Office of Sustainability // Office of Sustainability

The road to sustainability

2012-02-08T11:00:00-05:00

Electric cars, bicycles, alternative fuel vehicles, and innovations in public transportation will take over Stepan Center in an exciting trade show display on February 29th for Green Summit V: The Future of Transportation .

“Sustainable transportation is a rapidly developing field, and we wanted to create a setting in which the ND community could connect directly with those who are redefining what’s possible,” explained Rachel Novick of the Office of Sustainability. “Experts will be on hand at the Summit to answer your questions about battery technology, charging stations, electric bikes, and much more.”

Attendees will have a chance to explore cutting-edge vehicles such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf as well as vehicles that have been converted to use compressed natural gas and propane. Other participants in the trade show include Transpo, the Avenue Bicycle Station, and ZipCar. The program will feature a panel discussion that covers a wide spectrum of topics critical to creating a sustainable transportation system, from technological advances to infrastructure requirements to community impacts.

The Green Summit is a community-wide event that brings together hundreds of faculty, staff, and students to explore an aspect of sustainability and its role in campus life. In the Summit’s history, many recommendations and discussions have been a foundation for developing new campus sustainability initiatives. “We look forward to the rich discussion this year’s event will foster in order to help us develop new ideas for the future of transportation here at Notre Dame,” said Marty Ogren, Associate Director of Warehouse, Delivery and Transportation.

“Due to escalating fuel costs and attendant environmental impacts, we need to look beyond traditional fuels in order to maintain our transportation security,” said Jon Burke, Energy Director for the City of South Bend and one of the presenters at the trade show. “Failure to be forward-thinking with transportation strategies can result in the loss of service to residents. We’re looking forward to sharing our vision for enhancing the sustainability of South Bend’s transportation systems at the Summit.”

The trade show will be open from 11am to 1pm, with the panel discussion commencing at 11:30am. The Green Summit is free and open to all members of the Notre Dame community, and lunch will be served. The program is co-sponsored by Transportation Services at Notre Dame and by South Shore Clean Cities. Please register online by February 25th.

Sun Come Up

2012-01-20T14:00:00-05:00

On February 2nd, Geddes Hall will host a screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary Sun Come Up. The film follows the experiences of the Carteret Islanders, a community living on a remote island chain off Papua New Guinea that is forced to relocate due to sea level rise. They are helped by the Bishop on the mainland nearby to start new lives, but face many challenges as some of the world’s first climate refugees.

“This film truly shows the human face of climate change, and I believe it’s something everyone should see,” said Anne Whitty ’12, Co-President of GreeND. “Many people don’t realize that people are being displaced by climate change right now, and it’s amazing to get to know these people through this film.”

The 40 minute film screening will take place at 8pm in the Geddes Hall Auditorium, followed by discussion and refreshments in the Geddes Hall Coffeehouse. The program is co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, Center for Social Concerns, and GreeND.

What's in your toolkit?

2012-01-18T21:00:00-05:00

Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed friends and colleagues on campus sporting reusable shopping bags, sipping organic hot chocolate, and waxing eloquent on the subject of sustainable seafood. The source of their newfound gear and inspiration is a recent initiative called the Sustainability Toolkit.

The Toolkit is being distributed by the Office of Sustainability to members of the campus community who take the 2030 Challenge, indicating their support for the University’s recently adopted sustainability strategy. The Toolkit contains useful information such as where to find discounts for bringing your own coffee mug to campus cafés, how your thermostat is supposed to work and what to do if it’s broken, and which seafood is the most responsible choice on the dinner menu. During the winter season, the Toolkit also contains a package of organic, fair-trade hot chocolate.

“We have tried to customize the Toolkit as much as possible,” said Rachel Novick in the Office of Sustainability. “For example, faculty members receive information on how to bring sustainability into the classroom. Students who indicate interest receive information on the new Minors in Sustainability and Energy Studies. Each recipient gets an explanatory card to hang on the thermostat that is specific to the heating system in that particular building. Our goal in this program is to make sustainability practical and relevant to everyday life on campus.”

The Toolkit’s popularity has taken off quickly: over 150 have been distributed so far and new requests come in every day. “I found the energy card and wallet guides very informative, providing me with more environmentally conscious energy/food/product choices,” said Margaret Cinninger, Administrative Assistant in the Medieval Institute. “My favorite item in the toolkit is the seafood guide,” added Julia Sama, Program Director in the Office of Continuous Improvement. “I didn’t realize there were so many fish to avoid – many of them because of the impact the fishing methods have on the sealife environment. I have already referred to the seafood guide a few times.”

