| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.80 |
| Liaison | Allie McAllister |
| Submission Date | March 27, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Villanova University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 4.00 |
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The 2008 campus master plan includes a section on sustainability. The section covers topics such as building design, energy usage, transportation, material supply, water, and waste management
A copy of the strategic plan:
The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
A copy of the sustainability plan:
The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
A copy of the climate action plan:
The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Stated from our Strategic Master Plan:
• The President’s Climate Commitment Core Team and Support Board includes faculty, students and staff appointed by the President to satisfy the commitments of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
• The College of Engineering is developing a Master of Sustainable Engineering curriculum.
• Villanova’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering joined with The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to form the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership “to advance the evolving comprehensive stormwater management field and to foster the development of public and private partnerships through research on innovative stormwater Best Management Practices, directed studies, technology transfer and education.” This program has joined forces with other research partnerships, the Temple-Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative and the Low-Impact Development-MidAtlantic Consortium.
• Students can elect to be part of the Environmental Leadership Learning Community, an interdisciplinary livinglearning community focused on global environmental issues.
• Each year, a two-day Earth Day event is organized on campus by volunteer staff, students and faculty.
• A sustainability website is under development, which will include information about sustainability initiatives and programs taking place across the campus.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Villanova has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 24% by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2050 through our Climate Action Plan.
From the University Strategic Master Plan:
• Villanova’s President, along with 557 other college and university leaders, has signaled an institutional commitment to sustainable efforts by signing the American College &
University Presidents Climate Commitment.
• As part of the President’s Climate Commitment, the University is in the process of completing a carbon emissions inventory, for submission in Fall 2008.
• The University has purchased enough renewable energy credits for 100% windpower to offset the electrical consumption for the new Nursing and Law buildings for two years.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
We are able to measure our success by the number of LEED buildings on campus, currently we have five LEED buildings on campus for the 5 new buildings and major renovations that have happened since we signed the presidents Climate Commitment.
From the University Strategic Master Plan:
• Villanova is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s voluntary Energy Star and Green Lights programs, which require participants to perform energy-efficiency upgrades
“where profitable.”
• The University is planning a phased lighting retrofit project to replace older, inefficient lighting; this multi-year project is expected to begin Summer 2009.
• Villanova is also planning a building-automation and energy management analysis and master plan to increase operational efficiency throughout campus; this effort will take place in 2009, with phased implementation to follow.
• Four residence halls are being fully metered to monitor water and electricity consumption for display on “green screens” in the buildings’ lobbies, to help educate the community about resource consumption. A competition among the dormitories is being planned, to encourage conservation and increase awareness.
• The renovation of Fedigan Hall is a partnership between Facilities and the College of Engineering and may include solar power, solar thermal, LED-lighting and geothermal
technologies, with a goal of LEED® Gold certification.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Our Climate Action Plan has a timeline for projects and energy savings till 2025 to meet our first GHG reduction goal of 24%. Within that plan there is an outline of reducing energy usage to reach our GHG goal. We have created an energy efficiency fund to pay for these projects, all measurable savings will be returned to the fund.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the University Strategic Master Plan:
• The Facilities Management philosophy is to reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides and to work with native and adapted plants, planting no invasive species.
• Vegetative clippings are left on the ground, to fertilize and reduce waste.
• A rain garden – to be installed where the temporary parking lot is currently located (near Tolentine) – is being planned to filter rainwater and increase groundwater recharge.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the University Strategic Master Plan:
• Villanova recently implemented a Commuter Benefit Plan, which allows members of the Campus Community to pay for eligible transit expenses through pre-tax payroll deductions.
• New building projects include preferred parking for Alternatively Fueled Vehicles, bike racks and shower areas.
• Electric-powered golf carts are used by Facilities.
• The University’s shuttle bus includes routes to nearby shopping destinations; bio-diesel fuels will be used in shuttle buses beginning in Fall 2008.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the University Strategic Master Plan:
• Several on-campus projects aimed at reducing water pollution have been completed in collaboration with
the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership (VUSP; see XIV.A.8, below). These projects, fully described for
educational purposes on the VUSP website, include:
-- a vegetated bio-filtration traffic island on West Campus;
-- conversion of an existing stormwater detention basin north of Facilities to an extended detention wetland;
-- areas of porous concrete paving in the Athletics parking area, pervious concrete between Sullivan and Sheehan, and a comparison of porous asphalt and pervious concrete in the Mendel parking lot.
-- a vegetated roof on a portion of CEER.
• Villanova’s two newest buildings, for the College of Nursing and School of Law, include water effi cient plumbing systems. The School of Law building, for example, is estimated to save over 900,000 gallons of water a year over a conventional design.
• Driscoll Hall, the new College of Nursing Building, includes a green roof component.
• Water-conserving plumbing fixtures have been phased into buildings throughout campus over the past two years.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
There are not current measurable objectives for this plan, but there will be once the plan has been fully updated.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2012-2013 academic year was the first year of our health and wellness program. Employees were encouraged to participate in an annual screening for a discount on their health care costs. This gave Villanova a good sense of where their employees were on a health scale. Now, employees are encouraged to take the annual screening, as well as participate in other healthy initiatives to improve Villanova's health numbers.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | --- |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | --- |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | --- |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | Yes |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | --- |
| UN Global Compact | --- |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
St. Francis Pledge http://www.catholicclimatecovenant.org/pledge
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Villanova has an Environmental Sustainability Policy that was developed in 2004 which states the University’s overarching commitment to sustainability but does not outline clear goals or metrics on how to achieve these commitments.
Villanova has an Environmental Sustainability Policy that was developed in 2004 which states the University’s overarching commitment to sustainability but does not outline clear goals or metrics on how to achieve these commitments.
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.