sustainability: osu & stillwater

Sustainability: OSU & StillwaterIlda T. Hershey, OSU Sustainability Coordinator

Objectives

• What is Sustainability?• What is OSU doing to be more sustainable?• Instruction, Research, Outreach• Operations• City of Stillwater• Resources

Sustainability

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability

• Sustainability Meeting the needs of the present without compromising

the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

• Sustainability = Good Stewardship

Environment

Economy

Society

Sustainability

• NOT here to save the planet• Tenets of Sustainability

– All things on Earth are connected• Web of life; actions have consequences

– Live off nature’s income, not its capital• Renewable energy; materials recycling; conservation

– There is no waste in nature• Circular Production; Cradle to Cradle Design• Design for the Environment (DfE)

– Defining best processing & manufacturing practices– Lean Production - Reducing toxins

Benefits of Sustainability

• Environmental Benefits– Clean Air, Water, Land– Energy & Resource Conservation

• Economic Benefits– Energy & Resource Conservation = Cost Reduction– Lower Disposal Costs– Competitive Advantage

• Social Benefits– Improved Human Health & Quality of Life– Culture of Environmental Stewardship

Sustainability at OSU

“OSU faculty, staff and students will advance all aspects of sustainability through instruction, research, outreach, administrative decision-making, innovative design and operation of our physical facilities, and our daily behavior.”

-Burns Hargis

Sustainability – Instruction

• Integrating sustainability and environmental stewardship into the classroom:– 7 courses with central focus on sustainability

– 24 courses with secondary focus

– 76 courses with peripheral focus

– Environmental Science Graduate Program – Interdisciplinary

– Graduate Majors: • DASNR Environmental Science; CEAT Environmental Engineering

– Certificate Program: Environmental Studies

– Undergrad Majors: • Management (Business Sustainability),Civil Engineering (Environmental); CEAT

Biosystems Engineering (Environment & Natural Resources), Chemical Engineering (Environmental), DASNR Environmental Science (Environmental Policy, Natural Resources, Water Resources); A&S Applied Sociology (Environment & Society)

– Undergrad Minor:• Ag, A&S (Environmental Economics & Policy)

Sustainability – Research

• Research that enhances sustainability and environmental stewardship:– 105 faculty members involved in sustainability – Fields of Research: Agriculture, Natural Resources,

Renewable Energy, Pollution Prevention, Biofuels, Social Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Architecture, Green Product Design, Ecology, Ecotourism, Business

Sustainability – Outreach

• Educate and assist the local, state, national, and international communities in practicing sustainability and environmental stewardship:– Local Farmers and Residents– Municipalities– State and Federal Agencies– International Communities

Sustainability - Operations

– Green Building• LEED Certification – Student Union• Natural Light• Insulation• High Efficiency Equipment• Recycled Materials

– Grounds• Integrated Pest Management• Composting landscape waste• Irrigation system• Tree Campus USA


– Transportation• Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles & Fueling Station• Hybrid & Electric Vehicles• Carpool Benefits• Parking Garages• Mass Transit• Orange Ride Bike Rental & Repair

– Dining Services• Local, Organic, Vegetarian Foods• Eco-friendly Disposable Products• Trayless Buffets• Recycle Cardboard, Cooking Oil, Compost Produce


– Drinking Fountains:• Dozen retrofits or new fountains with

sensor refill taps• Reduction of plastic bottles counter

– Custodial/Housekeeping• Paper goods have highest recycled content• Less toxic cleaning supplies• Testing steaming equipment that would

eliminate the two most toxic cleaning chemicals still in use by Housekeeping: degreasers and oven cleaners


– Renewable Energy• Wind Power

• 26 turbines; 60 megawatts• EPA Green Power Partner

• Geothermal• Solar

– Energy Use• Energy Management Policy & Guidelines• Energy Conservation Program• Energy Efficiency• Measuring our Carbon Footprint

OSU Energy Management Policy

• Established August 2007• Energy Conservation is Everyone’s Responsibility

– OSU Policy & Procedures: The Board of Regents “expects all personnel at each campus to make a positive contribution to maximize energy conservation and produce real energy savings”

• Teamed with Energy Education Inc.• Created Energy Guidelines (www.okstate.edu/energy)

– Responsibility of all Students, Faculty, and Staff– HVAC including Seasonal Set Points– Lighting – Water

http://www.okstate.edu/energy

Changing Behavior Results

• From August 2007 to present, OSU’s Energy Conservation Program has saved over $28 million system wide focusing almost completely on behavioral changes• Turning off lights and computer equipment• Turning down HVAC systems

Carbon Footprint

A measure of the annual greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization

What impact do our activities have on the environment with relation to climate change?