Those wishing to receive a Toolkit are encouraged to take the 2030 Challenge, which includes a pledge to adopt more sustainable behaviors as well as opportunities to provide feedback about specific interests. Students can be connected to environmental clubs or learn about sustainability programs in their residence hall and around campus. Staff can join the Green Ambassadors program, while faculty in science and engineering can sign up for the greeNDiscovery lab efficiency program. All those who take the Challenge will receive the Office of Sustainability e-newsletter, which will keep them updated on sustainability initiatives and opportunities to get involved.

Notre Dame signs St. Francis Pledge

2011-11-30T14:00:00-05:00

Fr. John Jenkins signed the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor today, making Notre Dame a partner in a national movement to respond to Pope Benedict’s and the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ call for faithful action on climate change.

The St. Francis Pledge is the central outreach tool for the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, a membership organization drawing guidance and support from a growing list of national Catholic organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.

The pledge asks Catholic individuals, parishes, and institutions to pray and learn about climate change, to assess their own environmental impact, to act to reduce their impact, and to advocate for policies and initiatives that protect the environment and the world’s poor.

“The University of Notre Dame is seen not just as a top U.S. university, but as a Catholic institution in service to the world,” said Daniel Misleh, Executive Director of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change. “By taking the St. Francis Pledge, the University will expand its commitment to mission-based sustainability in a way consistent with Catholic ideals and values: caring for God’s gift of Creation with a keen awareness that actions taken today impact people at home and abroad, especially the poor and vulnerable who suffer most from environmental degradation and climate change.”

Over the last several years, Notre Dame has made significant efforts to help the community of Catholic colleges and universities make progress in the area of sustainability. Most notably, Notre Dame hosted Renewing the Campus: Sustainability and the Catholic University, the first national conference of its kind. Over 200 faculty, administrators, and students from 45 universities across the country participated. More recently, Notre Dame’s Office of Sustainability helped to craft Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration , which has been distributed to Catholic colleges and universities across the country.

“Making a commitment to be better stewards of God’s creation is not only a sign of hope, but a necessity,” said Tami Schmitz, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry. “The St. Francis Pledge provides an important framework for expanding collaboration between Campus Ministry and Sustainability and we are grateful to Fr. Jenkins for his leadership on this issue.”

Notre Dame has recently expanded its commitment to sustainability by announcing a comprehensive strategy that includes ambitious carbon and waste reduction goals. “We appreciate the opportunity to explicitly link our sustainability initiatives to our Catholic mission,” said Heather Christophersen, Director of Sustainability. “In order to accomplish our goals, we need the support of all members of the Notre Dame community. We encourage everyone to pledge their support by signing the St. Francis Pledge and by taking the 2030 Challenge."

Notre Dame adopts carbon, waste reduction goals

2011-11-28T23:10:00-05:00

Notre Dame has adopted a campus-wide Sustainability Strategy that sets ambitious goals for carbon and waste reduction over the next two decades. The highlight of the strategy is a goal of reducing the University’s carbon footprint by 50% per square foot by 2030.

“We are looking forward to using this strategy as a tool to help us institutionalize a culture of sustainability here on campus,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins C.S.C., President of Notre Dame. “Sustainability is integral to our mission as a Catholic university devoted to serving a world in need.” Pope Benedict XVI has frequently stressed the necessity of environmental stewardship for the cultivation of peace and human dignity, and has observed that “preservation of the environment, promotion of sustainable development and particular attention to climate change are matters of grave concern for the entire human family.”

The strategy also outlines goals to divert 67% of campus waste from landfills by 2030, improve water efficiency, and expand sustainability education and outreach both on campus and beyond.

“We have made a great start: our carbon emissions per square foot have already declined 15% since our 2006-2007 baseline year. During that time, we have invested over $10 million in energy efficiency, and we continue to invest in energy and water efficiency technology as well as recycling infrastructure,” said John Affleck-Graves, Executive Vice President. “But in order to achieve the goals we have now set for ourselves, we need the entire campus community to rise to the challenge."

Over the last several years, Notre Dame faculty, staff, and students have become increasingly engaged in campus sustainability initiatives. “Over 100 classes focusing on sustainability issues are taught each year,” said Heather Christophersen, Director of Sustainability and lead author of the strategy. “Dozens of students have signed up for the new minors being offered in Sustainability and in Energy Studies. The new Green Ambassadors program for staff is quickly developing a campus presence with regular brown bag lunches on practical sustainability topics.”

