlay to the campus master plan that includes the landscape, storm water, and facilities. This will be available on line in the winter of 2010.
[ X] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
The University of Cincinnati has an established Center of Excellence recently provided to the Chancellor of the University System of Ohio.
Sustaining the Urban Environment – Ten discipline-specific degree programs combine to make this center. www.eng.uc.eud/sue
Other colleges at the University of Cincinnati with Sustainability as part of the academic plan are:
· The College of Engineering and Applied Science offers LEED certification courses to the students and faculty; a minor in Sustainable Urban Environments; The College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning offers a focus on Environmental Planning, and The College of Arts and Sciences offers degrees in Environmental Sciences.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes
The Education and Outreach implementation team of the President’s Advisory Council on Environment and Sustainability is working with academic programs.
The PACES steering committee writes the policies and provides ongoing educational noncredit opportunities for review and acceptance by the Leadership Team (President, Sr. Vice President and VP of Research.)
The Self Directed Work Team chaired by Planning + Design + Construction reviews programs and procedures for the physical environment.
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: President's Advisory Council on Environment and Sustainability
Number of meetings:
Leadership Committee - Three
Steering Committee – 12 Meetings
Implementation Committees – Too many to keep track of since each steering committee member who chairs an implementation committee may set their own meetings. Some report the number of meetings and some report the products on our intergroup blackboard site. There have been at least 30.
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[ 6 ] Administrators
[ 15-40 ] Faculty (The range is because you can be on a committee to complete a single project. )
[ 14 ] Staff
[ 3 ] Students (The students have three representatives on the PACES committee but three of their own sustainability groups with many more student participants.)
[ 2 ] Other. Please describe: Two volunteers from the community.
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):
Chair : Mary Beth McGrew, AVP Planning + Design + Construction
CO-Chair: Andy Porter, Director Space Management
Steering Committee:
Faculty Members: Dominic Boccelli, Carla Chifos, Eric Maurer, Michael Zaretsky
Staff Members: Joe Harrell, Shaun Finley, Rick Wiggins
Student Members: Shawn Tubb, Alan Hagerty – Director of Sustainability for Student Government
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student):
We have an implementation committee composed of Faculty, Staff and Students for various projects.
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)?
The Steering Committee reports to the Leadership Team (President, Sr. Vice President, VP of Research.
The Implementation Committee reports to the Steering Committee.
There are project teams who report to the Implementation Committee leaders.
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:
There are too many issues and program to list so a few are highlighted:
Climate 101 Lecture series – There have been monthly or sometimes bi-monthly lectures from guests and faculty and students on sustainability in its broadest definition. Lectures have included the following topics: nuclear power, consumer culture, 19th-century American landscape art and literature, regional algae bio-fuel research & development, using art and creativity for community organizing and environmental activism, mountaintop removal, etc.
Outreach Campaign – Ongoing until every college and unit is addressed by a team of individuals. Progress - Completion is 60 %.
Bike Share Plan – Plan is drafted, linked to the city-wide plan and the first bicycles will be on campus by September of 2009.
Implementation of our Energy Reduction Projects – 8 million for a 3–5 year payback.
Planting of 1500 trees in the county. Completed in the Spring of 2009.
Reduction of the Laboratory Air Changes per Hour – One building completed and one other in progress.
Move in and Move out of residence halls. A free trade for students moving in and out of the residence hall.
Energy challenge in the residence halls. Real-time energy use recorded for set periods of times to see which hall can reduce energy the most. Implemented in 2008-09 school year.
All on-campus dining halls removed trays to reduce water usage and food waste. Implemented and ongoing.
Farmers Market on Main Street – The creation of a farmers market on campus featuring local produce and products. Occurred during Fall and Spring quarters this school year and many students and staff would like it to occur next year.
Additional LEED-certified buildings. Van Wormer Hall, an existing building, certified. Teacher/Dyer, an existing building under review for silver. CARE, a new research building under review for gold.
Climate Action Plan to be completed in its first draft by August of 2009.
Reactivation of the co-generation plan through the purchase of methane produced locally in a landfill.
Progress made on each of these issues since August 2008:
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[X ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ 1 Full Time, PACES Assistant ]
[ ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles:
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
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: The head of the sustainability group reports to the Sr. Vice President of Finance and Administration who reports to the President and is currently the interim President for the University.
