ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREEN OFFICES PRACTICES

Transcription

1 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREEN OFFICES PRACTICES Louisa Vakili Director, Student Financial Services/Bursar and Whitney Ahlo Associate Director, Student Financial Services

2 PRESENTATION OVERVIEW About LMU Defining Sustainability LMU Business & LMU Student Financial LMU Future Goals

3 ABOUT LMU Founded in 1911, LMU is a Catholic university rooted in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. Enrollment, undergraduate, 5,962 graduate, 2129 law school students, 1278 LMU is located in West Los Angeles and is among the nation's most beautiful and green campuses.

4 DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)

5 TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE The Three Pillars: People, Planet, and Profits Interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Decisions made in one area will have consequences in another. Progress in one area can also positively affect the others and vice versa.

6 THE GREEN GAP The Green Gap: Society wants sustainable alternatives, but there are large gaps between what people say they want and what they actually do 80% of people believe it is important for companies to have environmental programs

7 WHY GO GREEN? It s about creating a more livable environment for the campus community It s about preserving and protecting our planet It s about understanding that solutions to resolve inefficiencies are often green as well cost effective

8 LMU LMU 26 th out of 96 universities as the "Coolest Schools" for environmental initiatives and practices for 2012 Silver rating from STARS Program (AASHE) Sustainability included in LMU Strategic Plan

9 CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING LMU signed the ACUPCC in 2007, pledging to: Conduct annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. Set goals for attaining climate neutrality. Educating students about climate change.

10 LMU Buildings: Three LEED certified buildings Life Sciences Building, Currently in Design

11 Renewable Energy: LMU has 3 buildings with solar photovoltaic systems Largest solar roof system of any university in the world 6% of LMU s energy needs come from solar Solar thermal systems to heat hot water in four dormitories LMU

12 LMU Water Use: Reclaimed water is used for 75% of LMU s irrigation LMU has received State and National Awards for this program. Drought resistant plats are used for landscaping

13 LMU Recycling: First campus-wide recycling program in the nation, One of the first campuses in the state to recycle 100% of green waste LMU recycles over 50% of our solid waste. Recipient of WRAP Award from the State of California in 2010.

14 LMU Alternative Transportation: All hybrid Zip Car fleet Shuttles to/from various off-campus areas Carpool matching website Vanpool opportunities Electric charging stations

15 LMU Environmental Studies Minor B.S. in Environmental Science M.S. in Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Environmental Engineering emphasis within the Civil Engineering majors Environmental Education K-12

16 On-campus urban ecology center - focal point for research and education Community-based learning course involving partnership with Heal the Bay Ballona Discovery Park opened in Spring 2011 in Playa Vista. LMU

17 BUSINESS & LMU Educating our vendors: Fair living wage/fair trade Environmental stewardship Sweat shop free products

18 BUSINESS & LMU LMU Bookstore Textbook rentals etextbooks Green books Commencement gowns LED lighting/recycled furniture & fixtures Biodegradable bags Fair label standard clothing

19 BUSINESS & LMU Dinning: Trayless dinning area Refill and recycle Fair trade organic coffee Corn fiber based biodegradable plates and utensils Converting one dinning facility to exclusively use sustainably harvested, fair traded goods and organic produce Converts used cooking oil to biofuels thru 3 rd party vendor Food dehydrator composting process to reduce landfill utilization Food waste liquefier converts raw food waste into liquid effluent and sent to local wastewater treatment plant

20 BUSINESS & LMU Campus Graphics: Energy star multifunction machines Online job submission Recycled paper Remanufactured toner cartridges Toner recycling Business cards on 100% recycled card stock

21 BUSINESS & LMU Distribution Center: Magazine and catalog opt out program Recycling of delivery packaging cardboard Recycling or bulk mail materials UPS reusable next day shipping flat UPS carbon credit shipping Electric vehicle delivery Energy star equipment

22 BUSINESS & LMU Other services: Walter filtration system Consumer electronic battery recycling Cell phone recycling ewaste program

23 STUDENT FINANCIAL LMU Green Office Program Conference Calls/Webinars Reminder Signs Printing: Duplex, one sided prints to scrap paper, recycled copy paper purchased, scanning receipts Computers and computer equipment

24 STUDENT FINANCIAL LMU Carpooling Reusable water bottle drive Office temperature management 2012 Platinum Paw - Green Office Award recipient

25 STUDENT FINANCIAL LMU Streamlining Process through automation ACH vs. Other payment tenders Electronic tuition billing Faxes not being printed/auto Import from PDF into document system Decommission of individual printers Recycle/Refurbished printer cartridges

26 THE FUTURE AND BEYOND

27 GOALS FOR THE FUTURE Reusable flatware and silverware Waste Audits Work-study student education Continue decommissioning of individual printers Smart supplies Paperless notes Energy audit Composting Motivate others thru action

28 LMU LIONS GARDEN Transforming a lawn and invasive trees Into an organic and native plant garden Participation in garden activities Before After

29 WHAT WILL YOU DO?

30 Thank You! Questions?