| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.35 |
| Liaison | Megan Litke |
| Submission Date | March 30, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
American University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Megan
Litke Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | No |
| Research (or other scholarship) | Yes | No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | No |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | No |
| Investment | Yes | No |
| Other | No | No |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
AU aims to encourage sustainability literacy by offering workshops for faculty members on how to integrate sustainability in to their courses. (From the Sustainability Plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
AU aims to encourage sustainability literacy by offering opportunities for applied student research within the campus as a living laboratory.
We will continue to encourage [sustainability related] exploration, through our commitment to interdisciplinary and collaborative research, and through our sustainability-related programs.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
Expand the peer educators program, expand sustainability-themed residential living-learning opportunities, support sustainability clubs, produce outreach materials, organize events, and develop a green residence hall program.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Our goals is to continue to increase number of students and staff reached on a continuing basis as well as continuing to produce materials for outreach and events that are conducted on an ongoing basis.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
The sustainability outreach and communications manager is responsible for this effort in collaboration with other offices including residence life.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
Promote employee engagement through the expansion of the green office program and engage in community service and outreach.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Contribute to the community newsletter that is sent to campus neighbors, expand the green office program to engage more members of the community.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
The director and manager work together to achieve these engagement objectives.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Achieve carbon neutrality by 2020.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Neutrality by 2020 through behavior change, efficiency, green building, investment in renewables, RECs, and offsets.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
The office of sustainability is responsible for this goal
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Use LEED in new construction projects.
(From sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Achieve LEED Gold in all new construction projects and LEED Silver for all major renovations while reducing energy consumption 30% below ASHRAE standards in new buildings. Smaller projects adhere to the DC green building code.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Planning and Project Management is responsible.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Source at least 50 percent of food locally and sustainably. (From sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Using STARS to track, dining works to increase their sustainable purchases each year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Aramark works closely with the university to achieve these goals.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
Reduce energy consumption in existing buildings by 10% across campus. (From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
In line with carbon neutrality efforts, this is targeted for 2020.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Facilities Management
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
Increase the use of native plants and organic grounds management, reduce gas-powered equipment, reduce pollution in local waterways by decreasing stormwater runoff. (From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Earn points in LEED and STARS for related projects through prioritization of native plants in new construction projects and replacement plantings.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Facilities Management
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
Comply with LEED standards for purchasing, reduce the sale and consumption of bottled water, support fair trade, support local and SWAM businesses.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Through the LEED process, green office program, and behavior change programs reach out to purchasers across campus and influence the construction process by working to achieve related LEED points.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Purchasing and the Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
Switch the campus fleet to alternative fuels, incentives to reduce commuting emissions, become a Bicycle-Friendly University, explore flexible work and telecommuting options.
(from the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Flex schedules are available on campus on an individual basis, a transportation plan is in development and will tie together all existing efforts on campus. The university strives to earn points for both STARS and LEED through this effort.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Office of Sustainability and Transportation.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The university has a goal of zero waste.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
The zero waste policy guides ongoing actions related to this goal. Outreach efforts are ongoing, and plans to connect with event organizers, residence halls, and the new law school campus are in the works this year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Zero Waste Coordinator, Facilities, and Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
Reduce pollution in local water way by decreasing stormwater runoff generated on campus. This is also included in our green building efforts by including low flow fixtures and fittings in our specs for all new construction projects.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Exceeding DC's requirements for stormwater management, creating showcase pieces for management, and earning related LEED points.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Facilities, Office of Sustainability, Planning and Project Management.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
AU's strategic plan includes the goal to "Reflect and Value Diversity" and further states we will dedicate the necessary resources to recruiting, welcoming, supporting, and retaining outstanding students, faculty, staff, and leadership who will significantly improve the diversity of our community, with particular attention to the inclusion of underrepresented domestic minority students.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
Health, Wellbeing and Work are incorporated into the Green Office program and the goals is to expand the the program campus-wide in order to engage AU employees in sustainability.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
The office of sustainability manages this program.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
Explore opportunities to include sustainable and responsible investing as an element of the university's investment portfolio.
(From the sustainability plan)
Date Revised: May 19, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Included in strategic goal number seven: "Act on our values of social responsibility, service [and] an active pursuit of sustainability."
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.