Sustainability GreenPrint
Nazareth College's Sustainability initiatives are collectively known as "GreenPrint". The Campus Sustainability Task Force has completed the Report (pdf, 1.7M) containing recommendations on a plan for reducing our consumption of natural resources and for moving toward campus climate neutrality. The campus is already doing some great things that are environmentally friendly and helping us to conserve energy. As a member of the Nazareth community, you can help! You play an important part in helping to make a difference by making small changes in your everyday lives. Please take a moment to look at our current and proposed list of initiatives and provide us with your feedback and ideas.
Do you have questions or comments about sustainability at Nazareth College?
Contact us at greenprint@naz.edu!
Sustainability Updates
Published October 2009
Biodegradable Plastics Lecture
The Nazareth Chemistry Department and Sustainability Task Force are sponsoring "Protein and metabolic engineering for the production of biodegradable plastics", a lecture by Christopher Nomura, Ph.D, on October 23rd, 2009 at 1:30pm. Learn More.
Published October 2009
Celebrate the first offical nazGREENday on Tuesday, October 20, 2009! The day's events include a "Green Fair", an open forum about recycling, and Go Green's annual "Watch Your Waste" event. Plus, General Motors staff (and Nazareth Alumni) Daniel O'Connell and Mary Neelin will be on-site to demonstrate the latest developments in hydrogen fuel cell technology. learn more
Published October 2009
On behalf of the Sustainability Task Force, we would like to welcome everyone back to what we hope will be an exciting year for sustainability on campus! We want to thank all of you for your great suggestions and ideas. We plan to educate and expose the campus to all of the sustainable and green initiatives that are happening at Nazareth. Below you will find some of the current initiatives:
- New paper dispensers
- New hand towel and toilet paper dispensers are being installed in all of the buildings on campus! These are stocked with 100% recycled paper and are engineered to help us to use less paper.
- New soap dispensers
- The new soap dispensers that are being installed in ALL bathrooms on campus have antibacterial soap in them.
- Recycling Centers
- WE RECYCLE!!! New visible recycling centers have arrived on campus and will be installed next week! In phase one, they will be installed in the following locations:
- Shults Center
- Cabaret
- Clock Tower Commons
- main lobby
- Kearney Residence Hall
- main kitchen
- O'Connor 1, 2, and 3 Halls
- O'Connor Commons
- Library
- main entrance
- Art Center
- upper music wing
- Printers
- Plans are underway for new printers to be installed in the Library and Computer Labs that will default to duplex (2-sided) printing wherever possible.
- Toner Cartridge Recycling
- A new program to recycle printer, fax or copier cartridges was started in Office Services! Your closest recycling point is located at the nearest copier convenience center in your building.
- FRS 101-07 Sustainability
- A special topic seminar on sustainability was offered to freshmen this semester.
- Recycled & Bio-degradable Products
- We have increased the selection and use of these products in the bookstore and dining service operations. Tote bags, paper products, cups and disposable utensils are all available and part of our operating standards.
- Refillable Containers
- Coffee mugs and Nalgene water bottles are available for purchase on campus.
- Education Board
- A bulletin board has been created in the lower level of Smyth Hall to highlight and educate our community on our green initiatives.
- Conserving in the Dorms:
- Devices for measuring energy usage have been installed in all dorm buildings.
- Light switches in the dorm rooms have "turn-off your light" stickers above them.
- "Top 10 Ways To Conserve" reminders have been affixed to all dorm room doors.
- Purchasing Fresh Food
- Dining services is purchasing fresh food locally within a 100 mile radius.
- Go Green! Events
- The student club is currently having conversations on how to further educate their members about green initiatives and planning several exciting events to coincide with Nazareth Green Day. Please look for more information on Watch Your Waste, Sustainability Pledges, possible movie showings, campus giveaways and opportunities to win cool green prizes!
- Upcoming Events
- SAVE THE DATE - October 20, 2009: 1st Annual Naz Green Day! More information coming soon
Published April 2009
Adding Fuel to the Fryer
Learn how recycled French fry oil is helping to (bio)fuel Nazareth College's green efforts. Featuring Geoff Robeson and Bob Sanderson.
Published February 2009
Campus Education
- Student orientation packets handed out this year to familiarize new students with sustainability efforts on campus
- Presentation given to the faculty as part of the fall assembly day
- Stickers were made for all trash cans and posters put in all residence halls to inform students and staff of proper recycling methods
- Periodic emails are sent to the entire campus community, containing energy-saving tips
Energy Conservation / Efficiency
- The Facilities Department currently operates a green fleet, including 4 fully electric cars and two electric golf carts.