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created): This is difficult for us to answer. We have people devoted to sustainability on campus but they are in different departments. The Rockefeller report seems to prefer specific departments but in our University we have found this situation to be helpful in getting work done because we are working directly with individuals who do the work. Planning + Design + Construction, Utilities, Facilities Management, Center for Sustaining the Urban Environment, Environmental Studies Dept., School of Architecture & Interior Design, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Planning, etc.
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide URL: http://www.uc.edu/sustainability/
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[ X ] No. We are a state institution and we have to have a competitive purchasing although we encourage green purchasing through our communications and specifications.
[ ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available:
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ X] Some. Please describe: Most but not all of our products are Energy Star Qualified.
[ ] All
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe: 3% of office paper is 30% recycled; 97% is SFI certified.
[ ] All. Please describe:
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ X] Some. Please describe: Requirements for these certifications are not part of the University specifications, but some may be purchased if lowest and best offer.
[ ] 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
[X ] Some. Please describe: Energy Star rating qualified products are given positive consideration when purchasing decisions are made. Others standards that are considered are heat and energy output of computer/electronics.
[ ] 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)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe: The University’s Landscaping/Grounds policies includes principles of organic crop production/maintenance, such as promoting biodiversity, integrated and biological pest management, sustainability, and soil and water conservation. The use of both synthetic and non-synthetic pesticides and fertilizers are utilized in the management of the landscape environment. Some meet the USDA’s standards, others do not.
[ ] All
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
Please check all that apply.
[ ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ X ] 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: 372,309. We are updating our emissions inventory now and will be completed by August of 2009.
2007: 358,948
2006: 349,796
2005: 327,348
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?
[ X ] No but we will by September 15 when the ACUPCC report on reduction is due as many Universities will be doing.
[ ] 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
[X ] Yes. Please list details. In our Education Buildings we have reduced our energy consumption through the following activities: Upgrades to 30 – 60 year old utility systems; Changing room temperature settings, reducing ventilation when structures are unoccupied, changes to direct digital control systems, such as optimizing supply-pressure set points; re-lamping fixtures; insulated steam valves from our central plant to our buildings; occupancy sensors; chilled water during off-peak hours and then storing chilled water for use when air conditioning demand is highest during the hottest parts of the days. Our estimate cost savings is $10 + MIL.
This work is part of our commitment to reduce energy 20% by 2014 through an earlier State of Ohio commitment.
Percentage reduced: 10%
Baseline year: 2004
Date achieved: 2008
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: 1486
Heating degree days average over the past three years: 4983
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: 31
2007: 33
2006: 34
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: 18.2
2007: 21.2
2006: 22.8
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retro-commissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)?
The university has instituted temperature set point changes, reduced ventilation rates based on the space occupancy; used heat pumps for simultaneous heating and cooling; replaced lighting fixtures with new ballasts and T-8 lamps, increased the efficiency of the boiler, insulated doors and windows, added energy recovery systems in several buildings and replaced chilled water pumps.
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
[ X] Yes. Please describe:
· Utilities will leave a reminder in rooms where lights have been left on and where computers have been left on.
· Utilities sponsored an energy conservation challenge (recycling, water and electricity conservation) in the residence halls and there was a cash incentive for the winning halls.
· We have a poster of best practices for office areas.
· Students created a volunteer-based program called Friday Night Lights Out where they walked throughout campus buildings on Friday evenings and turned off lights in classrooms, studios and other spaces that would not be used over the weekend.
· The University has invested in the construction of a state of the art cogeneration plant
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ ] No
[ X ] 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 photo voltaic
[ %] Wind
[ 18 %] Other
Description: Landfill Gas supplies the methane to run our cogeneration plant to generate electricity
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[X ] 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.
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (kWh):
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents:
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[ X ] 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:
1,167,624 MMBTU
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source: 60% Coal; 40% Gas
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ 10-30%]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [400,000 MMBTU ]
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
[ X ] Aluminum
[ X ] Cardboard
[ X ] Glass
[ X ] Paper
[ ] Plastics (all)
[ X ] Plastics (some)
[ X ] Other. Please list: Scrap metal, tires, antifreeze, batteries, fly ash
37) Diversion rate: [ 60 %]
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[ X] Batteries : Vehicles, Computers, Alkaline batteries recycled although numbers are not currently available.
