sustainable solutions . sustainability on campus effort for sustainability must be individual...

Sustainable Solutions

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Sustainability on Campus

Effort for sustainability must be individual household community nation worldwide

cont.

government, corporations and organizations must encourage and pursue sustainable practices

colleges and universities must do so too $200 billion are spent yearly in products and

services (labs, infrastructure, dorms, food establishments, sports arena, etc.)

represents a substantial ecological footprint

How to begin

audit your home sets priorities and goals heating/cooling, transportation, electricity

consumption, waste, food, water usage

Most Common Efforts

recycling waste reduction

– competitions– trash audits– book reuse– composting

$60-100 per

ton of trash

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Green Buildings

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

platinum LEED is the best new Science building

Sabine Hall (LEED Platinum)

Walls made of concretewhich acts as insulator

Orientation is essentialto have less need of energy to keep it cool insummer

Biggest windows face north

Panels obstructing southDuring summer

Front side facing North

South side

Fewer windows and those are shaded while the hottest time of the day during summer

Corridors have natural light

Greenery will eventually help protect the buildingFrom the hottest days during summer

West side

Small area so sun heating itdoesn’t have a great effecton the building’s air temperature

Will be covered by grasses insummer so the heat from the light is not that harsh.

Atrium

Skylight throughout the building

Light colors to reflect light

local/recycled material

Classrooms

Light color surfaces

Windows that allow natural light

bathrooms

Natural light during the day

There is a shower near the South entrance for thosethat come biking or walking More efficient system

to dry your hands

Urinals with little or noneed of water

greenery

Plants that will survive the climate and eventually shade the building are also found on the southern sector

Plants growing on the roof preventoverheating it. It also helps clean the air.

Water Use Efficiency

rain water reduction of water use in urinals reduction of

duration of shower (athletes) usage of brown water

Energy Conservation

thermostats sleep-mode settings for computers shut off unused lights lower the temperature of hot water

Renewable Energy

2nd Solar Decathlon (October 2005)– 18 universities competed– National Mall- Washington D.C.

livestock manure used for energy and recovery of nutrients and water

solar and wind power already present in many campuses

carbon offsets can be obtained buying "green tags"

Carbon-neutrality

top priority American College and University Presidents

Climate Commitment over 350 colleges/universities as of fall 2007

Dining Services

campus gardens local produce biodegradable soaps kitchen scraps used to make compost compostable dinnerware

Institutional Purchasing

same idea for any other purchases the institution does

recycled paper certified sustainable wood energy efficient appliances goods with less packaging less toxic detergents and paints

Transportation

less polluting alternative fuel Rice University in Houston is producing its

own biodiesel alternative means of transportation inside

campus (bikes, bus, shuttle)

Restoration

– camp's natural environment– native plants– removal of invasive species– rooftop gardens

Curricular Changes– integration of sustainability in traditional courses– green initiative awards for faculty– innovative green curriculum in some institutions

Sustainability and Sustainable Development

avoid or mitigate environmental degradation investing in environmental assets and

management of them reaching environmental goals

Economy vs. Environment

common view that we cannot protect the environment and provide for human needs.

command-and-control policies = excessive costs for the industry

command-and-control policies = restriction of rights increase of human impact over environment due to

population density

Human Relation with the Environment

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Strategies for Sustainability

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Time

attitude of 1961 to reach the moon society collapse

– Collapse by Jared Diamond view earth as an island

The End