Campus Sustainability Priorities for 2016-2021
Administration, Development, and Planning
- Improve public reporting on progress toward sustainability goals. (ADP 1.1.3, 3.2.1)
- Increase internal understanding of sustainability best practices and awareness of campus initiatives. (ADP 1.4, 3.1; W 2.1.3)
- Assess and enhance the campus environment to better support a high quality of life for KU students, faculty, and staff. (ADP 2.1.3, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.4)
Curriculum and Research
- Pursue new partnerships and resources that develop and promote the living laboratory concept and enhance learning, research, and sustainability problem-solving. (CR 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.2.1)
- Expand professional development and ongoing support for KU faculty to integrate sustainability into the curriculum. (CR 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3)
- Grow student participation, course options, and experiential learning site partners in the Sustainability Certificate. (CR 2.2.3)
- Showcase research related to sustainability from all levels of the campus. (CR 3.1.6)
Student Life
- Work with campus partners to introduce students to sustainability efforts through new student marketing and experiences. (SL 1.1.1, 1.1.2)
- Promote leadership in sustainability practices and programming through existing student groups, activities, and student living facilities. (SL 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3)
- Strengthen relationships with campus departments and organizations addressing service, equity, and inclusion. (SL 1.4.1)
Energy
- Develop a framework for prioritizing investment in energy efficiency and conservation projects. (E 1.1.3, 1.1.4)
- Establish a clear processes for creating an energy budget that incorporates development of the Revolving Green Loan Fund and other reinvestment strategies. (E 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.4)
- Establish a retrocomissioning process that proactively addresses mechanical operations (E 2.1.1, 2.1.3)
- Expand energy awareness and education programs (E 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.6)
- Monitor renewable prices to determine when investment in solar becomes cost effective. Develop design standards for roof-top solar to be implemented when solar becomes financially viable for the university. (E 3.1.1, E 3.1.3)
- Partner with Regents Institutions to collaboratively establish metrics for energy use and benchmarking and establish goals for conservation and the use of renewables. (E 3.2.1)
Built Environment
- Continue to review and update existing standards for new construction and renovation to further integrate sustainable design practices that meet specific goals for development. (BE 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.4.3).
- Continue to improve the planning, design and review process by engaging diverse stakeholders from early in the process. (BE 1.2.2, 1.4.1)
- Develop a system for evaluating projects based on triple bottom line principles. (BE 1.2.3, BE 1.4.2)
- Improve alignment of construction standards and operation and maintenance practices to maximize energy and water conservation while providing a clean and safe indoor environment. (BE 1.1.5)
Campus Grounds
- Establish a process to review, promote, preserve and enhance elements of the campus landscape, built environment, and infrastructure that contribute to our historic and cultural heritage. (CG Goal 1)
- Update stormwater management practices and planning to account for anticipated changes in rainfall (fewer but more intense rainfall events) due to climate change. (CG Goal 3)
Procurement
- Identify and pursue opportunities to reduce campus waste through source reduction by evaluating and modifying procurement practices. (P 1.1.2, 1.1.4, 1.2.1, 1.2.2; W 1.1.1)
- Develop sustainable procurement guidelines that integrate sustainable purchasing practices into preferred product lists and vendor contracts. (P 2.1, P 3.1)
- Develop a comprehensive supplier diversity program. (P 3.2)
Waste
- Transition campus to a “centralized waste and recycling collection system,” providing office occupants with recycling containers and trash “mini-bins” in order to increase diversion rates, reduce contamination, and improve collection efficiency. (W 1.2.1)
- Develop streamlined options for recycling and waste reduction at university sponsored events. (W 1.2.5)
- Expand composting and other food waste diversion programs to include more dining venues, catering, and University sponsored events. (W 1.3.3)
- Establish building design standards for recovery of reusable materials (W 1.5.1; BE 1.1.2)
Transportation
- Establish a multi-modal approach to transportation planning and management. (T Goal 2)
- Increase bicycle ridership to and on campus (T Objective 2.1 and recommendations of the Campus Bicycle Plan)