[ ] Cell phones: Cell phones are owned by individuals. They are encouraged to recycle them.
[ X] Computers: 45,400 lbs
[ X] Light bulbs: 32,100 Light bulbs
[ X ] Printer cartridges: 3774 lbs recycled centrally. Some departments recycled independently.
[ X] Other E-waste.: 38,328 lbs - Please list: Copiers, Printers, Monitors, Televisions, Fax Machines, Keyboards, Mice.
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 50 % ]
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ X ] No
[ ] 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
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Water filters have been installed on sinks to reduce use of bottled water; volunteers hand out recycling containers to tailgaters at football games in order to increase the amount of material recycled; and students collect excess move-in waste for recycling.
The Re*Use Market during exam week at the end of Spring quarter each year encourages students and others to bring items they no longer need, others to come and take items they would like (at no cost) and then all remaining items are donated to local charities. The event held June 8-11, 2009 helped keep an amount nearly filling a POD storage unit (donated by a local business) from the landfill.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available: New construction projects must meet or exceed LEED Silver standards.
http://www.uc.edu/af/sustainability/campus_initiatives/leed_buildings.html
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[4 ] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ 740,839 sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Van Wormer Hall, Steger Student Life Center, Campus Recreation Center, Varsity Village.
250,000 Sf Research Building, CARE, is under review at USGBC for Gold Certification.
60,000 SF Education Building, Teachers/Dyer is under review at the USGBC for Silver Certification.
[ sq ft] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ 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.
[?] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria
[ 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.
[# ] 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.
[# ] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings. Please list building names:
[ 488,227 sq ft] Combined gross square footage. The University of Cincinnati has two buildings in progress for LEED EB. The two buildings are Rieveschl Hall and Rhodes Hall and we anticipate certification over time as we renovate the buildings on a floor by floor basis.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# ] 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.
[# ] 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).
HVAC and Lighting Occupancy Sensors 10 buildings – 15% campus, Ambient Light Sensors (daylight harvesting) 5 buildings 5% of the campus, T5 Lighting, 3 buildings 2% campus, DDC controls, temperature and ventilations reset scheduling (timers) 120 buildings – 95% of the campus, HVAC energy recovery 4 buildings – 4% campus.
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).
UC has not retrofitted and existing building buildings with water saving technology, grey water systems, waterless urinals, low flow shower heads or dual flush toilets. All of the recently constructed buildings 10 – 12% campus, have utilized low flow faucets and the 2 recently constructed dorms Turner Snyder and CRC, do utilize low flow showers.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ 75 %]
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program: Social Justice
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house): Floor of Dabney Residence Hall where students focus on both social and environmental justice and activism
Number of students involved: 94 students
Additional details: Students focus on both social and environmental justice and activism.
There is also a proposal for a “green house” near campus and a green dormitory in the near future as part of our Climate Action Plan.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour): New student orientations on campus will feature sessions on “Being a global citizen in a sustainable world.” The campus tour features education panels in all of our LEED certified buildings.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. In planning, design, construction, and the utility plant. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[ 2 ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: 20
[ 1 ] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: 4
Can this section also include the one full-time and two part-time UC Urban Farm student workers as well as the part-time recycling program employee for Siddall Hall’s pilot recycling program?
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available: The PACES assistant works with the resident hall representatives for recycling programs and the reduction in energy use.
[# ] 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
[ X ] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available:
Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP) – www. uc.edu/groups/leap
LEAP hopes to foster an environmental movement, both on campus and in the community, by engaging the talents of students and faculty. LEAP focuses on networking with environmental organizations, volunteerism, promoting special events, increasing environmental education and creating open discussions to achieve this mission.
Students for Ecological Design (sed) – daap.uc.edu/sed
SED was created to bring together and transmit knowledge between a collective of people interested in the education, promotion, and implementation of environmentally focused design. Specific goals include: promoting sustainable design education, sponsoring student participation in workshops and conferences, etc.
Environmental Law Society - http://www.law.uc.edu/current/organizations/environmental.shtml
The Environmental Law Society promotes an awareness of present and future issues in the field of environmental law. It sponsors programs featuring guest speakers on topics of interest to its members and the community.
re|UC -
The purpose of re|UC is to educate about and advocate for the preservation of architecture, habitat and cultural heritage at the University of Cincinnati, its surrounding region and beyond. re|UC endeavors to be a cross-disciplinary group of students from many backgrounds, all interested in the intersections of preservation, reuse, community development and revitalization, habitat restoration and sustainability.
