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 The
Campus Sustainability Program at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University has launched a
university-wide campus sustainability program. The mission of the
program is “to conserve natural resources and reduce expenses while
enhancing the university’s educational goals and workplace values.”
In 2003-04, a master plan was drafted and approved. In 2004-05, a
steering committee was established with representation from all
sectors of the campus and responsibility for coordinating the
campus-wide effort. The committee established ten task forces to
focus on key areas of the campus including energy, water,
transportation, waste, food, purchasing, communications and
management. Leaders of task forces sit on the Steering Committee
which has overall responsibility for coordination and communication
of the campus sustainability program.
The sustainability program currently involves more
than 60 students, faculty and staff. Participating staff represent
key areas of the campus, such as food service, utilities,
construction, waste and recycling, and residential life. Faculty
members representing eight departments in four colleges lend
expertise in areas such as ecology, energy, water, transportation,
communications, and environmental management. Graduate and
undergraduate students in engineering, business administration,
biological sciences, and political science participate on the
Steering Committee and provide liaison to key student organizations.
Generous support from STMicroelectronics helped to make our efforts
possible.
In 2004-05, each of the ten task forces began
setting goals, establishing benchmarks and determining criteria for
measuring progress. Noteworthy accomplishments in this first year
included:
- A new contract with the City of Flagstaff to
haul recyclables to the Norton Environmental recycling facility
where they can be sorted more efficiently and cost-effectively
than campus resources permitted
- A new system for collection of toxic waste
and payment for its handling has been planned. A group of
engineering faculty and graduate students has made progress on
assessing the current status of environmental data on campus and
the requirements for better data management in campus
decision-making.
- Development of a manual for environmentally
preferable purchasing policies began last year and will continue
into next year.
- Sodexho will distribute Eco-Mugs to incoming
first year students providing incentives to reduce waste by
discounting refills on beverages, and residential life will
build on Sodexho’s initiative by providing dormitory education
on campus recycling.
- A major conservation pledge campaign to save
10% of energy, water, and waste on campus was planned during the
spring and summer and will be launched in September.
- Representatives from the Steering Committee
participated in focus groups in the NAU master planning process
and continue to work with the University and the County to
research and provide recommendations for an NAU employee and
student discounted bus pass (U-Pass).
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