Overview

The College of Creative Studies has established itself as a role model for sustainability through the efforts of the CCS Green Team in order to reduce the college’s environmental impact.

In Spring 2009, the College of Creative Studies was assessed through the PACES (Program for the Assessment and Certification for the Environment and Sustainability) Program. This plan will illustrate the findings of that assessment and provide recommendations for future action.

Preparation for LEED

Although the College of Creative Studies will not be going through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification because it is located in a temporary structure, the college should still follow LEED guidelines, as well as the guidelines that PACES sets forth in order to reduce the college’s environmental impact.

Sustainable Sites

CCS serves as a campus leader in alternative transportation. 91% of building occupants commute without using Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOVs), and 74% are commuting in a carbon-free way (biking, walking, or skateboarding). In addition, 65% of occupants who are not students (faculty and staff) use alternative transportation. CCS also has flexwork agreements in place. Although the majority of occupants use alternative transportation, CCS should address the occupants who still use SOVs.

  • Participate in the Commute Challenge. 75% of respondents who said they use single occupancy vechicles were staff members. The Commute Challenge would be a fun and interactive way to get staff to use alternative transportation and possibly create a long-term carpooling team. Additionally, the Commute Challenge partners staff who are already committed to alternative transportation with those who are new to it, which builds on the strength of the advocates in the college.

Energy & Atmospheres

The College of Creative Studies buys Energy Star appliances whenever possible, and 90% of occupants use an LCD monitor or a laptop, rather than a CRT monitor. 90% of building occupants turn their computers off or have it hibernate when it is not in use. In addition, 55% of the rooms in CCS had task lamps, and they make 90% of their purchases electronically. Although CCS has taken some significant steps towards reducing their energy consumption, there are still a few areas that they could improve upon.

  • Centralize equipment. CCS has 17 desktop printers in addition to a centralized printing area.
  • Establish a room for a secure printer for faculty, lecturers and staff to print confidential information.
  • Post light more switch reminders. Only 25% of the offices had reminder signs.

Materials & Resources

CCS serves as a campus leader in alternative transportation. 91% of building occupants commute without using Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOVs), and 74% are commuting in a carbon-free way (biking, walking, or skateboarding). In addition, 65% of occupants who are not students (faculty and staff) use alternative transportation. CCS also has flexwork agreements in place. Although the majority of occupants use alternative transportation, CCS should address the occupants who still use SOVs.

  • Create a Sustainable Purchasing Policy or implement the purchasing policy PACES created. A policy will institutionalize current standards so that new employees can reference the standards and so that the college ensures that future decisions will be made with the same criteria in mind. Also, a policy in CCS will serve as an example to other departments looking to set similar standards.

Food Systems

CCS purchases food from Costco for the all-college meeting. The college should work on requesting sustainable food for both large and small catering orders.

  • Request Fair Trade, organic, local and humane food whenever possible.

Solid Waste Management

The college provides reusable mugs to occupants, they reuse bubble wrap, and they encourage double sided printing. The college currently has a waste diversion rate of 39.01%. Although 100% of the newspaper bin, the aluminum and plastic bin, the slim jim bin, and the blue mixed bin was properly sorted, only 30% of the trash dumpster and 48% of the office dumpster was properly sorted. Much of the confusion was around supermedia (aka glossy paper, newspaper, books, and magazines).

  • Start a composting program, especially since there are people who would volunteer to run the program.
  • Provide workshops/trainings to educate occupants about how to properly recycle.
  • Obtain a bin for the large amount of supermedia being used.

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

  • Take advantage of the free green cleaning supplies from Custodial Services in order to eliminate toxins that are often found in standard cleaning.

Communications & Training

CCS has provided signage around recycling, sinks, and main light switches to remind building occupants to conserve and properly recycle. In addition, Green CCS has a bulletin board to post information regarding sustainability. However, the waste audit and survey results demonstrated that workshops around proper recycling techniques would be helpful in order to educate building occupants. In addition, although 94% of occupants feel it’s important to address the environment, only 25% feel that they frequently try to reduce their environmental impact.

  • Incorporate sustainability activities into staff and faculty meetings.
  • Provide additional training around proper recycling methods.

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