The University’s $2 million Green Loan Fund, a key component of the campus sustainability program, is used on an ongoing basis to fund projects as varied as high-efficiency data servers, environmentally friendly laundry equipment, real time electricity metering in the residence halls, and the ever-popular annual CFL light bulb exchange.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Fr. Jenkins, Dr. Affleck-Graves, the Office of Sustainability, and the many, many students who have worked to make this commitment possible,” said Patrick McCormick ‘12, Student Body President. “Students stand ready to partner with administrators in the effort to integrate sustainability ever more deeply into the life of our university—an effort born from the conviction that a commitment to the environment is inseparable from a commitment to the fundamental dignity of the human person.”

Lights on Jesus

2011-11-16T13:00:00-05:00

Touchdown Jesus’ halo shines a bit brighter these days. Last May, new LED lights were installed to illuminate the Word of Life mural on the south side of the Hesburgh Library. The lights replaced the old mercury vapor fixtures that previously illuminated the 134-foot tall mural.

The high-efficiency LEDs are expected to save approximately 57,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, reducing campus carbon emissions by nearly 80,000 lbs. per year. “The upgrade was part of the university’s goals to increase energy efficiency on campus and further the reduction of carbon emissions,” said Heather Christophersen, Notre Dame’s Director of Sustainability.

The Utilities Department worked with long-time partner Musco Lighting, Inc. to install the brighter, more efficient lights. Musco is a premier lighting supplier whose past projects have included lighting such prominent locations as the Washington Monument and the White House. On campus, their list of projects spans over twenty years and includes the JACC Arena, Notre Dame Stadium, Melissa Cook Softball, and Alumni Soccer Stadium. For this mural project, however, Musco donated the lighting system, which is valued at over $40,000. “The chance to demonstrate leading edge technology on such a visible aspect of the campus was an exciting opportunity,” said Joe Crookham, President of Musco Lighting.

The replacement has also improved the nighttime appearance of the mural two-fold. Because of the mercury contained in the old lights, the mural previously appeared to have a green tint. The LED lights make the mural brighter, and the stones of the mosaic appear more natural. Furthermore, these new lights have been engineered to only shine light to the top of the mural, therefore preventing excess sky glow and allowing for better view of the stars.

“The results are stunning," reported Paul Kempf, Director of Utilities. "The LED light source provides a truer representation of the mural and greatly reduces the energy consumption required to light this beautiful work of art.”

Gateway to Sustainability

2011-11-15T14:00:00-05:00

The new Minor in Sustainability will launch this Spring with Sustainability: Principles and Practices, an interdisciplinary gateway course open to everyone and required for all those enrolled in the Minor. The course explores the challenges of environmental sustainability in cultural, social, historical, ethical, technical, and aesthetic dimensions.

Each semester, the course will be taught jointly by a team of faculty from the natural sciences, humanities, engineering, and social sciences. This Spring, that team will consist of Joe Fernando of the Civil Engineering Department, Tony Serianni of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, John Sitter of the Department of English, and Andrew Weigert of the Sociology Department. Their diverse backgrounds and perspectives will make for a fascinating exploration of sustainability’s multifaceted challenges.

The course aims to instill broad, integrative and critical thinking about contemporary global environmental problems whose solutions will depend on multidisciplinary approaches. “I can think of no topic more important than substainability or one that is better suited to interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Prof. Sitter. “Ecology is a cultural as well as physical reality, and the prospect of learning together with engaged students and committed colleagues is an exciting invitation.”

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to expand my understanding of the multiple interdependent components of global sustainability through personal study and reflection, and through discourse with the other instructors and students in the course,” added Prof. Serianni. “I plan to focus on the science of sustainability in a qualitative or semi-quantitative manner, provide rational assessments of the predictions and forecasts, and discuss practical paths to create a more sustainable world.”

No prerequisites are required for enrolling in Sustainability: Principles and Practices, which is 3 credits. Requirements include mid-term and final examinations, short written responses to readings, and a final reflection paper.

Who shrank my tray?

2011-11-15T13:00:00-05:00

Wasted. A term most commonly associated with excess partying and yet one that describes what the average Notre Dame student does every day in the dining hall. Currently, Notre Dame students in the two main campus dining halls waste nearly one ton of food and liquids a day. Two new initiatives in the dining halls, reducing the size of trays and Waste-Free Wednesdays, are actively addressing the issue of food waste.

First, ND Food Services has moved to smaller trays in South Dining Hall. While there have been both positive and negative comments from the student body, the change will hopefully reduce the amount of food students are wasting, as well as the amount of water that is needed to clean the trays.

