SU’s Green At-A-Glance

Dining Services

• A golf-cart-sized vehicle was purchased to be used instead of a full-sized van for smaller-volume deliveries and pick-ups of food and supplies around campus, thus saving fuel.
• All coolers in the Gull’s Nest operation are changing from water-cooled to air-cooled condensers. This will save a continuous use of water used to cool current refrigerated units.
• Lighting is being replaced to energy-efficient fixtures in the Commons and retail operations of Dining Services and the SU Bookstore.
• Cardboard boxes are separated from other trash and disposed of in a specified container to be sent for recycling.
• Delivery pallets are returned to purveyors for reuse instead of being sent to a land fill.
• Motion detectors in offices throughout the Commons building turn off lights when they detect that a space is not being occupied.
• Timer and temperature-change sensors are installed on air conditioning and heating units to adjust temperature by demand and usage.
• Frozen/refrigerated units are turned off or consolidated during summer and downtimes to reduce energy use and lower inventory.
• Financial and correspondence information is saved electronically to eliminate unnecessary usage of paper.
   

Electronics

Facilities Services

Horticulture

• SU’s recycling program began in 1990 through the Horticulture Department.
• New benches are made from recycled material.
• Students weed planting beds to reduce the use of weed killer.
• In the greenhouse and interior spaces, Ivory soap and water are used instead of typical chemicals to remove insects.
• Mulching blades are used on SU lawnmowers to reduce waste and add nutrients to the soil.
• Bicycle racks are incorporated into campus design to promote an alternative to driving.
• Greenhouse staff wash and reuse pots and bedding trays instead of discarding.
• Campus trash containers are paired with recycling receptacles so users have a choice.
• Maryland requires the University recycle 20 percent of its trash; SU always far exceeds this standard.

Offices

• Paper purchased for office use is made of 30 percent recycled materials and then recycled itself.
   

Physical Plant

• SU mandates that contractors recycle carpeting removed from campus buildings.
• Maryland requires 75 percent of new vehicle purchases be flex-fueled or hybrid; 100 percent of SU’s new-car purchases in 2007 were flex-fueled.
• All new utility vehicle purchases for the University are battery operated.

SU partners with Pepco Energy Services, Inc. and the Maryland Department of General Services in a campus-wide initiative that will save water equal to the annual consumption of 473 family homes, electricity sufficient to power 1,600 homes and reduce emissions equal to removing 1,571 cars from the road or planting 2,145 acres of trees. Highlights include:

• Replacement of more efficient mechanical equipment in 14 campus buildings;
• Installation of tens of thousands more energy efficient bulbs and lighting fixtures and installation of energy "misers" on vending machines;
• Upgrading some 1,700 plumbing fixtures to conserve 11,000 gallons of water anually; and
• Starting June 2007, 5 percent of the energy supplied to SU is required to come from renewable energy sources.
   

TETC Construction

• Some floors will be covered with renewable and recyclable bamboo.
• Up to 40 percent of the building’s structural frame is made from recycled materials.
• The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will be ultra-efficient and will use no CFCs.
• The site of the TETC was chosen so that it would be within ¼ mile of two or more bus lines to promote mass transportation use.
• Bicycle racks are integrated into the design to encourage bike riding instead of automobile use.
• The open space surrounding the building will be equal to the building footprint.
• The paints and coatings for the building must meet or exceed Green Seal requirements, and the carpets must meet or exceed the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Indoor Air Quality Test Program.