Green With Envy
Innovative practices in sustainability
As part of a collaborative effort to create a “Noah’s Ark” for coral, Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center provides temporary housing for rescued corals to prevent their complete loss and preserve their genetics for future restoration efforts.
The effort is referred to as the Noah’s Ark for corals. For years, due to a number of stressors, coral reefs all over the world have been dying off in record numbers. The movement to save the underwater ecosystems has been taken on by marine biologists and researchers everywhere, including at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography.
Lenora Sevillian, NSU’s Director of Procurement in Davie, Florida, says the effort not only helps the university restore the coral reef and the ecosystem in the Atlantic Ocean, but it serves as a teaching moment for students via experiential learning in oceanography. Sevillian stares, “The building housing these studies is LEED Silver showing our commitment to energy efficiency, utilization of recycled and renewable materials, along with the water conservation measures that reduce the campus carbon footprint.”
As NSU’s efforts illustrate, the activities for today’s universities to promote and enhance sustainability go beyond things like installing recycling bins, investing in reusable bags, and connecting students, faculty and staff with sustainable practices. While those efforts are equally as important, many universities are introducing more innovative practices.
Take Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The university’s sustainability efforts are grouped into three categories. Scope One is emissions, which are generated by the university from onsite production of utilities. This includes emissions from production of electricity, steam, hot water, chilled water, etc. Scope Two is emissions generated by the energy consumed that was produced off campus. This includes electricity purchased and is not produced on campus. Scope Three is emissions generated by everything else—commuters to the campus, air travel, emissions from farm animals, etc.
Cody Powell, Associate VP of Facilities Planning and Operations, says the university has been focused for at least the past 12 yearson reducing its Scope One emissions through the implementation of a Utility Master Plan. The plan, which is nearing completion, has had nearly $90 million invested in projects to date. According to Powell, “The work includes transitioning the campus from a central steam plant and two central chilled water plants to ground-source geothermal and simultaneous heating and cooling. The work also has a focus on energy reduction.”
From fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2023, Miami University has reduced Scope One and Scope Two carbon by 52%. During the same period, the campus has increased its gross square feet of building space by more than 20%. Powell states, “If we take this into account, our Scope One and Scope Two reductions have been 63%/GSF. This level of carbon reduction has been accomplished without any purchases of renewable energy credits (RECs) or carbon offsets. We have just begun another project to expand geothermal as part of this plan. This is a $55M project that will convert a few more buildings from steam to low temperature heating hot water, create a geothermal plant on the north end of campus, and drill 520 wells 850′ deep. This will be completed in 2026.”
Miami University also is in the midst of selecting a partner for developing solar on site. Administration officials have planned for a minimum of 7MW solar production, which is its minimum base load on campus. Because of the energy savings, which are equivalent to the carbon reduction, the university has saved an accumulated sum of over $100 million in utility costs since 2009, as compared to the base case. Powell says, “We have over 33 buildings that are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified to a minimum of silver. We have achieved a STARS Gold rating for the last two cycles and intend to achieve STARS (The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) Platinum in the next cycle.”
“We have over 33 buildings that are LEED certified to a minimum of silver. We have achieved a STARS Gold rating for the last two cycles and intend to achieve STARS Platinum in the next cycle.”
— Cody Powell, Associate VP of Facilities Planning & Operations, Miami University
Going all sustainable
Long recognized as a higher education leader in sustainability, Auburn University has implemented several notable renewable energy projects and eco-friendly initiatives—efforts that have significantly impacted both the campus and the community at large.
Driven by organizations like the student-led Environmental Action Committee founded in 2018, the university seeks to bring a sense of environmental stewardship and sustainable action to campus. The group has been instrumental in things like solar-powered tables featuring charging stations around the Student Center and Greenspace.
On the renewable energy side, Auburn has invested in solar power projects, including solar panel installations across campus buildings. Eco-friendly initiatives include sustainability efforts in campus operations. “Auburn University has been recognized for its comprehensive sustainability efforts, which include energy conservation, waste reduction, and water conservation initiatives,” says Glenn Richey, Harbert Eminent Scholar in Supply Chain Management, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business. “We have been listed among the greenest college campuses in the U.S. according to EcoWatch.”
Other initiatives include its recycling and waste reduction programs, where it has placed recycling bins throughout the campus, reducing single-use plastics and promoting the use of reusable items. “These installations help reduce the university’s carbon footprint and serve as a research and educational resource for students and faculty interested in renewable energy technologies,” Richey says.
In addition, Auburn promotes organic farming and local sourcing, extending its reach into the community. “Our commitment to sustainability extends to the broader community through partnerships and outreach programs, too,” Richey says. “We are promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices beyond the campus.”
“Our commitment to sustainability extends to the broader community through partnerships and outreach programs, too.”
— Glenn Richey, Harbert Eminent Scholar in Supply Chain Management, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Books. Studies. Practice.
Each university offers a wealth of sustainability education in their curriculum and campus operations. For example, Auburn’s Natural Resources Management major, soon to be known as the Environmental Conservation and Management degree, will help prepare the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, ability and excellence to conserve and manage our natural systems for a sustainable future.
Its College of Liberal Arts offers an interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies minor, which allows students from any major to gain expertise in sustainability. The minor requires 15 credit hours. “The efforts help provide students with valuable hands-on learning experiences in renewable energy and sustainable practices,” Richey says.
NSU’s Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship incorporates sustainability through its Master of Science in Finance and Sustainability program, while its Social Innovation and Sustainability minor focuses on economic, environmental and social sustainability.
Beyond specific programs, NSU offers continuing education courses on sustainable management, which provide an overview of the topic and its application in businesses. “We also promote sustainable practices throughout campus operations, which you might encounter daily,” Sevillian says. This includes initiatives like resource conservation programs, energy-efficient buildings and waste reduction efforts. Additionally, the Office of Procurement Services promotes sustainable procurement through training, supplier partnerships, and offering a host of green products.
At Miami University, sustainability has been considered a strategic initiative. The school is a signatory to the President’s Climate Leadership Commitment (PCLC). The campus also is engaged with energy reduction from its users, participating in STARS rating initiatives, waste reduction and centralized composting efforts. “All students are asked to complete an online sustainability competency training as they are admitted,” Powell says. “The same is being developed for all existing staff and new hires into the university.”
A few years ago, Miami and Ohio University also began Recyclemania, which has now transitioned into Campus Race to Zero-Waste–a national competition for waste reduction (https://campusracetozerowaste.org/). The vast majority of all majors have some sustainability component to the curriculum. To achieve STARS Platinum, Miami University also is developing a course list identifying all courses in all majors with sustainability elements so that students may easily find these courses. While not everyone on campus might understand the importance of sustainability or the impact their actions have, today’s universities are working to build awareness and educate the masses—actions they say will take a crucial buy-in.
