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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: Bob Douglas
Title: Chair of the UST Sustainability Committee, Coordinator of UST Recycling
Date survey submitted: 7/17/09
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.stthomas.edu/sustainability/files/Sustainability_Prioi.pdf
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: 7/16/09
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
[ ] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
[X ] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
http://www.stthomas.edu/sustainability/files/Sustainability_Prioi.pdf
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
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: UST Sustainability Committee
Number of meetings: four in the 08-09 semester year
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[#6 ] Administrators
[# 3 ] Faculty
[#5 ] Staff
[#2 ] Students
[# ] Other. Please describe:
http://www.stthomas.edu/sustainability/Committee/Default.html
· Elise Amel, Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair of Environmental Studies
· Peter Borden, Graphic Designer, University Relations
· Brian Brown, Director of Publications, University Relations
· Margaret Cahill, Director for Campus Life
· Anthony Caruso, Student, 2008 Chair of USG Sustainability Committee;
Chair of Engineers for a Sustainable World
· Jacob Cunningham, Campus Ministry, VIA & VISION
· Jeanne Cunningham, Health Educator, Wellness Center
· Laura Deuberry, Director Interior Facilities, Planning & Design, Physical Plant
· Bob Douglas, Coordinator of Recycling & Central Receiving, Physical Plant;
Chair of the Sustainability Committee
· Simon Emms, Associate Professor, Chair of Biology
· Todd Empanger, Director of Food Service
· Jim Gooley, Executive Development Officer, Development
· Steve Hoffman, Professor, Chair of Political Science
· Bridget Kapler, Student, 2009 Chair of USG Sustainability Committee, Green Team representative
· Aaron Macke, Director for Residence Life
· Marie Morzenti, Technical Process Analyst, Information Resources & Technologies
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): Bob Douglas, staff, Coordinator of Recycling
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student):
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)?
Steering Committee:
Mark Vangsgard, Vice President Financial Affairs
Mark Neuzil, Director for the Office of Mission
Gerald Anderley, Associate Vice President for Facilities
Sam Levy, Vice President for Information Resources and Technologies
Jane Canney, Vice President for Student Affairs
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August 2008.
Committee was formed in Fall 08
Inaugural meeting was in November, 2008: work began on crafting a Charter Statement for the Committee; completed Spring 09
The second meeting was conducted the end of January 2009 when the committee formed sub-committees to focus on the following:
Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
The Committee urged Purchasing to adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist. So far only the Physical Plant which purchases appliances for residences has adopted the policy. We are continuing the discussion.
Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by UST.
So far it is still in the investigative stage to determine what valid offsets exist and how they could be implemented with the various University departments
Encourage and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution
Committee is working with university publications and web site to make the public transportation options more visible to the community, especially in regard to subsidized bus passes.
IRT was approached to make bus routes visible on all campus maps. That process was successfully completed on new interactive maps on the University website.
The number of bike racks on campus was increased by about 50% since August 08
The Committee supported and encouraged an effort to bring a HourCar to campus. We had access to a public grant as well as financial support from the local community organization to make the car available to both students and the community. The proposal was not adopted by the University due to a decision that had been made before the fall semester ’08 by University Administrators. We will revisit the issue this fall with a better explanation for the Academic and Administrative Leadership (AAL) and with increased funding.
Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources.
At present, 5% of our electricity is purchased from wind power through Xcel Energy.
Students on the committee worked with the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) to promote an initiative subject to student body approval to assess a green fee to purchase more renewable source electricity. The proposal will be presented to the student body this fall.
Thanks to a faculty-student initiative, a grant was awarded to the University to investigate use of solar power on campus. The university has given approval to install up to 14 panels on roofs of university buildings this fall. The panels will be monitored for efficiency and used as a laboratory for class activities in several disciplines.
Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition
UST participated for the first time this year in the ten week Recyclemania competition. Our results were good for a first time participant surprising a number of other Minnesota schools:
http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/news/200917/Friday/Recycle4_24_09.cfm
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.
[# 1 ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [Coordinator of Recycling and Central Receiving ]
[# ] 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)?
