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
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Created over 3,000 square feet of new landscaping on campus using native plantings.
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Planted more than 150 new trees over the past 3 years.
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Eliminated mowing in detention and infiltrations basins.
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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
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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
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Installed energy efficient water coolers with filling stations at strategic locations across campus to discourage the use of bottled water.
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Installed a 525 square foot rain garden to collect runoff as part of a post-construction stormwater management plan.