Sustainability @ the
University of Rochester
About Sustainability
What is Sustainability?
(From UR Sustainable, a student-run sustainability wiki at the University of Rochester)
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
— Bruntland Commission (United Nations), 1987
“Sustainability is an ideal end-state. Like democracy, it is a lofty goal whose perfect realization eludes us. For this reason, there will always be competing definitions of sustainability. We know these definitions will always include the well-being of people, nature, our economy and our social institutions, working together effectively over the long term.”
— Alan Atkisson, “The Compass of Sustainability,” 1998
“Imagine, if you will, three overlapping circles: one representing economic needs, one representing environmental needs, and one representing community social needs. The area where the three circles overlap is the area of sustainability, the areas of livability—the area where all the threads of quality of life come together. If we are to ‘have it all,’ we must recognize that these three circles are not separate, unrelated entities.”
— John Kitzhaber, Governor, State of Oregon, 2000
“On the model campus, all sectors would work collaboratively to advance sustainability, and the content and context of learning would reflect a focus on systemic, interdisciplinary thinking with respect to human health, ethics, future generations, and planetary stewardship.”
— Association for the Advancement
of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
University Vision for Sustainability
(From the Report of the University Council on Environmental Sustainability, February 2008)
We propose that the following be the starting point for a University-wide conversation regarding sustainability at the University of Rochester:
Few issues present a more global challenge than sustainably "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The University of Rochester aims to be a leader in promoting a sustainable society through our academic, educational, patient care and health programs, in the operation of our campuses and facilities, and in our interactions with the larger community of which we are a part.
Mission as a Research University
Our mission is to pursue research and promote education and, through these often multidisciplinary activities, to increase understanding of sustainable development in local, national, and global communities.
Operational Stewardship
We are committed to sustainable development and operating practices through the responsible management of building design, construction, and renovation, landscape practices, energy use, water and waste management, emissions, transportation, and procurement, within a framework of regulatory compliance and fiscal prudence.
Community Responsibility
As a major employer and home to the premier medical research institution and health care provider in upstate New York, the University of Rochester has a special responsibility to promote sustainability in its research, curricular, clinical, and outreach efforts and to play a proactive and collaborative role in contributing to an environmentally healthy community.
25 Initiatives
In response to a request from President Seligman during the spring of 2007, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Ronald J. Paprocki formed a task force to bring together information regarding the University's previous efforts and existing programs and to recommend strategies for the future.
In its October 2007 draft report, the task force identified 25 specific recommendations and timetables for implementation of initiatives in the following areas: energy, waste management and recycling, purchasing and business practices, land use and building design and construction, transportation and parking, and dining services.
- Recommissioning of University buildings.
- Integration of building technology and scheduling.
- Optimizination of air flow in laboratories.
- Utility system upgrades to increase efficiency.
- Maximization of cogeneration load.
- Compact fluorescent light bulb distribution program.
- Campus-wide lighting and occupancy sensor retrofit.
- Participation in Energy Star Program.
- Campaign to address end-use behavior.
- Purchase of green energy.
- Establishment of LEED Silver Certification as the target and LEED certification as the minimal standard for major construction projects.
- Incorporation of sustainable guidelines into its design and construction standards.
- Adherence to the smart growth principles in the University’s Master Facilities Plan.
- Hiring a University Recycling Coordinator.
- Implement an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing policy.
- Adherence to green printing practices.
- Increase in Dining Services’ buying of locally grown, processed and produced products and products in which use of pesticides and other chemicals has been minimized.
- Recycling 100% of the “recyclable” glass, plastic and metal containers in all dining production areas.
- Piloting a program of separating compostable waste and sending it to Freshlink Farms for composting.
- Implementation of a fry oil to bio-diesel fuel program.
- Provide incentives for use of mass transit, car pooling, and alternative means of transportation.
- Pursue use of existing remote parking facilities and minimize the paving of campus areas.
- Strengthen the University’s mortgage incentive program to encourage living close of campus.
- Introduce hybrid vehicles into the University’s fleet.
- Increase the awareness of the University’s sustainability initiatives through the use of websites, bulletins, articles, etc.