Sustainability Center

The University of Idaho Sustainability Center provides a strong framework, leadership and empowerment for the continued development of sustainable practices. We are committed to developing and maintain healthful educational living environments while fully integrating sustainable practices at the University of Idaho. Sustainability Involves reorganizing our life support systems; climate, energy, biodiversity, food, consumerism and consumption, waste, transportation and built environment.

Projects List by Topic
Energy/Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Chicago Climate Exchange emissions were calculated and submitted to CCX. UI banked 2400 tons of carbon credits for 2007 and 2008 emissions reductions projects.
• Released review draft of UI Climate Action Plan in November 2009. UI plans to cut emissions 25% by 2012, 50% by 2016, 83% by 2023, and be carbon neutral by 2030. Final report will be submitted to Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Initiated building-level sustainability assessments of the Library and Law buildings on campus. These assessments will identify next steps in resource conservation and management options to reduce the environmental footprints of the buildings.
• Worked with Beef Northwest to develop a greenhouse gas assessment and identify best management practices for a major feedlot system.
• Initiated substantial native habitat restoration program involving several faculty, staff and community partners. Identified 8 sections of campus land and 40 off-campus acres for native planting projects as part of the “Get Rooted” program.
• Passed UI Green Building Policy requiring all new construction and remodels to meet at least LEED Silver standards.
• Published first UI greenhouse gas inventory in September 2008 to meet our American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
• Completed the UI Greenhouse Gas emission baseline and the UI 2007 Annual Report for the Chicago Climate Exchange.
• Facilitated the involvement of Avista Utilities in providing energy conservation upgrades for 17 Greek houses and portions of UI residences not covered in the ESCO contract. In UI Residences, Avista provided the equipment for all common areas in Wallace (rooms were covered by the Performance Contract), and in the Tower Avista provided all the equipment to upgrade lighting for the entire building. In the Greek houses, Avista supplied both equipment and labor to upgrade lighting, install water saving devices, and provide insulation to attics and crawl spaces. This work will save 360,000 kWh per year in the Greek system and 200,000 kWh per year in UI residences.

 
Transportation

• Developed a transportation section for the Climate Action Plan that will provide the basis for a Sustainable Transportation plan for UI, to be developed winter 2009-2010.
• Established Transportation Committee in fall 2007 to prioritize walking and biking as primary modes of travel in Long Range Campus Development Plan.
• Conducted commuter survey in 2008 of 545 students, faculty and staff to determine commuter-related carbon emissions along with commuter habits, preferences and concerns.
• Partnered with the Village Bicycle Project to host multiple free bicycle repair clinics since fall 2008.

Food Systems

• UI Food Systems Committee began collaborating with Campus Dining in fall 2007 to implement sustainable practices and publicize those already underway. The Food Systems Committee is currently working with Campus Dining to incorporate sustainable considerations and preferences into the new food service contract in 2010.
• We have worked for two years to set up composting for campus dining on campus, and everything is now coming together. All food waste from campus dining, including from their catering operations, will be composted starting Fall 09 semester. This will amount to 70-100 tons of food waste being composted rather than thrown away, and should amount to approximately a 90% reduction in waste from Campus Dining. Paper towels will also be composted.
• A collaboration between Campus Dining and the Palouse Research, Education, and Extension Center (PREEC) (dairy, beef and sheep center), initiated through the UISC food system subcommittee, will result in the following starting in fall 2009:
  • A UI Dairy feasibility study is being conducted to produce local milk for use by Campus Dining and the Community of Moscow, saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting raw milk to Spokane for processing while shipping consumable milk from Boise to Moscow.
  • All food waste from Campus Dining, and animal carcasses and manure from PREEC will be composted at PREEC composting bays rather than added to the waste stream.
  • A portion of the oil used in dining services food preparation (fryer oil, etc.) will be converted to biodiesel, and the rest will be donated to the UI Dairy for use as a food supplement for dairy cows rather than being thrown away.

• Conversion of packaging and serving ware to compostable products in Common’s food court.
• Using locally produced grains from Shepherd’s Grain in all baked goods.
• Providing fair trade and shade grown coffee/tea options at all campus coffee shops.
• Purchasing produce from the Soil Stewards student-run organic farm.

Waste Minimization and Recycling

• Initiated work necessary to implement the RFI proposal “Waste Minimization and Increased Recycling.”
• Developed “Stop Junk Mail” campaign, which resulted in a Bulk Mail Policy reducing junk mail by 25 tons per year.
• Collaborated with campus dining on multiple green initiatives including low waste catering, using compostable starch-based silverware, plates and to-go containers in all dining facilities, implementing a 25 cent discount in coffee shops for customers who bring their own mug, and others.
• Launched single stream co-mingled recycling pilot in UI Family Housing and all of UI residences
• Implemented E-waste collection to collect old ink cartridges, cell phones, and batteries for recycling.
• Worked with Moscow Recycling to increase the rate UI is paid for recycled commodities
• Began Move-Out Program to collect items such as food, clothing, and school supplies that would otherwise be discarded by students at the end of each semester. Items are redistributed to underprivileged families in our community.
• Organized launch of RecycleMania in residences. Some 50% of on-campus undergraduates participated in this intercollegiate recycling competition.
• UISC collaborated with 23 students from BUS 478 “Business Management” class to develop zero waste program for UISC and recycling and waste management program for Kibbie Dome sports events. Tailgate event recycling began in fall 2009.
• Conducted a waste audit of 10 solid waste dumpsters on the UI campus; some 200 students from the EnvS 102 course participated as part of a service learning activity. The audit determined that 68% of UI’s waste stream could be recycled or composted.

 
Education/Culture Shift

• UISC and SI have hosted over 55 events and/or campaigns in the last three years to raise campus/community awareness on a variety of sustainability topics.
• UISC and SI activities have resulted in over 200 examples of media coverage through web, television, radio, newspapers, and periodicals in the last three years, including almost 80 examples of external coverage (see Appendix C)
• UISC and SI have worked with over 750 students on environmental service learning projects.
• UISC hosted Novella Carpenter for a book reading, which had approximately 150 attendees.
• Darin Saul presented an overview of sustainability to 11 classes during September and October.

Biodiversity

• Stateline Wetlands Project—started with $2250 from SI and has grown over three years and has raised an additional $24,000 in external funding and involved 393 volunteers for 875 hours working in hands on service activities to improve water quality and provide habitat as part of educational and volunteer experiences.