Sustainability Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

Delta State University (DSU) is committed to efficient energy management and sustainability in operations. As an educational institution, DSU strives to serve as a positive example through sustainable operations and education. Efficient energy use and energy conservatione efforts are important goals for the DSU campus community and should continue to be emphasized not only as a way to save money, but also as a way to raise environmental awareness and provide educational leadership for the future.

DEFINITIONS

ASHRAE 90.1: The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers energy standards which provides the minimum requirements for energy efficient designs for buildings.

PROCEDURES and RESPONSIBILITIES

This policy shall apply to all faculty, staff, and students. The DSU Energy Management Committee is responsible for guiding the implementation of energy management and conservation efforts on the campus. The Energy Management Committee shall provide an annual report to the President of the university regarding the campus implementation of the Year of Green Goals and sustainability practices outlined below. 

Year of Green Goals for FY 2012 – 2014

• Increase the university’s recycling rate by 25% and reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills by 25%.
• Adopt and achieve and appropriate model for green laboratories and reduce lab-related waste and energy use.
• Reduce campus energy consumption by 15% below the FY10 level.
• Reduce paper consumption by 25%. 
• Use green cleaning products in all buildings and reduce the use of chemicals in cleaning and maintenance.
• Reduce printing and copying costs by 10%.
• Eliminate the use of Styrofoam and similar products on the campus. 

   Sustainable Practices

• The DSU procurement office shall consider the effect of products on the environment. Consideration shall be given to the purchase of Energy Star d appliances, green seal chemicals, and other environmentally sound items found not only on state contract, but also through other reliable sources. Contracts for new construction and major repair/renovation shall consider sustainability in the purchase requirements and specifications for the materials to be installed.  

• All new construction and/or major repair/renovation of existing facilities shall be designed to meet energy-efficient goals, which exceed ASHRAE 90.1 by 30% when determined cost effective.

• All new construction and/or major repair and renovations of existing facilities shall include the requirement for the development and approval of an energy model during the early design stages. The design professional shall certify the model meets the Institutions of Higher Learning’s’ energy program and at the conclusion of the construction and/or renovation (prior to final acceptance) the design professional shall certify the facility has been constructed as designed and modeled.

• Renovation of historically significant buildings should meet or exceed ASHRAE 90.1 standards where appropriate for the scope of work and determined cost effective.

• No less than 25% of the expected annual recurring savings from completed energy efficient projects shall be set aside each year in the appropriate fund and used to finance future energy efficient projects. If the annual recurring savings are dedicated to the repayment of debt, then these funds shall be set-aside in the first year after such debt is retired. 

• Water efficient measures shall be implemented in new building construction and major building renovation projects.

• All new construction and/or major repair/renovations of existing facilities shall address and consider sound design techniques that maximize wind, solar, aspect, shading, and other design expressions embracing our climatic realities. The design criteria shall encourage overhangs, natural day lighting, and other passive design techniques and should not be confused with renewable energy. 

• All new landscape construction, major repair and renovations of landscapes, and any site work in general shall consider and encourage the use of resource-efficient plants including native plant palettes, with a goal of decreasing the uses of herbicides and pesticides when possible, while increasing tree canopy through reforestation and reducing potable water used in irrigation.

• All new landscape construction, major repair and renovations of landscapes, and any site work in general shall include the requirement to protect and enhance water quality through innovative storm water best management practices.

• DSU shall develop a comprehensive waste-minimization program. The program shall address a comprehensive campus wide recycling program that considers recycling of construction spoils/wastes from demolition and construction projects, garbage collection and disposal contracts, disposals of used equipment, furniture disposal, chemical waste, electronic waste, composting, etc. 

• All new streets or campus street renovations shall be developed to encourage walking, bikes, and other non-carbon producing emissions options in transportation. 

• A ride share program should be developed, if feasible, to encourage car-pooling. This program should consider partnerships with the City of Cleveland and local businesses where appropriate and feasible. 

RELATED DOCUMENTS

• IHL Board Policy 920 Sustainability Policy approved January 20, 2011
• DSU Year of Green Goals for FY 2012 – 2014 approved by DSU Cabinet