Sacramento State - ABA - Facilities Services - Sustainability

What is Sustainability?

The term was originally applied to the conservation of natural resources from a long term perspective. Today it is routinely applied to many disciplines, including economic development, the environment, safety and health, food production, energy use, land use policies and social organization. Sustainability and sustainable development refer to the attitude and discipline of seeing the end from the beginning or by thinking "cradle to cradle" rather than "cradle to grave". In other words, making today's decisions without compromising future generation's needs.

Sacramento State's Commitment to Sustainability

Because there will always be new and better ways to become more sustainable, we are building a sustainable campus - invoking the multitude of meanings for this verb. Sacramento State is committed to continuously assessing current practices in order to incorporate best available technologies into University sustainability efforts. More ...

President Gonzalez' Memorandum on Sustainability

Vice President's Message on Sustainability

Sustainability Committee

Office of the Chancellor – Executive Order 987 Policy Statement on Energy Conservation, Sustainable Building Practices, and Physical Plant Management for the California State University

Areas where Sac State supports sustainable operations and practices are described in the following links:

Academics and Governance
We promote and support campus activities that achieve economic vitality, environmental health, strong families and communities, and encourage stakeholder involvement. We implement sustainability systems such as the Environmental Management System recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Colleges and Universities.
We promote excellence in learning and responsibility for the environment, with a commitment to preserving our resources as an inheritance for future generations.

All colleges, schools, and program centers on the campus strive to infuse their organizations and educational activities with sustainability strategies that improve economic development, environmental health, campus safety, food production safety, energy conservation, and social organization.

Our governance structure includes a Presidential committee. This committee exists as an advisory body to the President. Its primary responsibilities include:

Continuously assessing Sac State's current practices in order to incorporate best available technologies into University sustainability efforts.
Considering and recommending new methods/techniques for incorporating sustainable practices into our operational activities and in the basic design for construction and renovation of facilities.
Working in partnership with the community that we serve.
Identifying and tracking critical performance indicators which are used to keep these practices and strategies on course.

Related Links:
Interdisciplinary Center for Sustainability
Office of the Chancellor Executive Order 987
STEM

Energy Conservation
Sacramento State is committed to preserving our natural resources, which is a key feature of sustainability. Where practical, we utilize renewable energy sources to reduce costs and energy use. We maintain and promote a computerized energy management system designed to reduce the amount of energy use as is reasonably possible considering occupant comfort and program needs.

When replacing and repairing worn out or damaged equipment, facilities personnel strive to identify replacements and apply techniques and technologies that reduce the consumption of energy. Such equipment includes installing motion sensors that turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied; replacing old lamps and ballasts with the most energy-efficient lighting systems available; turning off heating and cooling systems after hours; maintaining temperatures within certain parameters; installing high efficiency motors; taking advantage of new strategies as they are available and reliable. All of these strategies must consider occupant comfort as well as optimum efficiencies.

Related Links:
Energy Use Data
Renewable Energy
Sacramento State Energy Policy
Sacramento State's Progress on Chancellor's Executive Order 987

Environmental Health & Safety
An important facet of sustainability is the health and safety of campus human resources. Sacramento State's Health and Safety programs protect the physical health of the entire campus population, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Significant resources are committed to indoor and outdoor air quality along with ergonomics in the workplace.

A comprehensive Risk Management program reduces the likelihood of campus-related activities harming our environmental and people resources. Risk Management efforts focus on minimizing risk through identification, analysis, and management techniques.

Related Links:
Air Pollution Management
Custodial Practices
Ergonomics
Indoor Air Quality

Planning, New Construction, & Building Renewal
In keeping with this commitment, we use building design techniques and guidelines, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), to construct new buildings and remodel existing facilities.

Related Links:

LEED Certification

Rec-Wellness Center
Residential Housing

Other Projects

Science II Phase II
Shasta Hall Renewal

Purchasing
We are committed to implementing technologies that promote the purchase and use of goods that are made from recycled materials and renewable resources. Working with our purchasing partners and vendors, we implement policies and procedures that ensure that all hazardous materials, whether for academic or maintenance purposes, are acquired in amounts that serve but do not exceed our needs.

Campus efforts focus on purchasing materials that are environmentally friendly and can be easily and efficiently recycled. In this manner, we reduce the amount of waste generated by the campus. Educational programs implement micro-laboratory/chemistry techniques that reduce the amount of non-renewable materials purchased and hazardous wastes produced.

Related Links:
Goods Made from Recycled Materials

Recycling and Waste Management
Campus programs promote the collection and recycling of beverage containers, paper, tires, waste oil, metals, green waste, and other recyclable products. Construction projects are carefully monitored to ensure their work is done in accordance with environmental best practices.

All campus organizations at Sacramento State actively engaged in reducing the consumption of natural resources through the implementation of conservation strategies, which include: Reducing the use of resources, reusing to the fullest extent possible, and recycling all materials that can be recycled.

The campus maintains active recycling and hazardous waste management programs. Waste streams (municipal, hazardous, universal, etc.) are separated to promote the recycling of used materials to the highest degree possible.

Creative and environmentally friendly techniques (e.g., a paperless work environment) are promoted in our classrooms, in the administration of the institution and in our facilities construction and maintenance functions.

Easy access to refuse and recycling containers throughout the campus promotes the proper disposal of waste, as even cigarette butts, paper and chewing gum have the potential to enter into and diminish the beauty of our environment and the health of the American and Sacramento Rivers.

Related Links:
Hazardous Waste Management
Recycling and Reuse - Non Hazardous Waste
Universal Waste Management

Transportation
The University Transportation and Parking office promotes the benefits of alternative transportation and carpooling. Their efforts result in reduced vehicle and highway use, reduced air pollution and reduced personal transportation costs. The campus has a large fleet of alternative fuel vehicles which conform to the vision and best practices of sustainability.

Related Links:
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Electric Vehicles
University Provided Bus Routes

Water Management
Our storm and waste water management programs, along with our spill prevention program, protect the American and Sacramento Rivers from potentially harmful constituents that can flow into the rivers as a result of our operational activities.

Related Links:
Grounds and Landscaping Practices
Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures
Storm Water Management
Waste Water Management
Water Consumtion