[ X ] N/A
[ ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created):
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please provide URL:
http://www.stthomas.edu/sustainability/default.html
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available:
The purchasing code of ethics reaffirms that catholic values must guide purchasing decisions. Also, the Physical Plant purchases most appliances and has an ENERGY STAR policy (as a tangible action under the ACUPCC).
http://www.stthomas.edu/purchasingsvcs/deptinfo/codeofethics.htm
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[X ] Some. Please describe:
All appliances including air conditioners, washing machines, dryers, resident kitchen appliances purchased by the Physical Plant are Energy Star products
[ ] 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:
UST Purchasing is decentralized by departments and serviced by several off-site vendors. All our office supply vendors offer post-consumer waste copy paper. Departments are encouraged to purchase paper from the UST Service Center which offers Boise Aspen 30% post consumer waste paper
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All. Please describe:
UST Building Service Workers have been using 3M green cleaning chemicals in UST buildings for the past eight years. The chemicals are dispensed in an auto-dilute system that helps eliminate chemical waste and increases environmental safety for the Service Workers. In summer of 2008, UST also began utilizing Ecolab green chemicals in some cleaning applications. Other environmental friendly cleaning procedures practiced at UST include low moisture carpet cleaning with water recyclers, rechargeable cell batteries in many of the automated cleaning machines, restroom cleaning without the use of disposal towels and sponges, quieter running vacuums with treated filters for cleaner air, and replacement of disposable mops and towels with washable microfiber.
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[X ] All
UST researched all primary vendors to make sure they follow the EPEAT registration process. All of the Dell and Apple desktop/laptop products we procure are Gold registered, meaning they meet all 23 criteria as identified by the IEEE 1680 standard. Our computers also comply with many of the optional criteria as well. Printer manufacturers don’t follow these standards but we use both HP and Sharp who rate among the best for Green compliance.
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:
[ ] All
Only pesticide used on campus is to control ants on the baseball field. No other pesticides are used.
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: n/a
2007: 71,273 MT
2006: 65,808 MT
2005: 60,446 MT
http://www.stthomas.edu/sustainability/files/UST_Emissions_in_Fis.doc
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
[ ] 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: 271
Heating degree days average over the past three years: 8,171
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: n/a
2007: 21.8
2006: 20.8
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: n/a
2007: 5.68
2006: 5.46
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)?
Retrofitting of light fixtures is being completed for all 13 residences serving over 2000 students. 15 major retrofit projects were completed in classroom, academic, and library buildings. August 08
Installation of energy-efficient burners in the Owens Science building. Aug 08-Aug 09
Installation of energy-efficient ventilator units in two residence halls. August 08
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:
The Green Team and the USG Sustainability Committee promoted sustainable energy and water use during student activity fairs; signage posted in residences and student union
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ X ] 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 photovoltaics
[ %] Wind
[ %] Other
Description:
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.
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please describe.
UST purchases electricity from Xcel Energy who generates 10.3 percent of its energy in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin from renewable sources as wind, solar and biomass.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (kWh):
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents: 5% from wind
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:
2005: 164,242 MMBtu
2006: 148,389 MMBtu
2007: 166,251 MMBtu
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source:
Natural Gas 70%
Distillate Oil 30%
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[X ] 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
[ X ] Aluminum
[ X ] Cardboard
[X ] Glass
[X ] Paper
[ ] Plastics (all)
[X ] Plastics (some)
[X ] Other. Please list: food, ferrous & non-ferrous metal, furniture, pallets, books, clothing, fluorescents
http://www.stthomas.edu/recycle/REPORT.HTM
37) Diversion rate: [ 40 %]
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.
http://www.stthomas.edu/recycle/ELECTRO.htm
[ X ] Batteries
[ X ] Cell phones
[ X ] Computers
[ X ] Lightbulbs: fluorescents, HID, compacts
[ X ] Printer cartridges
[ X ] Other E-waste. Please list:
Due to major campus retrofitting of lighting, in 08-09, we have had several of shipments of both PCB and non-PCB ballasts to registered processors
The University began using GreenDisk containers in fall ’08 for disposal of E-Waste such as floppies, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, small circuit boards, PDAs, etc.
Cell phones are given to local charity fund raisers
2008 Annual electronic recycling: 25,111 lbs or 12.6 tons
2008 Annual fluorescent recycling: 6,487 lbs or 3.2 tons
http://www.stthomas.edu/recycle/REPORT.HTM
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ ? %]
Landscaping waste is picked up by Veolia in roll-off dumpsters from the campus.
Veolia Twin Cities pulls out the brush and yard waste from the waste stream for composting
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:
In 2008, UST diverted 30,674 lbs/15.3 tons of furniture, household goods, clothing, office supplies from the waste stream. Items were given to students, staff, faculty, neighbors, and local charities.
