Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment Accepted April 21, 2006
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NC State University Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment Accepted April 21, 2006 Environment Society Economy Acknowledgements This assessment was researched, written and designed through the NC State Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling by the following individuals: John Guenther Leslie Hester Sarah Ketchem Lindsay Killian Tavey McDaniel Jenny Paige We would like to thank the following offices and We would like to individually acknowledge the departments for their contributions of time, energy, founding members of the Campus Environmental and information to the Sustainability Assessment. Sustainability Team (CEST) whose leadership and guidance have helped to bring environmental Campus Environmental Sustainability Team (CEST) sustainability issues to the forefront at NC State. CILS (Centers, Institutes, and Laboratories) Deans of all Colleges Larry Nielsen, Chair Environmental Health and Safety Richard Bernhard, Faculty Senate Facilities Operations Becky Bowers, Student Organization for Sustainability Grounds Management and Motor Fleet Services Jack Colby, Facilities Operations Heavy Equipment Will Dewitt, Student Government Industrial Extension Service Will Hooker, Sustainability Coalition NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Steve Kalland, Solar Center Assistance Dennis Kekas, Centennial Campus NC Energy Office Sarah Ketchem, Waste Reduction and Recycling NC Sea Grant Brad Moore, Facility Architect NC Solar Center David Ranier, Environmental Health and Safety NC State Athletics Gwyn Rolland, Environmental Health and Safety NC State Construction Management Bob Wood, Purchasing NC State Materials Management Leslie Hester, Staff and Graduate Assistant NC State Purchasing NC State Surplus Property NC State Transportation NC State Water Quality Group North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office of Energy Management Office of Research and Graduate Studies Office of the University Architect Office of Undergraduate Research Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling University Dining University Housing SORC (The Student Organization Resource Center) University Planning and Analysis This is primarily a web based document and can be found at the following web address: www. ncsu.edu/environmental_sustainability/assessment This document was compiled with data from Fiscal Year 2003/2004. 100 hard copies were printed in 2006 using 100% post-consumer recycled, chlorine-free paper and environmentally friendly toner. A Letter from the Chancellor April, 2006 Dear Colleague: The past few years have witnessed an unprecedented rise in environmental sustainability at NC State. In addition to enhanced academic and research specialties in sustainability and environmental stewardship, the NC State community has renewed its administrative and operation commitment to these priorities. These advances have been spearheaded by the Campus Environmental Sustainability Team (CEST), a group of faculty, staff, and students formed in 2003. One of CEST’s initial accomplishments was the production of NC State’s first-ever Campus Environmental Sustainability Annual Report, covering 2002-2003. In 2004, CEST began recognizing significant campus environmental initiatives on its newly created sustainability website. I am pleased, therefore, that CEST is helping our campus community take another step forward through the first Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment. The Assessment is a more comprehensive and more objective analysis of environmental responsibility and accounting than has ever been done for this campus. This assessment represents hundreds of hours of work by a variety of Office and Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) staff members as well as NC State students and interns. It was designed to record quantitative and qualitative data fully describing the NC State environmental picture so that we can continue our successes and improve on our shortcomings. I know that all of us at NC State are committed to maintaining and upgrading NC State’s excellence in environmental sustainability, and I thank you for your part in making our university a better place. Please consider this Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment as an important step on the journey to make NC State a leader in environmental technology, sustainable stewardship, and environmental leadership. Sincerely, James L. Oblinger Chancellor, North Carolina State University A Letter from CEST April, 2006 To the NC State Community: As a long-term advocate of sustainability initiatives on campus and the current Chair of the Campus Environmental Sustainability Team (CEST), it brings me great pleasure to present the first NC State University Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment. Since the sustainability initiative began here at NC State it has been clear that significant change could not take place or be measured until we had a broad scale bench line analysis of where we currently stand on issues such as water and energy use, resource conservation, purchasing and waste management. When CEST was formed by Provost Nielsen in 2003, he and his appointed representatives immediately set an agenda that contained this study as a top priority. After careful consideration it was determined that the most appropriate and economical way to make such a study happen was to use existing resources on campus. The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling along with three interns took on this daunting task and has followed it to its fruition. As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities Operations, I see the findings of this study to be of utmost importance in relation to the way we do business here at NC State. I am most excited about the indicators found in each subsection which give us quantifiable numbers to benchmark against from year to year. For instance, indicators related to energy and water monitoring will allow us to judge improvement in not only usage but also tracking capabilities, allowing us to cross check our own initiatives. We will be able to determine from year to year if the waste management programs on campus are continuing to improve and grow with campus needs. As we move forward with bond projects throughout campus, the Buildings and Land Use sections will help us to track any potential improvements in the way we conserve and develop land throughout campus. From a cultural and academic standpoint it is clear that environmental programs and curricula do exist. However, there is no single resource or centralized clearinghouse where this information can be easily obtained. You will see from the Findings and Next Steps that a course has been charted that will continue to move NC State in a sustainable direction. I know that we can continue the momentum that has been achieved with the completion of this document and that it serve not as an ending but as a springboard for future sustainability initiatives on campus. Sincerely, Jack K. Colby Sustainability Officer and Chair, Campus Environmental Sustainability Team Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities Operations p. 5 Table of Contents Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………..page 2 Letter from Chancellor..………………………………………………………………...page 3 Letter from Campus Environmental Sustainability Team………………………..page 4 Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………..page 5 Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………..page 6 Findings and Next Steps……………………………………………………………….page 8 Explanation of Format………………………………………………………………….page 12 Assessment Buildings………………………………………………………………….page 13 Guidelines Certification Community and Culture………………………………………………..page 16 Environmental Organizations and Events Residence Life Administrative Leadership Curriculum and Research……………………………………………..page 20 Academics Research Extension Energy…………………………………………………………………….page 24 Usage Monitoring Conservation Alternative Energy Land Use………………………………………………………………….page 29 Use of Space Restoration Conservation Grounds Management Stormwater Materials Management…………………………………………………page 36 Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Surplus Transportation………………………………………………………………..page 40 Driving and Parking Alternatives Campus Vehicles Waste Reduction and Recycling……………………………………..page 45 Recycling Rates Reuse Opportunities Composting Environmental Education Solid Waste Hazardous Waste Water……………………………………………………………………………page 52 Usage Monitoring Conservation Indicator List…………………………………………………………………………….page 56 Links of Interest……………………………………………………………………………….page 62 Executive Summary p. 6 As an institute of higher education and a land grant university, NC State has a responsibility to teach the values of environmental sustainability. Through education of tomorrow’s leaders, practicing sustainable development of campus land and encouraging staff to consider the impact of their decisions on the surrounding community, NC State strives to incorporate the ideals of a sustainable institution into all aspects of campus life. NC State has a rich history of commitment to sustainability - • In 1998, North Carolina Governor Hunt issued Executive Order 156, which “directs state agencies to develop and incorporate policies and practices into their daily operations that preserve natural resources, conserve energy, eliminate waste and emissions, and lessen overall environmental impact.” • In response to this order, the NC State University Council approved the “Commitment to Environmental Sustainability - Guiding Principles” in 1999. The principles publicly declared a commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment through both education and management