NEBRASKA MEDICINE UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER AND NEBRASKA MEDICINE Sustainability Master Plan, 2014–2023 1 Table of Contents | Main | Appendix The UNMC/NM Sustainability Master Plan was updated as of March, 2016. The energy, emissions, water, campus planning, and waste baselines were updated due to the availability of more accurate data and information. Wait! Before you print this document… This Sustainability Master Plan has been created with hyperlinked text for easy navigation while viewing in a PDF reader on a computer, tablet, or smart phone. Each page has a navigation bar at the bottom with clickable links to the Table of Contents, the main body of the Plan, and the start of the Appendix. The sections listed in the Table of Contents and at the start of the Appendix are also clickable text. Using these links, any section of the Plan can be reached within two clicks. This feature is added to eliminate the need for scrolling and to make the electronic version easier to use and navigate than a printed copy. Try it out! navigation bar 2 Table of Contents | Main | Appendix UNMC/NM’s health-oriented missions, Executive Summary which focus on providing extraordinary patient care, health education, and re- Sustainability is Vital Introduction search to serve Nebraska and the region. “Nebraska Medicine is proud to partner For example, by reducing electricity use with UNMC on this vital path toward The University of Nebraska Medical on campus, UNMC/NM help decrease a more sustainable future. This joint Center and Nebraska Medicine (referred to the amount of emissions and pollution endeavor will reap environmental, social, as UNMC/NM throughout this Executive produced by fossil-fueled power plants and financial benefits, and help us Summary) have been building a strong supplying the energy. This aids in reduc- achieve our mission.” foundation in sustainability over the past ing asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, two decades as demonstrated by their emergency room visits, and even pre- Bill Dinsmoor campus-wide mixed recycling program, mature death. Therefore, incorporating Chief Executive Officer a significant reduction in recent energy the principles of sustainability into what Nebraska Medicine consumption, and a campus culture that UNMC/NM do everyday will not only “I’m really pleased to values sustainability. In a recent survey of help accelerate their vision of becoming “Our sustainability initiative with UNMC/NM employees and students, over Nebraska Medicine is strongly connected know that I work for an a world-renowned health sciences center, 90 percent of respondents indicated it is but it also demonstrates their commit- to our collective, campus-wide focus on organization that cares important to them that UNMC/NM are ment to improving community health. improving community health. By em- about the environment committed to sustainability and actively bracing the opportunities presented by and is moving forward try to conserve energy and natural resourc- Financial Opportunities sustainability, we will exemplify environ- with sustainable es on campus. Similarly, approximately mental stewardship, reduce costs, better options.” nine out of every ten respondents reported Sustainability also presents a tremendous serve the community, and demonstrate there is a connection between environ- opportunity for UNMC/NM to reduce our commitment to being a world- - UNMC/NM Survey mental stewardship and UNMC/NM’s long-term costs by conserving energy and renowned academic health sciences Respondent health-oriented missions. resources. Many of UNMC/NM’s peers in center.” higher education and the health care in- This Sustainability Master Plan represents dustry have begun to seize this opportu- Dr. Jeffrey Gold the next step for UNMC/NM in their con- nity by adopting their own sustainability Chancellor tinuous and integrated effort to consume and climate action plans. The financial University of Nebraska Medical Center fewer resources, even while expanding benefits are projected to be substantial. the campus, and to provide strategic The Commonweath Fund found that sus- direction across their operations over the tainability initiatives in the health care next decade. It also represents the two industry could save $15 billion over the Methodology & Structure organizations’ ongoing commitment to next ten years by implementing a pack- work together toward common goals. This Plan reflects information collected age of relatively simple “interventions.” primarily throughout fiscal years 2013 Mission Alignment UNMC/NM have already seen notable and 2014 from interviews, surveys, financial savings by reducing energy use. site visits, open houses, advisory team Sustainability entails protecting human If UNMC/NM achieve the goals in this meetings, conversations, research, and