Carbon Footprint

• Scope 1 Emissions:– Power Plant Production of Steam, Electricity, and Chilled Water– Boilers, Hot-water Heaters, Unit Heaters, Roof-top Units– Mobile Combustion – Vehicles, Generators, Equipment– HFCs in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment – Farm Animals – Methane Production– 2006: 48,502 Metric Tons CO2e

– 2009: 51,777 Metric Tons CO2e

– 2011: 52, 732 Metric Tons CO2e

• Scope 2 Emissions:– Generated in Production of Electricity by Utility Company– 2006: 117,045 Metric Tons CO2e

– 2009: 112,785 Metric Tons CO2e

– 2011: 128,946 Metric Tons CO2e– 34,604 with 77% wind simulation

Carbon Footprint

• Scope 3 Emissions:– Commuting– Air Travel– Contracted Vehicles– Electrical Line Losses– Waste Disposal– Construction– Product Consumption

Putting it in Perspective:– 2011 Scope 1 & 2 Emissions = Annual GHG Emissions

from 37,849 passenger vehicles

Waste Management

- Set of plans to manage solid waste - A means of achieving sustainability- Recycling infrastructure may be lacking

Waste Management

– Reduce & Reuse Programs: • OSU Surplus; Dept. Surplus; Café Libro• Orange Tech Cartridge Refills• Move-out Collections

– Real Pokes Pass It On– FGSH Yard Sale– Textbook buybacks & donations

• Dining Services – Reusable cup & shopping bags– Drink discount

Waste Management

– “Real Cowboys Recycle” SGA• Game Day Recycling

– Move-In Recycling Program – Campus Recycling Program

• Office paper, mixed paper, colored paper, journals, magazines, junk mail, manila folders

• Shredded paper in bags

• Cardboard (13 cardboard dumpsters)

• Containers

• Plastic bottles (#1-2)

• Aluminum cans

• Dream Machines = Reverse vending machine

• WM/Pepsico proceeds to Disabled Veterans

Waste Management

– New Recycling Procedures & Campaign• Custodian collect from floors

• Recycling department collects from buildings

• OSU Recycling Committee

• Website

• Videos, presentations, events

Waste Management

OSU Recycling Center

Waste Management

Behind-the-Scenes Recycling - Scrap metal

- Wooden pallets

- Tires

- Lab glass

- Lab chemicals

- Used electronics

- Auto batteries

- Rechargeable batteries

- Used motor oil

- HFCs (refrigerants)

- Fluorescent light bulbs/tubes

Sustainability Office

Educate Faculty, Staff, Students

Stress the importance of sustainability to OSU- Collaboration with student organizations

- Encourage Green Teams, ECO-Reps, etc.

Put a Face on OSU Sustainability- New website & social media pages

- Sustainability, Recycling & Energy presentations

- Tours of Recycling Center, Water Treatment Plant, Power Plant

- Measure Sustainability efforts using STARS program of AASHE

- Communicate Green Initiatives to students, staff, faculty

Bring awareness to sustainability- OSU Sustainability Stakeholders Group & Recycling Committee

- Set an example by “Walking the Talk”

City of Stillwater

Stillwater Recycling Task Force- Citizen group

- Decades of community support

- Switch to Pay-As-You-Throw refuse service

- Charged by size of refuse cart (3 sizes)

- Increase from $1.00 to $2.00 difference

- Incentive to reduce waste

- Curbside Recycling Pilot Program 2012

- Single-stream (paper, cardboard, metals, plastics #1-7)

- Additional $1.57 p/month

- Refuse cart sizes reduced

- Curbside Recycling Citywide as of September 2013

Environmental- Conserve landfill space - Reuse natural resources

Economic- Allows for low monthly service rates- Reduction in landfill expense- Fewer injury claims

Social- Equitable refuse service- Cleaner streets (no bags for animals to rip into)

- Less debris in storm water run-off- Healthier for children/pets

City of Stillwater

• www.recycleok.org• Nonprofit organization, works to support recycling efforts• Advocacy, Education (PSA Contest; Recycling Award for

Schools), Outreach (Website; Newsletters; Listserv; Social Media), Market Development, Materials Exchange

• Annual statewide recycling conference

OKRA

http://www.recycleok.org/

Solid Waste Association of North America

Indian Nations Chapter

Spring SymposiumCatoosa, OK

Training CoursesCertifications

Monthly Meetings

http://swanachapters.org/ok

SWANA

http://swanachapters.org/ok

Resources

• Sustainability• Website: http://sustainability.okstate.edu• Email: [email protected]• Facebook: www.facebook.com/osuenergy• Twitter: https://twitter.com/OSUgreen

• Energy Conservation Program • Website: www.okstate.edu/energy• Email: [email protected]

• Recycling•Website: www.pp.okstate.edu/recycle•Email: [email protected]

Questions?

Oklahoma State University Sustainability andEnergy Conservation

sustainability: osu & stillwater

Documents

social sustainability

practicing sustainability

aspects of sustainability

sustainability outreacheducate

environmental stewardshippage

water resources

sustainability24 courses

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