View looking north along the eastern promenade.

Facilities Sustainability Plan

In April 2022, University Facilities launched its Sustainability Plan. The plan is the result of 18 months of effort, engaging staff throughout the division as well as staff from other areas of the university which work closely with Facilities.

The plan is structured around six areas of impact within the purview of University Facilities. Each chapter of the Facilities Sustainability Plan includes a description of the existing conditions within that area as well as infographics of relevant existing datasets and noteworthy stories of initiatives Facilities has already completed. Each area also includes a guiding principle that will serve as an enduring touchstone as the sustainability goals and actions continue to evolve.

The following sections list the guiding principles and goals for each area. For full details, including the metrics to be measured, action items, the business case, a plan for accountability, the results of a peer benchmarking study, and more, please download the full document.

01 - Green Building Infrastructure

Guiding Principle

University Facilities develops and maintains high-quality, resource efficient campus buildings.

Goals

01-1: Increase metering to support total energy and water accountability.

01-2: Reduce potable water consumption and annual potable water costs.

01-3: Reduce campus-wide energy use intensity and annual energy costs.

01-4: Reduce Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions.

01-5: Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to neutralize Scope 2 emissions.

01-6: Maximize construction waste diversion.

02 - Green Building Operations

Guiding Principle

University Facilities preserves planetary and human health by operating high-performance campus buildings.

Goals

02-1: Reduce waste generation.

02-2: Increase waste diversion from landfill.

02-3: Reduce the environmental impact of cleaning products and janitorial paper products.

03 - Engagement

Guiding Principle

University Facilities supports a unified approach to campus sustainability outreach and education.

Goals

03-1: Increase awareness of campus sustainability within University Facilities personnel.

03-2: Build partnerships to increase student, faculty, and staff awareness of campus sustainability.

04 - Transportation and Parking

Guiding Principle

University Facilities supports low-carbon campus mobility.

Goals

04-1: Evolve transportation and parking policies to better support sustainability.

04-2: Reduce Scope 3 emissions generated by commuter reliance on single occupancy vehicles.

04-3: Reduce Scope 1 emissions generated by campus fleet vehicles.

05 - Grounds and Landscape

Guiding Principle

University Facilities develops and maintains high-quality, resource efficient campus landscapes.

Goals

05-1: Increase use of automated systems to reduce irrigation’s demand for potable water.

05-2: Electrify grounds and landscape maintenance equipment.

06 - Procurement

Guiding Principle

University Facilities’ leverages the University’s purchasing power to accelerate the availability of sustainable goods in the marketplace.

Goals

06-1: Reduce the environmental impact of campus building materials.

Download the full Facilities Sustainability Plan

The University Facilities Sustainability Plan represents our commitment to upgrade and exceed our past practices to ensure the viability of our environment and our institution for future generations. It allows the division to catalog our previous successes and establish a formal and transparent course toward a more sustainable future.

Shawn Connolly, Vice President, University Facilities