The onset of creating a model sustainable institution: A case study analysis of Yale University

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 The onset of creating a model sustainable
institution A case study analysis of Yale
University

• Julie Newman, Ph.D.
• Sustainability Director
• Yale University
• www.yale.edu/sustainability

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Presentation outline

• Part I Lessons learned from comparable
  institutions
• Part II Yale Universitys strategic plan for
  sustainable development
• Part III Yale Sustainability Indices Measuring
  progress, successes and failures

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Lessons Learned from comparable institutions
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Rapid institutional assessment

• Level of commitment
• Management structure
• Interpretation of Sustainability
• Institutional policy and standards
• Metrics

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Yale University
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Evolution of Sustainability at Yale
Environmental principles
Yale Green Plan
Grassroots
ACEM
Sustainability Director
1990
2002
2004
2003
2004
1998
2001
2002
Ad hoc Sustainability Committees
RecyclingDepartment
Green fund
Yale Sustainable Food Project
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Why should Yale choose to be a leader in
sustainability?

• Opportunity to become a model university by
  creating policy, taking actions and setting
  institutional examples that can lead to a
  sustainable society.
• Opportunity to shape todays students who are
  tomorrows leaders.
• Yales leadership can contribute to and advance
  the national and international dialogue on
  sustainable development.
• Opportunity to bridge world renowned scholarship
  with operational practices.

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Yale Environmental Principles

• The actions of Yale University's faculty, staff
  and students in the conduct of the University's
  activities affirm our commitment to protect and
  enhance the environment through our teaching,
  research, service, and administrative operations.
  Our decisions and actions will be guided by the
  University's Mission Statement, reflective of the
  University's resources, and informed by the Yale
  University Framework for Campus Planning.
• To accomplish this, the University is committed
  to
• Managing its operations and facilities in a
  manner that protects and enhances the local and
  global environments, assesses the impact of its
  operations and facilities on the environment,
  sets quantitative goals for environmental
  performance, and monitors its environmental
  progress.
• Striving for outstanding environmental
  performance in the design, renovation and
  construction of its facilities.
• Defining and moving toward environmental
  sustainability through wise use of resources,
  purchasing recycled products, conservation, reuse
  and recycling of materials and supplies, waste
  minimization, and energy management.
• Incorporating environmental education,
  management, and training into its objectives and
  practices.
• Striving for continuous environmental improvement
  across the entire range of its operations.

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The Yale Organic Garden

• The Yale garden is a one-acre garden plot,
  located on Edwards St., organically growing an
  enormous variety of vegetables, including
  eggplant, bok-choy, pumpkins, sun-gold cherry
  tomatoes, and watermelon.
• The garden was created May 2003, with funding
  from Yale's Advisory Committee on Environmental
  Management and the generous help of dozens of
  student interns, who worked through the summer.

ACEM
ACEM
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Hybrid Car Subsidies

• This project is subsidizing the purchase of
  hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles in place of the
  gasoline vehicles that would normally be
  purchased by Yale departments and organizations.

HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID
ACEM
ACEM
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Challenges
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Source New Yorker
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Growth Trend of Yales Emissions and Energy Use

• Annualized growth from 1990 to 2004
• Campus GSF 1.2
• Emissions 2.6
• Total Energy 1.8
• Steam 0.6
• Chilled Water 5.1
• Electricity 1.6

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Projected Yale University Carbon Emissions
550,000
500,000
450,000
400,000
ad
Base Case
10 Reduction from Base Case
350,000
20 Reduction from Base Case
Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent (MTCE)
300,000
1990 Emissions
7 Reduction from 1990 Emissions Kyoto
Emissions Target
250,000
10 Reduction from 1990 Emissions CT. State
Legislation
200,000
150,000
100,000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
Fiscal Year
Note Yales 2004 Total Carbon Equivalent
Emissions were 55 higher than 1990.
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Challenges

• Succeeding in having the Yale community embrace
  sustainability when the culture at large has
  not.
• Succeeding in integrating sustainability
  principles into the cultural fabric of the
  institution as opposed to sustainability being an
  add-on.

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Strategy for institutionalizing sustainability at
Yale
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Strategy for Institutionalizing Sustainability at
Yale

• Be inclusive, drawing upon the expertise of
  students, faculty and staff
• Embrace an iterative process
• Promote accountability, with measurement of
  results and benchmarking against comparable
  institutions
• Allow for feedback and course correction

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Steps towards a sustainable institution

• Creation of an institutional strategy and vision
• Continued engagement of grassroots community
  efforts
• Development of a governance/decision-making
  structure that engages a broad based coalition.
• Development of a management structure that
  outlines a clear system of policy development.
• Institutionalization of recommendations (ie.
  Ad-hoc committees/ Director projects/ ACEM
  grants)
• Establishment of a sustainability metrics to
  measure progress

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Yale Sustainability Strategy
Spectrum of Sustainability Issues
Use of Natural Resources
Systems and Processes
Culture

• Food
• Energy
• Water
• Land
• Air

• Energy
• Landscape
• Building Design Construction
• Integrated Waste Management
• Transportation
• Procurement
• Water management

• Curriculum
• Research
• Human health
• Governance

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Current Status Ad Hoc Committees
Spectrum of Sustainability Issues
Use of Natural Resources
Systems and Processes
Culture
Energy Task Force
Transportation Policy Committee
Integrated Waste and Discard Management Marketing
Communication Committee Building Design and
Construction
FY05 Ad Hoc Sustainability Committees
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Proposed Management Structure Committees
Membership
Officers and Budget Process as needed
Provost
VPFA
Sustainability Management Committee
NEW Members Provost Office Rep
AVPFA Rep. Dir. Sustainability
Advisory Committee on Environmental Management
(ACEM) Members Faculty Students
Staff Dir. Sustainability
Annual Ad Hoc Sustainability Committees
Members Operational Unit Dirs
Students Group Reps ACEM Reps Dir.
Sustainability Faculty
Information
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Proposed Management Structure How results will
be achieved
Ad hoc Sustainability Committees
Community based efforts
Independent Initiatives coordinated by
Sustainability Director
Operational change recommendations
Green Fund Initiatives
Operational Units e.g. Facility Ops.
Institutional Results
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Measuring Progress Proposed Yale Sustainability
Index (YSI)
Spectrum Category Indicators Units
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Northeast Campus Sustainability Coalition- a
regional commitment to the UN Decade of Education
for Sustainable Development 2005- 2014
ME - Bowdoin College (rep. MGCC) NH - University
of New Hampshire Keene State VT -
Middlebury College (rep. VTGCC) MA - Harvard
University MIT RI Brown University CT Yale
University (Chair) NJ Rutgers University
(rep.NJHEPS) NY Skidmore College PA Allegheny
College ECP Dalhousie University NGOs Govt
rep. regional intl initiatives Regional
Clean Air Cool Planet and EPA Natl/Intl
University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
Eastern Canada
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Green Fund Investment 2002 05 spent and
future commitment 682.6K