Engineers Without Borders - http://www.uc.edu/groups/ewb-ucin/
EWB’s purpose is partner with communities in developing countries to implement sustainable long-term solutions. These projects heavily involve health and education to assure projects can remain functional for years to come. Members of EWB should develop technical knowledge in their field while gaining valuable leadership skills, becoming internationally responsible students and professionals.
Undergraduate Student Government sits on the PACES Steering Committee and has a Sustainability Director.
Graduate Student Governance Association sits on the PACES Steering Committee
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please list details for all competitions.
Name of competition: Housing Conservation Challenge
Year initiated: 2007
Frequency of competition: Twice per academic year
Participants: students
Incentives: Name on plaque, plus $900 was divided between winning residence halls for each of three competitions: recycling, water and electricity conservation ($300 each) - funds used by hall governments for programming and improvements.
Goal of competition: Reduce the amount of waste produced and energy/water used in dorms.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Waste 5884 Tons reduced - 50% reduction; Water – 20% reduction; Energy 25.74% reduction.
Lasting effects of competition: program teaches students about good conservation habits and increases awareness of recycling programs and helps increase recycling
Website: http://afweb1.af.uc.edu/EnergyChallenge/default.aspx
Name of competition: Pitch-In
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: twice per academic year
Participants: Colleges inside the University
Incentives: Name on plaque and t-shirts for administration of winning College
Goal of competition: Increase the volume of recycled materials, increase recycling rate, increase awareness of recycling program
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 11,111 lbs of recycling collected in one month
Lasting effects of competition: Helps increase awareness of campus recycling program and helps change behavior of campus community to recycle more frequently.
Website: http://www.uc.edu/af/sustainability/News_%26_Events.html
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[ 301 ]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[ 0 ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models:
[ 1 ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[ 0 ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[ 3 ] Other. Please describe: Three vehicles can run on either natural gas or gasoline.
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[ 1.02 ] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): There are reserved parking spots for carpoolers and motorcycles, available to faculty, staff, and students in all of our parking structures.
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] 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): The school offers discounted rides on any Metro bus for faculty, staff, and students (size of discount was not found).
The UC*METRO program provides subsidized bus passes on all regional METRO buses for students, faculty and staff. Student passes are $15.00 per quarter (a discount of approximately 97% off the monthly rate of $170). Faculty and staff passes are $60.00 per quarter (a discount of approximately 88% off the monthly rate of $170).
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: There shuttle busses that run continuously and you can track the location of the shuttle on your cell phone.
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Shuttle goes to the neighborhoods around the campus, as well as to local entertainment destinations, even on the weekends.
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below. This is a pilot program that will start this summer in a residence hall and an administrative building.
Year created: 2009
Number of bikes available: 4
Fees for participation: None
Repair services provided: Yes through the college of Engineering
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ X] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created:
Total number of vehicles:
Number of hybrid vehicles:
Fee for membership:
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
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Our campus master plan approved in 2000, moved vehicles to the perimeter of campus and located bicycle racks throughout the campus. Walking to all parts of the campus is possible through a hierarchical network of paths. The plan has been implemented for 3.5 years with the kick off of the opening of Main Street in the summer of 2006.
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ 42.3% ] Bicycle, Carpool, Public Transportation, Motorcycle, Walk, Shuttle Bus.*
*according to survey and study completed in September 2008.
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[ X ] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe: Our largest campus population is on the Uptown campus located in the City of Cincinnati. We have four other campuses. Raymond Walters and Clermont College are in suburban areas. Genome Research Institute is in the City of Reading and Center Hill is an industrial research arm near the Uptown campus.
70) Total number of buildings: [80 ]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [12,528,917 ]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [ 21,765 ]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [6,545 ]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: [ 4,087 ]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [13.5 %]
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: [ X ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ ]
78) Participation in Recyclemania: [ * ]
79) Student trustee position: [ X ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ X ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [ X ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [X ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ X ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ X ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ X ] On the Uptown campus in some of the buildings.
*No, but we have a biannual Housing Conservation Challenge between residence halls and the biannual Pitch-In recycling challenge between Colleges.
<< Back to Report Card