Second, Waste-Free Wednesdays is once again in full swing. During Wednesday dinners at the dining halls during November, students who clean their plates are invited to enter a raffle to win 100 Flex Points. The initiative, which was initiated through a partnership between GreeND, the Office of Sustainability, and Food Services in 2010, reduced the amount of food wasted by nearly 50% after one month.

“That’s almost half a ton of food saved every day,” said Elizabeth Davis, co-President of GreeND and a founder of Waste-Free Wednesdays. “This was a tremendous achievement, and we hope that the Waste-Free Wednesdays in November 2011 will create even more awareness around reducing food waste. We also expect to see food waste decline as the smaller trays provide some added encouragement to take a little less.”

Taking charge

2011-11-07T10:00:00-05:00

Two new electric vans have recently made their debut on campus. The compact zero-emissions utility vehicles replace two conventional pickup trucks previously used by Building Systems engineers to make maintenance visits around campus.

These EVC1000 vans, designed by Vantage Vehicle International, were carefully selected. “We were looking for a practical vehicle that would work well for general maintenance trips around campus,” said Paul Kempf, Director of Utilities. “These vehicles are more affordable than some other electric vehicles as they have a maximum speed of 25 mph, which is fine for on-campus use.”

The addition of these electric vans will allow the University to take better advantage of the recently donated electric vehicle charging stations. The vans have a charging time of 4-6 hours and go up to 40 miles per charge.

Over the last several years, Transportation has become an important area of focus in reducing campus carbon emissions. Today, Notre Dame owns 11 hybrid vehicles and 4 Smart Cars, operates a Low Emission Vehicle preferred parking program, and partners with Zipcar, an international car-sharing service.

Transportation accounts for almost 30% of US greenhouse gas emission, and students, staff, and faculty interested in greening their own transportation methods have several options available to them here. Zipcar provides students with an alternative to owning a car, and is available for all University employees as well. Biking on campus has become increasingly convenient with the addition of new bike racks and showers in LEED-certified buildings. Transpo is free for anyone with a Notre Dame ID, and of course, carpooling is always encouraged.

How green is the Class of 2015?

2011-11-01T10:00:00-04:00

Generation Y is known for its commitment to social change and making a difference. Whether the issue is civil rights in developing nations or helping out the homeless domestically, Generation Y is eager to get involved. With one of their favorite buzzwords being sustainability, the Office of Sustainability was interested in finding out if this Generation really practices what they preach.

With some of the last students of Generation Y now coming through Notre Dame, the Office decided to poll the Class of 2015 on their sustainable (or unsustainable) habits. Almost 800 students responded within the first week: 96% of first year responders claim to turn off the lights when they leave the room and take the steps instead of the elevator, 65% of students use CFLs over incandescent bulbs, 88% turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, 58% use Energy Star appliances, and 67% use reusable bags.

“These are very encouraging results,” said Rachel Novick, Education and Outreach Program Manager in the Office of Sustainability. "They suggest that eco-conscious behaviors are becoming the norm on campus, no longer something those “green” students do."

One of the more surprising statistics was that only 24% turn off their appliances when finished using them. Many electronics, particularly televisions, stereos, and computer and phone chargers, continue to suck “vampire energy” even when the appliance appears to be off, or when the phone or computer is not even plugged into the charger. “Vampire energy is easy to overlook, but it really adds up,” commented Anna Gorman ‘13, an intern at the Office of Sustainability who developed the survey. "Across the country, vampire energy wastes about $4 billion each year, and it’s easy to fix by keeping things unplugged when not in use."

The Office of Sustainability hopes to use these results as a way to target different energy conservation and waste reduction strategies, as well as highlight what are already mainstream habits. Julia McGinty, a member of the Class of 2015, gave her point of view, “I think it’s important to get the Class of 2015 involved in sustainability, because it’s our job to carry green initiatives into the future.”

First year students interested in finding out about more ways to green their college experience can read The Freshman Green Guide. The short guide is also a great resource in general for those wondering how they can make a difference to the University’s overall sustainability efforts.

Recycle like a rockstar

2011-10-17T10:00:00-04:00

For the second year in a row, Notre Dame will participate in the EPA Game Day Challenge during this weekend’s USC game.

“We are excited to improve on last year’s performance, when we won first place in the Midwest in the highest recycling rate category,” said Erin Hafner, Programs Manager in the Office of Sustainability, who has managed Notre Dame’s Game Day Recycling program since 2008. “We encourage all our fans to help us place nationally this year by using the blue bags at their tailgate for everything except food and liquids.”

The EPA challenges schools to design a waste reduction plan for one 2011 regular season home football game and measure the results. Schools can collect common materials for recycling including paper, beverage containers, cardboard, and food to be donated and composted. The amount of waste generated and recycled will determine which school is the greenest on the gridiron.