The Recycling Team has two large free shelves available to the UST community with items gleaned from the recycling stream including electronics, paper, 3-ring binders, household goods, and office supplies.
For over ten years, the Recycling Team & ResLife has sponsored an end-of-school clothing drive collecting from one to two tons of clothing annually for charity: http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/news/200919/Wednesday/Recycle5_6_09.cfm?Proofer=1
The Omicron Delta Kappa honor society on campus does a book collection at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Recycling collects unwanted texts and personal books throughout the year. These are given to Books for Africa, www.booksforafrica.org/
.In 2008, UST diverted over 14,700 lbs/7.4 tons of books from the waste stream
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available:
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[# 0 ] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ 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.
[# 0 ] 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.
[# 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.
[# ? ] 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).
The fluorescent standard campus wide for lighting is the 25W F32T8/ADV841/XLL
which are long life, very low mercury, high output lighting
In the Minneapolis Campus, http://www.stthomas.edu/aboutust/campuses/minneapolis.html, all buildings have motion sensors in the classrooms, and lighting-sunlight sensors in the hallways. When the sun comes out, the sensors shut down the lighting in hallways and open areas.
More specific information for the Minneapolis Opus Hall energy operations:
http://www.stthomas.edu/physicalplant/OpusSustain.HTM
There are also lighting motion sensors in classrooms in the John Roach, O’Shaughnessy Science Hall, and the McNeely classroom buildings. McNeely uses timers to shut down all lighting except emergency after regular business hours.
UST is 90% complete in retrofitting all buildings from T12 to T8 fixtures with only the smaller university houses remaining.
The two UST athletic buildings have T5 fixtures in arena and field house areas. The T5 fixtures in our main sports arena, Coughlan Field House and Schoenecker Arena, were removed before its demolition last month. They will be reinstalled in the new Anderson Athletic Facility along with matching T5s for the increased area.
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).
Low-flow showerhead aerators are installed in all showers, athletic and residential.
Low-flow faucet aerators are installed in 90% of the campus, the exception being food service areas and slop sinks in mechanical and custodial areas.
All urinals on campus are equipped with electric eyes and one liter flushes.
All residences with handicapped occupants are equipped with front end, high efficiency washing machines.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ 80 %]
In the present construction begun this summer of the demolition of Coughlan Field House and Schoenecker Arena for the construction of the Anderson Athletic facility, 100% of construction & demolition waste is being diverted from landfills
http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/news/200929/Monday/Construction7_13_09.cfm
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program:
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house):
Number of students involved:
Additional details:
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour):
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
Psychology Department: 3 summer students each at 30 hrs/week
during regular semester, I student worker at 5 hrs/week
[# ] 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?
[ X ] No
[ ] 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
[X ] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available:
Undergraduate Student Government: Sustainability Committee
“The existence of an undergraduate student body containing both diverse and common interests, demands an organization of governance to serve as a forum for mediating diverse interest and an organ of advancement in fostering common interest. Such feelings maintaining the following framework of responsibility, supervision and integration of activates of all campus organization: direction of definition and community: and participation in faculty and administrative bodies that govern the university. Valid fulfillment of such a program indeed constitutes a share in responsibility of advancing the university.”
Student Sustainability Committee:
1. SSC Shall consist of:
a. The SSC Chair shall be elected by Sustainability Committee members and must have been on SSC for at least one semester. The Chair will be elected by simple majority vote. Any current SSC member may be nominated.
b. A representative from each of the following clubs and orgs.:
i. BEAST
ii. Biology Club
iii. Chemistry Club
iv. Engineers for a Sustainable World
v.RHA
vi. SAC
vii. STAR
viii. USG (separate from chair)
ix. Other clubs may petition to join.
www.stthomas.edu/usg/9-24-08%20Constitution.doc
Green Team:
The Green Team exists to challenge St. Thomas to be a more ecologically sound campus, and to raise environmental awareness within our community, both on and off campus.
http://www.stthomas.edu/ustclubs/greenteam/default.html
Engineers for a Sustainable World:
The mission of the UST chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World is to engage engineers in reducing waste and poverty by improving environmental, social, and economic sustainability worldwide by engaging in engineering projects which benefit communities which they are based in as well as raising awareness of the importance of engineering and its role in environmental, social, and political sustainability within our community.
http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/engineering/esw/about.htm
B.E.A.S.T.
Bike Enthusiasts at St. Thomas
This group promotes bike culture on the UST campus and in the broader local community by: advocating for bikers; supporting commuting by bike; educating all concerning bike laws, maintenance and safety. The group seeks to connect with other bike organizations beyond campus.