and environmental health, and using plan, they could reduce annual costs re- analyses. It also incorporates content and resources wisely so as to provide for the lated to water, trash hauling, and energy baseline data from Nebraska Medicine’s future while meeting current needs. by $1 million to $3 million by 2023. original Energy & Sustainability Master These concepts line up very well with Plan, which was approved in the spring 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Table of Contents | Main | Appendix SUSTAINABILITY MASTER PLAN 2014–2023 of 2011. The collected information and Goals Materials: All Outgoing Material data were used to establish joint baselines, goals, and strategic recommendations in Each of the operational areas previously Reduce the total annual weight of outgo- Definitions listed has one or more goals. If UNMC/NM ing material (waste and recycling) by 25 eight key areas of UNMC/NM’s operations: CO eq: refers to are able to achieve the goals related to percent by the end of 2023 (baseline: 7.5 2 • Emissions carbon dioxide energy, water, and materials, they will sig- million pounds per year as an annual • Energy equivalent, which nificantly reduce annual expenses, decrease average of fiscal years 2011 and 2012) • Water is a metric that is their environmental impact, and help • Materials commonly used to improve community health. Materials: Recycling • Transportation and Parking compare the emis- Increase the annual percent of materials di- • Food Services See “Definitions” to the right for explana- sions from various verted from the landfill to 35 percent by the • Campus Planning tions of the acronyms used for the base- greenhouse gases end of 2023 (baseline: 22.9 percent as an an- • Campus Engagement line metrics below. regarding their nual average of fiscal years 2011 and 2012) global warming The Plan specifically focuses on Emissions potential. UNMC/NM’s operations at their main Transportation and Parking Reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by campus at 42nd & Dewey. Satellite clinics Increase to 20 percent the percentage of kW: A watt is and other smaller campuses (e.g., Bel- 30 percent by the end of 2023 and achieve a commonly climate neutrality (zero net emissions) by commuting trips that occur by modes oth- levue Medical Center) are not included. er than driving alone in a conventionally- used measure of Despite this initial strategic focus, the 2050 (baseline: 154,793 metric tons per year electrical power of CO eq in calendar year 2010) fueled vehicle by the end of 2023 (baseline: Plan suggests expanding sustainability- 2 12.7 percent as of a March 2012 survey) consumption. kW related support and services to these areas Energy: Buildings equals one thou- in the future. Additionally, baselines and Food Services Waste sand watts. goals were not established for the areas of Reduce annual building energy consump- MMBtu: Btu refers research and academics per UNMC/NM’s tion by 25 percent by the end of 2015, Divert at least 90 percent of kitchen and to a British Ther- preference to focus primarily on sustain- and an additional 10 percent by the café waste from reaching a landfill by the mal Unit, which able operations. However, long-term strat- end of 2023 (baseline: 2,369,866 source end of 2023 (baseline: there is no specific is a standard unit egies are included that address incorporat- MMBtu in calendar year 2010) baseline; achievement will be known ing sustainability into these areas. when the goal is reached rather than rela- of energy that is Energy: Electricity Demand tive to a given baseline value) commonly used The Plan also discusses UNMC/NM’s peers when combin- in higher education and health care to Reduce annual peak electricity demand Campus Planning ing other units of highlight recent sustainability-related by 25 percent by the end of 2015, and an Maintain the current density of 73,327 energy (e.g., watts trends in these industries and the noted additional 10 percent by the end of 2023 gross square feet (GSF) of built space per of electricity and operational areas. (baseline: 28,920 kW in August 2010) developed acre, which includes all therms of natural To provide context for the significance of Water Consumption UNMC/NM campus buildings and parking gas) to express sustainable operations, the connections garages (baseline: 73,327 GSF of built space total energy con- between environmental health, commu- Reduce annual gallons of water consumed per developed acre as of December 2010) sumption. MMBtu nity health, and the eight key operational by 10 percent by the end of 2023 (baseline: equals one million areas are illustrated on the final page of 225,164,787 gallons per year as an annual Campus Community Engagement Btu. average of calendar years 2010 and 2011) this Executive

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