Schools can win in several categories:

Least amount of waste generated per attendee
Greatest greenhouse gas reductions from diverting waste
Highest recycling rate
Highest organics reduction rate (i.e., food donation and composting)
Highest combined recycling and composting rate.

The competition is sponsored by EPA’s WasteWise program, a voluntary program through which organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes, benefiting their bottom line and the environment. Reducing waste generated at collegiate sporting events can save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, more than 75 participating schools kept 500,000 pounds of waste out of landfills, which prevented nearly 940 metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 180 cars.

What every ND student needs to know

2011-10-12T16:00:00-04:00

The quest for sustainable energy and resource use has been called the preeminent challenge of the 21st century. First year students at Notre Dame get a taste of the issues involved and how they can make a difference during the required First Year seminar, Contemporary Topics.

The curriculum materials consist of a 6-page section of the Contemporary Topics textbook written in comic strip format and a 9-minute video featuring a diverse array of Notre Dame luminaries, ranging from Fr. Theodore Hesburgh to Muffet McGraw.

“We didn’t want sustainability to be just another lesson to get through, and that’s why we worked so hard to create engaging materials,” said Rachel Novick, Education and Outreach Program Manager in the Office of Sustainability. “I collaborated with a large group of students in order to make sure that we were being relevant to student life at Notre Dame.”

Student response to the curriculum has been very positive. Asked what was their favorite part of the video, most First Years respond, “the part with the football players”. They are referring to a scene in which Manti Te’o and Brian Smith get motivated at football practice by imagining someone who’s not recycling. As Coach Mike Denbrock explains, “That gets them really mad.”

Both the comic strip and the video feature powerful statistics about the importance of pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle. “The majority of the featured facts were surprising to me,” said John Kriegshauser ’15, “particularly the one regarding the amount of power saved by recycling just one [aluminum] can.” (That’s enough energy to power a TV for three hours.)

“Many of my students have felt inspired to go beyond the basics of recycling a can or unplugging the TV to exploring how they can make an impact globally,” said Marisha Schmidt, who coordinates the Contemporary Topics program. “It’s always the hope of an educator that awareness of an issue will create a doorway of opportunity somewhere in the future. The excitement, questions, and referrals from this material have more than exceeded those expectations.”

In addition to promoting practical behaviors that conserve energy and resources, the video also communicates the social justice implications of sustainability and the profound connections between care for the environment and Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.

“I can look out my window and see beauty, and I hope that the next fellow that comes along can see the same kind of beauty, even something more beautiful,” comments Fr. Hesburgh, renowned President Emeritus of Notre Dame. “And we have to educate our students, I think, in the fact that they are responsible for maintaining the beautiful world that God gave us and to do all the things that they can in their lives to sustain the beauty of this world.”

“The part about [an average American] using as much energy in 3 months as a Ugandan does in his whole lifetime was staggering,” said Duncan Campbell ’15. “It makes me think about how well-off I am, as well as how wasteful I am.”

Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s President, sums it up beautifully: “The responsibility to sustainability arises from a call to promote justice, because the poor suffer most from environmental degradation,” says Fr. Jenkins. “It comes from a call to foster peace, as conflicts over scare natural resources are becoming ever more common. And it comes from a call to act on behalf of those not yet born, for their quality of life tomorrow depends on the choices we make today.”

The success of the sustainability curriculum in Contemporary Topics will be measured, in part, by behavior change in the Notre Dame student population, which has become increasingly eco-friendly over the last several years. “I’ve been more conscious of some decisions regarding electronics and the dining hall experience,” said Krieghauser. “I will definitely recycle all that I can,” added Campbell.

“Students are now exposed to these issues during their freshman year at Notre Dame, and once their interest is peaked, they have plenty of opportunities to pursue the topic further,” concluded Novick. “They can now minor in Sustainability or Energy Studies, take a class, or engage in research with a faculty member. There are so many ways to learn more.”

Take my card…it’s green

2011-10-10T16:35:00-04:00

Starting this November, Notre Dame letterhead, envelopes, and business cards will be printed on 100% recycled content paper. These items will continue to be manufactured by Neenah Paper and printed by Express Press but using Neenah’s Classic Crest Recycled 100 Bright White paper.

“The University purchases hundreds of thousands of pages of letterhead, envelopes, and business cards from Express Press each year,” said Javier Hernandez, Procurement Specialist in Procurement Services, who negotiated the switch. “The conversion of all that paper to 100% recycled content saves 29,000 pounds of wood and 43,000 gallons of water, and avoids 8,900 pounds of carbon emissions annually.”