BEAST initiated the UST bike share program for the university community. The bike share program allows anyone in the UST community who needs access to a bike to be able to check out a bike with a bike lock free of charge.
http://www.beastbikeclub.com/
http://www.beastbikeclub.com/bike-share-program.html
Environmental Law Society
Mission Statement: "To pursue creative, ethical and effective methods to address environmental issues regionally, nationally and globally, and encourage exploration of careers in the field of environmental law."
http://www.stthomas.edu/lawschool/StudentOrgs/LawELS/ust_Environmental_Law_Society_index.htm
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.
Recyclemania is the only competition UST is involved in at present
See #9 above
http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/news/200917/Friday/Recycle4_24_09.cfm
We will continue in this campus-wide competition in 2010
UST was involved in the 2006 & 2007 MPIRG Campus Wars (now TeamMN) on energy consumption
http://www.teammn.org/mcec.html
Name of competition: Recyclemania
Year initiated: 2009
Frequency of competition: once
Participants:
Incentives:
Goal of competition: increase recycling; reduce waste
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[# 34 cars & trucks; 29 utility vehicles used by the shops & mail room]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[# 0 ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models:
[# 0 ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[# 0 ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[# 0 ] Other. Please describe:
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[# ? ] 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):
Carpoolers are able to park in favorable parking spots designated for them
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):
http://www.stthomas.edu/psps/parking/bus_passes.htm
full price for annual MetroPass is $76/month or $912/annual
08-09 subsidized UST price is $207 annually for fulltime faculty and staff
08-09 subsidized UST price is $150 a semester for fulltime students
If student, faculty, or staff elects to receive a subsidized MetroPass, they may not purchase a parking permit.
MetroTransit: http://www.metrotransit.com/groupDiscProg/metroPass.asp
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please describe:
Daily shuttle between the Minneapolis & St. Paul campuses
http://www.stthomas.edu/psps/Parking/shuttle_bus.htm
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please describe:
ACTC bus shuttle to Macalester, St. Catherine’s, Augsburg, & Hamline
http://www.associatedcolleges-tc.org/Bus/bussched3.htm
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please provide details below.
http://www.stthomas.edu/wellness/bikeshare/default.html
http://www.beastbikeclub.com/bike-share-program.html
Year created: 2008
Number of bikes available: 14
Fees for participation: no fee for UST community
Repair services provided: yes
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:
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ 5-10% depending on the season]
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[X ] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe:
http://www.stthomas.edu/aboutust/quickfacts/default.html
70) Total number of buildings: [# 86 on St. Paul Campus; 5 on the MPL campus ]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [# 3,423,453]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 10,963 08-09]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 3,969 08-09]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: [# depending on how you interpret proportion: PT is 36% of the total, but 57% as large as the FT]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [ 33 %]
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: [X ]
79) Student trustee position: [ ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ X ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [X ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [ ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [X ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ * ]
*Are you looking at single-stream recycling in a favorable or unfavorable light? Since all other listings appear to be favorable, we are curious about the inclusion of single-stream recycling. In our research of recycling, single-stream recycling results in significant loss of the recycling due to contamination. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency published a report in 2006: Single-Stream and Dual-Stream Recycling: Comparative Impacts of Commingled Recyclables Processing. Among the findings, the report found:
“The generation of residuals at the two single-stream facilities ranged from as little as 2% up to almost 6% by weight. In this latter case, broken glass and fines mechanically screened during processing are being used at a landfill in a beneficial use role. Though approved for use in this application, the material is still considered a processing residual and should be factored into the residual rate. Doing so raises the residual rate from 6% to approximately 17%.
• Residuals generation in single-stream facilities is likely to be a function of collection vehicles and the collection methods used as well as processing equipment (e.g., trommels, hard disc screens, long drops from conveyors, etc.).
• If mixed, broken glass is counted toward residuals, it can account for up to 65% by weight of residuals coming from a single-stream MRF.”
End Markets:
· Over 70 percent of end markets interviewed reported seeing more contamination today than 5 years ago.
· Over 85 percent of the end-markets interviewed said that they have received both good and bad material from single-stream and dual-stream facilities.
· The major glass market in Minnesota, a glass container manufacturer, has experienced a dramatic decrease in the quantity of clean, color-separated glass cullet, and attributes this decrease to increased single-stream recycling.
Single-stream may be convenient, but we do not see single stream recycling as being as sustainable or resourceful as dual or multi-streams
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