ACUPCC Reporting System

Implementation Profile for State University of New York at Fredonia

Submitted on November 10, 2008; last updated on July 13, 2009

Institution Information

Basic Carnegie Classification Master's/L: Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
Control Public
Location Fredonia, NY
Community Setting Urban fringe of mid-size city
USDOE Climate Zone 5
Current President or Chancellor's Name Dennis Hefner
Current President or Chancellor's Title President
Main Web Site http://www.fredonia.edu
Sustainability Web Site http://www.fredonia.edu/gogreen/

Implementation Structure

Implementation Liaison's Name Sarah E. Laurie
Implementation Liaison's Title Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Implementation Liaison's Department Environmental Health & Safety
Format of Structure Committee
Number of Individuals in Structure 24
Stakeholder Groups Represented Faculty, Staff, Students, Faculty Staff Association
Description SUNY Fredonia created a sustainability committee in March of 2007. This committee met monthly throughout the school year. The initial charge for this committee was to review a full range of sustainability topics related to the campus. The founding 24 committee members represented a cross section of the campus community. Members were from: students, faculty, administration and auxiliary services (food, vending and clothes washing and drying). The committee focused on various sustainability issues and formed 9 sub-committees which were developed to allow for greater campus participation. These sub-committees are: recycling, public relations, energy conservation, green building, green landscaping, green cleaning, food, earth week and department of environment affairs. The results of the first year are impressive and much has been accomplished, however, all subcomittees will acknowledge that much more needs to be done. In many ways the initial work of the sub-committee has simply layed the ground work for all of the additional measures that are necessary to truly become a sustainable campus.

Tangible Actions

1. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.

Yes: The State University Construction Fund (SUCF) which handles all construction for the State University of New York (SUNY) which involves state funding, has set a standard of LEED Silver for all new construction products exceeding 5 million dollars in capital costs.

2. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.

Yes: SUNY Fredonia is in compliance with New York State Executive Order 111 which mandates that state agencies and other affected entities shall select Energy Star energy efficient products when acquiring new energy-using products or replacing equipment.

3. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.

No: No, there are no policies under consideration at this time.

4. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution.

Yes: SUNY has available on campus two types of bus service. 1. A jointly operated student and staff service for on campus and between campus and the Village of Fredonia businesses. 2. Regional and New York State bus service: the regional service is used by employees living within a 30 mile radius of the campus, the state service is used by both students and staff.

5. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution's electricity consumption from renewable sources.

No: No

6. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.

No: No

7. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.

Yes: The campus participated, for the first time in 2008, in the Recyclemania contest in the capital classic program. During the 10 week contest period the campus delivered over 37 tons of recyclables to Chautauqua County transfer station. The recycling sub-committee was the most active sub-committee this past year. Many actions were taken to improve recycling throughout the campus, such as: publicizing the recycling program, contracting with Abitibi Paper Retriever to locate two dumpsters on campus to assist with recycling all paper products, establishing over 120 recycling locations throughout the campus, and added recycling containers to over 1500 resident hall student rooms.