“Neenah Paper is truly dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint,” said Erin Hafner, Programs Manager in the Office of Sustainability, who collaborates with Procurement Services on sustainability initiatives. “They generate their own hydroelectric power at their mills in Wisconsin and Germany, they are one of the largest purchasers of Green-e certified renewable energy in Wisconsin, and they are putting major efforts into energy conservation. As a result, their North American mills have cut their CO2 emissions almost in half over the last decade.”

In addition to reducing carbon emissions, Neenah Paper places a strong emphasis on waste reduction. The company has a goal of zero landfill waste for all of its mills, and six of their seven mills have achieved this goal thus far.

“We are pleased to report that there will be no increase in cost as we migrate to the recycled content paper,” said Mark Schaeffer, Vice President for Express Press. “Our relationship with Neenah Paper and our paper supplier, Ariva, helped us to make this happen.”

The old paper will continue to be available through the end of 2011, so those who have gold-foil stamped letterhead on hand will be able to buy the second page letterhead to match, as the whites are slightly different. Those making new purchases of gold-foil stamped letterhead at this point are encouraged to choose the Recycled 100 Bright White so that they will continue to be able to purchase matching second pages in 2012.

Anyone with questions is welcome to visit the Express Press booth at this year’s Supplier Expo, which will take place Wednesday October 12th from 12:30 to 4:00pm at the Joyce Center. Please check buyND for updates on when the switch will occur.

Dillon Prez delivers the shampoo

2011-10-05T16:25:00-04:00

Andy Boes, a junior political science major from Seattle and president of Dillon Hall, delivers shampoo in his spare time. He initiated a partnership with the Morris Inn to collect unused shampoo and soap from hotel rooms and donate it to a United Way program that distributes the goods to local food pantries.

Thus far, the initiative has delivered some 125 pounds of unused shampoo and 86 pounds of soap – gathered one little bottle or bar at a time.

Boes, who interned with United Way of St. Joseph County last spring and is interning again this fall, launched the project to support the agency’s People Gotta Eat initiative with a group of area food pantries.

“One of the needs is these non-food necessity items,” says Boes, who was on a panel that reviewed grant applications for basic needs. “The food pantries are starting to distribute things like that.”

Organizers hope to boost collections during football season and eventually spread the project to other local hotels. Housekeepers simply drop leftover toiletries they collect from rooms into a bucket rather than into the trash.

“We collected used shampoos and conditioners and used bar soaps,” says Sheila Breining, housekeeping lead at the Morris Inn. “It’s at least one five-gallon bucket per month. I’m anticipating with October being busy like it is, it might be two buckets.”

When the bucket is full, Breining calls Boes. “Dillon Hall is collecting the items and delivering them so United Way doesn’t have to pick them up,” he says. “They call me once the buckets are filled. I pick it up and it’s still in the bottles. Some of the food pantries that get it in the end combine bottles.”

Last year, Boes ran a program that encouraged students to use their expiring flex points to purchase such goods at The Huddle. Then he arranged to start the program at Morris Inn.

Karen Sommers, United Way’s vice president of community investment, says the goods address a growing need in the community. “You can’t use food stamps for personal care products, and if you’re low on money and trying to pay your rent or utilities, it is often something that is put on the back burner,” she says.

Of the 17 food pantries collaborating in People Gotta Eat, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana AIDS Ministries, Catholic Charities, Church Lady and Friends, Share Your Blessings and Southgate Food Pantry have signed a memorandum of understanding with the University to receive the goods.

The program started in May. To support it across the summer, Erin Hafner, Program Manager in the Office of Sustainability, arranged for interns to handle the pickup and delivery.

“We’re really excited to be involved,” says Hafner, who met with Boes and Jessica Brookshire, associate director for public affairs, to set up the summer work. “What we’re doing for our office is tracking the weight of these products that we’re removing from the Morris Inn that would typically go into our waste. We’re including it in our recycling totals.”

Boes, who hopes to have a career in the nonprofit field, plans to use the metrics as he markets the initiative to other local hotels to boost supplies for People Gotta Eat.

A previous version of this article was originally published by Gene Stowe in NDWorks.

St. Francis and Sustainability

2011-09-23T16:00:00-04:00

On Tuesday October 4th, the Notre Dame community will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment. The celebration, which has recently become a tradition at Notre Dame, will be marked by festivities, thought-provoking discussion, and opportunities to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis, who was known for his love for nature and the poor.

Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, C.S.C., at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 5:15 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., Professor Matt Ashley, Chair of Theology, will present Sustainability and Catholic Theology in Jordan 101, followed by a reception. Dinner at North and South Dining Halls will feature a nature-themed dessert buffet in honor of the Feast Day, generously provided by ND Food Services. Tables will be located at each dining hall where students, staff, and faculty can sign pledges to better care for nature and the poor through service opportunities and simple everyday choices.

This year’s Feast of St. Francis comes at a time of increasing concern for the health of the planet but also of increased awareness and activism, including in the American Catholic community. Notre Dame’s Office of Sustainability recently collaborated with the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and representatives from Santa Clara University and Catholic University of America to publish Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration. This toolkit is currently being disseminated to Catholic colleges and universities across the country to provide guidance and resources that will help them further integrate sustainability into the fabric of campus life.

“The publication of the Toolkit represents the culmination of a year-long collaborative process in which the Notre Dame Office of Sustainability was intimately involved,” said Dan Dileo, Project Manager at the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change. “Notre Dame’s Sustainability personnel helped craft the vision, framework and contents of the Toolkit by sharing their invaluable experience of ‘doing’ mission-based sustainability at a Catholic school.”

“The toolkit is built around the Coalition’s St. Francis Pledge, which brings together families, parishes, schools and communities around the country in a commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and advocate on behalf of Creation and the poor,” added Dileo. “Many students, staff, and faculty at Notre Dame have already signed the St. Francis Pledge, and we encourage the rest of the Notre Dame community to do the same."

Notre Dame’s Feast of St. Francis program is cosponsored by the Office of Sustainability, Student Government, GreeND, Campus Ministry, the Center for Social Concerns, and the Department of Theology. Members of the local community are invited to attend.

“On the Feast of St. Francis, we recall the words of a saint who told us to ‘preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, to use words,’” said Patrick McCormick ’12, Student Body President. “The true celebration of the legacy of St. Francis will be in the actions that we take in a world that all too often loses sight of the fact that a commitment to ecological justice is inseparable from a commitment to the dignity of the human person.”

Staying Clean, Going Green

2011-09-06T17:00:00-04:00

Dropping off the dry cleaning – it seems just like another item on the “to-do” list, but here on campus, it has recently become another opportunity to make a decision to live more sustainably.

St. Michael’s Laundry recently utilized the Green Loan Fund to replace a 1990’s model dry cleaning machine with a state-of-the-art wet cleaning machine. The machine uses only soap and water to effectively clean dry clean-only clothing, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to dry cleaning.

“The name ‘dry cleaning’ is pretty misleading: it’s actually not dry at all,” explained Erin Hafner, Programs Manager in the Office of Sustainability, who worked with St. Michael’s to collect the data for the Green Loan Fund proposal. “It’s called dry cleaning because it does not use water. Instead, the dry cleaning process involves soaking the clothes in chemical solvents, most commonly perchloroethylene (PERC).”

PERC negatively affects both the respiratory and nervous systems and is listed as a potential carcinogen. Long-term exposure can lead to kidney and liver damage, memory loss, and confusion. PERC can easily penetrate the soil and leach into groundwater as well. Disposal requires contracting a hazardous waste hauler and paying for disposal at a hazardous waste facility.

Previously, St. Michael’s spent thousands of dollars each year to purchase PERC and to dispose of it. In addition to the avoided costs associated with PERC, the new and more efficient machine will save energy and have lower maintenance costs. With the combined savings, St. Michael’s will be able to repay the Green Loan Fund over the next four years.

New technology has recently made the wet cleaning process more feasible for delicate ‘dry clean only’ clothes. “Clothes are placed in the computer-controlled washer, a unique formula of soap and water (depending on the type of clothing) is added, and the washer rocks back and forth instead of rotating a full 360° to minimize wear on the clothes,” explained Robin Kramer, Associate Director at St. Michael’s Laundry. “Once the washing cycle is complete, the clothes are placed in a humidity-controlled dryer that leaves enough moisture in the clothing to allow it to be pressed to its correct shape. No chemicals are used during the process, with the result that finished clothes have a fresh scent and no chemical residue.”

To date, three St. Michael’s employees have each completed over 50 hours of training for the wet cleaning machine, including a 5-day certification course at the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute in Maryland. “The employees are excited to be working with the new equipment,” said Kramer, “and they appreciate that St. Michael’s has taken an interest in reducing its environmental footprint while giving customers the opportunity to do so as well.” Between February and July of this year, St. Michael’s successfully wet cleaned over 3,500 items of clothing, and associates are currently offering customers the opportunity to try this eco-friendly option.