- Nazareth's energy management plan was published and made available to all
- Core network and IT servers are being virtualized, a process that allows for consolidation of server hardware and increased energy savings. Power meter readings were taken in the datacenter prior to work starting, and will be monitored throughout the project.
- Energy efficient motors, lights, boilers, and chillers are all used on campus.
- Variable Speed Motor Drives — the drives slow the motors to match the speed needed for the load and save energy at the slower speed.
- Computerized energy management systems lower/raise temperatures and turn air moving equipment on/off based of the occupancy of designated spaces.
- Initiated a comprehensive heat and air conditioning set-back procedure. Heat temperatures, when possible, are set back during break times to 55 degrees.
- Direct digital controls have been installed on all three steam boilers, saving $20 - 50K over the heating season.
- Direct digital controls installed in several buildings to increase energy efficency for HVAC systems
- Parking Lot J lights have been upgraded, allowing for fewer light poles (16 to 10), and a decrease in wattage (400 to 250)
- Replaced Gym lighting with energy-efficient lighting, saving an estimated $3,500 per year
- Replaced a 20 ton air conditioning unit in the Shults center with a unit that is 30% more efficent; estimated to save $10K over 5 years
- Clock Tower Commons new dormitory has Energy Star compliant mechanicals where available
- A bio fuel refinery is on-order, expected to be delivered Spring 2009. Used fryer oil from dining services will be used to fuel all diesel fuel operated ground equipment
- Buildings' insulation, windows and doors were upgraded to reduce the need for energy.
Recycling / Reusing / Reduction of Waste
- We recycle. One ton of paper made from recycled scrap saves 4100 kilowatt-hours of energy; recycling one ton of glass saves the energy equivalent of 10 gallons of oil.
- Nazareth's ITS department created an online IT project request system, which replaces a paper process, and results in hundreds of sheets of paper being saved each budget season.
- The finance department's budget process is paperless for the first time in 2009.
- Print management to reduce toner waste and improve monitoring of paper use.
- Our housekeeping staff uses cleaning products that are environmentally safe.
- Our environmental services group switched to 100% sustainable chemicals.
- Landscaping material is 100% recycled, on campus!
- Go Green! student club hosted its first-ever Watch Your Waste event in October 2008. In one day, over 15 truckloads of non-food garbage was collected and hauled off-campus from the residence halls and academic buildings
- The newly-renovated dining hall went trayless to reduce waste.
Chartwells Dining Services
- Use of Greenware products (made of corn, biodegradable), parfait cups, and grab-and-go items
- Cage-free eggs
- Seafood Watch (partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium) to ensure that all seafood served in Compass accounts comply with strict sustainability requirements
- Purchase local produce, fruits and vegetables
- Utilize milk free of artificial growth hormones
- Poultry raised without the routine use of antibiotics
- Purchase socially- and ecologically-certified coffees
- Purchase bio-degradable paper products
- Continue waste reduction by not using trays in the dining hall
For more information about Chartwells' sustainability initiatives, click here.
Planned Spring 2009 Semester Initiatives
- Purchase 2 additional electric service vehicles.
- Continue with additional Direct digital controls on HVAC equipment to control inside as well as outside lighting
- Add a Bio fuel plow truck to the grounds fleet
- Continue with lighting upgrades
- Feasibility study to convert entire campus fleet to natural gas and install a natural gas filling station.
- Install new motor controllers on all kitchen exhaust hoods. This will allow them to run only when needed and at different speeds depending on need.
- Continue with water saving initiatives, Low flow toilets and showers.
- Continue with lighting upgrades
- Replacement of a 30 ton AC unit on the roof top of the Shults center. (currently not working)
- "Clean Plate" program to increase student awareness
- TrimTrax, waste reduction program, measures actual waste and assigns dollar figures to waste
Ongoing Initiatives
- Installation of low water flow toilets, sinks, and shower faucets, when replacement of current fixtures is needed.
- Replacing incandescent bulbs with flourescent tubes.
Read more about Nazareth's Energy Management Program to learn more about what you can do to help!
Published December 2008
You have the power to reduce our carbon footprint!
We are committed to reducing our energy use and minimizing our campus carbon footprint, but we can't do it alone. We need students to do their part by reducing energy and water consumption. This is your chance to show leadership at Nazareth and do something good for our planet. You have the power.
Read the top 10 ways you can help us minimize our carbon footprint.