Sustainability at DeSales

• Campus Environment Committee

  Overview

  The Campus Environment Committee advises the President and the Vice-President of Administration, Finance, and Campus Environment concerning issues of facilities, technology infrastructure, instructional technology, sustainability, emergency preparedness, campus safety, land, and parking. Membership consists of the following:

  • Marc Albanese, Associate Vice-President of Campus Environment, and the committee’s chair.

  • director of campus environment,

  • director of campus technology,

  • director of distance learning and instructional technology,

  • director of residence life,

  • four faculty members (one from each division),

  • one traditional student,

  • one ACCESS undergraduate student,

  • one graduate student, and

  • Nick DeSalvo, Director of Sustainability with the Lehigh Valley Assoc. of Independent Colleges. 

  
  

  Meeting Schedule

  The committee meets monthly, on the first Wednesday of the month, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM, in the Buckley Center conference room.

• Campus Initiatives

  Constructions and Buildings

  Gambet Center
  This new building project is currently under construction. DeSales has adopted a green building policy, with the intent of meeting LEED silver certification standards with all new major construction and renovations

  McShea
  While renovating the current McShea Student Center, the project team made a conscious decision to use many products that can be repurposed around campus when the facility is replaced. Estimates show that 75 percent of the renovation costs were spent on materials that will be able to be repurposed.

  
  

  Dining

  Composting
  An initiative to compost our pre-consumer food kitchen waste was started in November 2011. Currently only the pre-consumer kitchen waste is collected from the University Center Food Court.  Our kitchen waste is picked up by a recycling company and taken to Rodale Farms, Emmaus, PA where it is added to the compost pile and returned to the earth.

  We hope to grow the composting program to include post-consumer food waste from the University Center as well as other dining locations on campus. We are currently evaluating if we can eliminate a dumpster down the line and the future possibility of establishing a composting operation on the campus.
  

  Energy Efficiency

  Dooling Hall
  Installed daylight harvesting, smart ballasts, automated window shades and energy efficient lighting in the atrium and surrounding offices. Retrofitted classrooms and offices with occupancy sensors and energy efficient ballasts and lamps.

  Trexler Library
  Completed a full retrofit of the entire building (over 500 fixtures) during 2011, which reducing energy consumption by over 50 percent. 

  Outdoor Lighting
  Adopted standards for high efficiency LED lighting and implementing a phased retrofit of existing fixtures.

  Billera Hall Lighting
  Completed engineering and design to retrofit the interior lighting and initiated installation in a phased-approach.  

  Building Automated Control System
  This system allows remote monitoring and correction as well as the identification of proactive repairs to equipment not operating at proper levels.  All campus buildings will be on this system by the end of 2012.

  EPA’s Portfolio Manager
  This management tool is used to track energy and water consumption in university buildings compared to similar buildings nationwide to identify underperforming buildings.

  Conservation Competition
  Residence Life sponsors a water and energy conservation competition in the residence halls. The hall with the highest percentage of reduction in water and energy usage per occupant is awarded a prize. 
  
  

  Landscaping and Grounds

  • Created over 3,000 square feet of new landscaping on campus using native plantings.

  • Planted more than 150 new trees over the past 3 years.

  • Eliminated mowing in detention and infiltrations basins.

  • Re-used soil from construction projects to turn three previously unusable areas into athletic fields and open space, in support of health lifestyles.

  
  

  Transportation

  Bike Racks
  Bicycle racks have been installed at all university buildings to encourage student to reduce the use of cars on campus.

  Electric Vehicle
  The University is purchasing two electric vehicles during 2012 to replace gas-powered trucks and vans as part of its sustainability efforts.  The zero-emission vehicles are manufactured by Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) ® and are charged by plugging into 220-volt outlets in the evening during nonpeak times. Known as low speed neighborhood electric vehicles, they travel at a maximum speed of 25 mph and can be driven on public roads.

  Replaced pickup trucks used by ground crews with energy efficient vehicles including Polaris Ranger® and Bobcat 3200 ®utility vehicles.
  
  
  

  Single Stream Recycling

  

  During the fall of 2010, DeSales University implemented a campus-wide, single-stream recycling program through a partnership with Waste Management. Single-stream recycling allows newspaper, paper, magazines, cardboard, and other recyclable products to be placed in containers directly with traditional co-mingled recyclables (glass, plastic, aluminum). Single-stream recyclables are then transported to a recycling plant where they are sorted on site. The implementation of single-stream at DeSales has already resulted in significant overall reductions in waste produced and cost for waste removal.

  Not sure what to put in the recycling bins in your residence hall, classroom, or office area? Find out more about what items can be recycled using single-stream recycling. Please remember not to place food waste (or items with significant food residue) into recycling at risk of contaminating other recyclables. Bottles should be emptied of liquids before placing them in recycling containers.
  
  
  

  Water Conservation

  • Installed low-flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets in all residence halls. Resulted in reduced potable water consumption across the campus for five straight years

  • Installed energy efficient water coolers with filling stations at strategic locations across campus to discourage the use of bottled water.

  • Installed a 525 square foot rain garden to collect runoff as part of a post-construction stormwater management plan.  

• Living More Sustainably

  Energy Conservation

  • Turn off the lights when you leave your room

  • Turn off lights in your lounge/trash room/laundry room when unoccupied

  • Turn off common area TVs if they are not being used

  • Use energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs

  • Keep your refrigerator full

  • Unplug all appliances and electronics when not in use

  • Use rechargeable batteries for all battery-powered items

  • Keep your room a few degrees cooler in winter or warmer in summer

  • Use surge protection strips on all appliances

  • Shut down your computer when not in use, or at least hibernate

  • Clean out your dryer's lint trap with each use

  
  

  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

  • Actively sort your recyclables into single-stream recycling bins

  • Buy only green or recycled products

  • Reuse items for new purposes

  • Consider trading or donating items you no longer need

  • Think before you print – if you already have an electronic copy, don't print another

  • Set your printer to double-sided printing

  • Don't drive on campus, to class, or the DUC

  • Share a ride if you are going off-campus

  • Use a bike to get around campus quickly and easily

  • Use re-usable grocery bags for shopping and other purposes

  • Use your flex for a reusable to-go container at the DUC

  • Get a set of reusable plates, cups, and utensils for your room

  • Buy only used textbooks and sell them back to the Campus Store

  • Get room decorations and furniture at the thrift store or from a friend who is graduating

  
  

  Water Conservation

  • Don't let the shower run longer than needed to become warm

  • Reduce your time in the shower by a few minutes

  • Limit the water flow/shower pressure if possible

  • Don't let the water run when brushing your teeth

  • Intentionally limit your use of bottled water

  • Get a water filter/Brita pitcher and reusable cups for your room

  • Fill up your reusable water bottle at our filtered water coolers/fountains