Donated equipment LIGHTS up labs

2011-09-01T17:00:00-04:00

ND LIGHTS– Notre Dame Laboratory Instrumentation Giving Hope To Students – recently completed its first year of collecting and sending donated laboratory equipment to limited-resource schools across the country. Most of the schools participate in Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program.

The equipment comes complete with instructions and materials for conducting high school classroom experiments. ACE fellows who were on campus during Summer 2011 received individualized training to prepare them to use the equipment. The program is a collaboration between the College of Science, the Office of Sustainability, and Procurement Services.

To date, faculty members have donated approximately $275,000 worth of equipment. VWR, a global distributor of scientific supplies and Notre Dame’s preferred vendor for laboratory supplies, has donated the consumable materials needed to utilize the equipment. VWR’s sales representative, Renee Wedel, and on-site coordinator, Dan Tuisaula, have offices in Jordan Hall of Science and have been extremely helpful in making the fledgling program run smoothly.

“The support from VWR is incredible,” said Michelle Joyce of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who administers the program. “It makes the equipment immediately useful for teachers.” She expects to expand the program to local high schools this year.

Students shed 180,000 lbs. overnight

2011-08-29T12:00:00-04:00

Efficiency-wise, things are looking brighter in the residence halls. On the evening of Sunday August 28th, student volunteers once again went door-to-door in their dorms, switching out inefficient incandescent light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).

The effort was led by the Sustainability Commissioners, who, along with fellow students, distributed over 1,500 bulbs. The result: over 180,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions will be avoided each year that the bulbs last. CFLs are 75% more efficient than incandescents and last about 7 years with typical dorm room use.

“The CFL Exchange is a great kick-off to the ND green movement for this upcoming academic year,” said Keough Sustainability Commissioner Michael Comuniello. “Not only is this an opportunity to reduce energy consumption in Keough, but it’s also an opportunity to get to know other Roo’s and to promote actions which will benefit the environment.”

The CFL Exchange is an annual event that has taken place each Fall since 2008. This year’s exchange placed the total number of bulbs replaced at almost 9,000 and the accumulated energy savings at over $40,000. The CFLs are purchased by the Office of Sustainability through the Green Loan Fund, a $2 million revolving fund established by the University to support energy and resource conservation projects.

ND gets silver rating for sustainability

2011-08-25T09:30:00-04:00

Notre Dame has received a STARS Silver Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is a new program that measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

“STARS is a transparent assessment tool which enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements,” said Erin Hafner, Programs Manager in the Office of Sustainability. “We are using STARS to benchmark ourselves and to promote continuous improvement in all aspects of sustainability.”

AASHE’s STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in three overall areas: Education and Research, Operations, and Planning, Administration and Engagement.

In Education and Research, the University received points for the diverse array of sustainability-related research programs conducted by faculty in every College as well as the many opportunities to learn about sustainability both in and out of the classroom. In Operations, the University’s $10 million investment in energy conservation measures earned substantial credit. Notre Dame’s strong partnership with local government and global commitment to community service earned many points in Planning, Administration and Engagement as well.

“Our Catholic mission calls us to be responsible stewards of the Earth, and over the last several years sustainability has increasingly become part of the culture on our campus,” said Shannon Cullinan, Associate Vice President, Campus Services. “We strive to integrate sustainability into all aspects of campus operations, from how we provide food to our students to how we design our buildings.”

“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Paul Rowland. “Notre Dame has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”

Solar power gets mobile on campus

2011-08-04T13:44:00-04:00

A solar powered golf cart is the latest development in sustainable transportation options on campus. The Office of Sustainability worked with Transportation Services to purchase and install a 200-Watt SolarDrive S2E canopy top to one of their carts. It is currently being used for regular departmental errands on campus as well as big events, such as football games and commencement. “We are always interested in looking for ways to support sustainability,” said Marty Ogren, Associate Director of Warehouse, Delivery and Transportation Services.

The solar canopy top lengthens the battery life, thereby extending the range the cart can be driven. The cart does not need to be plugged in as long as the solar energy absorbed exceeds the electricity demand from driving. While an occasional plug-in may be needed, the solar charging system significantly reduces overall consumption of grid electricity and furthers our clean energy strategy.

A typical electric golf cart powered by SolarDrive S2E will avoid 400 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year—the equivalent of planting 20 trees. “Purdue reported that they did not have to plug their cart in the two months it has been in use,” said Jeremy Quirk, U.S. representative for SolarDrive.

The canopy top is also detachable and transferable. It will be displayed at educational events and demonstrations throughout the year. “At SolarDrive, we believe that one of the greatest benefits of the solar canopy top is the educational value,” said Quirk. “When Notre Dame students see the golf cart on campus, it will spur new ideas.”