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Environmental Efforts • Sustainability Efforts

Electrical Energy Conservation


Boiler Plant

Waste steam used for turbans on boiler plant is used to heat buildings during winter.


Solid Waste

2005-06

  1. UK generates 27,007,043 pounds of Solid Waste/year:
    1. 18,611,440 pounds landfilled
    2. 8,395,603 pounds diverted or recycled (paper, cardboard, metals, plastic, etc.)
    3. 261,500 pounds composted (at the facility on the Woodford Farm)
  2. About $330,000 spent on solid waste diversion/annually
  3. $15,251 collected from the sale of recyclables
  4. All apartment type housing on campus is now recycling through the LFUCG's recycling program.
  5. During the 2005-06 football season a Boy Scout troop from Lawrenceburg began collecting aluminum cans from the stadium area.  Hopefully this will be a long relationship as it is a win-win situation.
  6. Also at the football games we collect cardboard from the concession stands.  Students from the residence hall program assist with this.
  7. Most all outdoor events are supplied with recycling containers during the event.
  8. The university also recycles packing peanuts, vermiculite, toner cartridges and other items in small quantities.
  9. UK purchases in such a manner that our use of pallets has diminished substantially.
  10. College of Ag operates a large composting facility on the Woodford Farm near Versailles.


Other Waste


New Building Design and Construction Efforts

UK Hospital (Efforts at Sustainable Design)


New Pharmacy Building

  1. The COP design team is comprised of firms that are leaders in green building design.  The COP prime architect, EOP Architects, was the first architect to complete a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified project (Lincoln Hall at Berea College) in Kentucky.  The design/lab consultant, Ellenzweig Associates has completed numerous LEED projects nationwide, as has the MEP engineer, Vanderweil Engineers.
  2. During the COP schematic design phase a Sustainability Workshop was conducted for the COP project. This workshop focused on ways to incorporate sustainable features and processes into the design, construction and operation of the new COP building. We used the Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria document as our "green guide" for the project. This document is very similar to the LEED NC Checklist. In fact the US Green Building Council is in the process of creating a LEED for Labs Checklist based on the Labs21 document.
  3. The COP Schematic Design Report, dated 4 Dec 06, includes a Basis of Design section on Sustainability Measures incorporated or under consideration for the project.  It lists approximately 30 specific green building practices under consideration for the COP and lists specific energy efficiency strategies being considered for COP mechanical systems. The following types of green building practices are under consideration for the College of Pharmacy.
    1. Erosion & Sedimentation Control
    2. Exterior Design to Reduce Heat Islands
    3. Exterior Light Pollution Reduction
    4. Safety and Risk Management, Air and Water Effluent
    5. Reduce General Building Water Consumption
    6. Reduce Laboratory Equipment Water Use
    7. Process Water Efficiency
    8. Specify Water Efficient Landscaping (native plantings)
    9. Building Systems Commissioning
    10. Optimize Building Energy Consumption Performance
    11. CFC Reduction
    12. Improve Laboratory Equipment Efficiency
    13. Right-size Laboratory Equipment Load
    14. Facilitate Storage and Collection of Recyclables
    15. Hazardous Material Handling
    16. Encourage Construction Waste Management
    17. Emphasize Recycled Content for Materials
    18. Encourage Use of Local and Regional Materials
    19. Maximize Indoor Air Quality Performance
    20. Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control
    21. Increase Indoor Ventilation Effectiveness
    22. Specify Low VOC Emitting Materials
    23. Maximize User Controllability of Building Systems
    24. Maximize Daylight and Exterior Views
    25. Indoor Environmental Safety/Airflow Monitoring, Fume Hood Commissioning, Alarm Systems


Campus Physical Development Plan (Master Plan)


Other Building Renovation Construction Efforts

  1. Interior Finishes & Furnishings:
         Carpet
    1. The predominate commercial carpet manufacturer used on campus has adopted a Green Edge Initiative. The company has adopted as their policy to have all products be evaluated by the MBDC, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC.
    2. The predominate carpet fiber that is used on campus contains 25% recycled content. The company has developed carpet tile backings with a 40% recycled content.
         Upholstery, Cubicle curtains, Vinyl, Crypton
    1. UK seeks many fabrics that are used on a daily basis on campus to contain 25% - 100% recycled content or can be recycled in the future.
         Furniture
    1. Many different furniture manufacturers UK has purchased from in the past are adopting the GreenGuard Certification Program.
    2. GreenGuard Certified or tested furniture and furnishings are part of the United States Green Building Council's LEED for Commercial Interiors Program.
         VOC Emissions
    1. All finishes and furnishings used on campus meet or exceed the Federal Guideline requirements. Finishes including: Paint, wallcovering, carpet, vinyl composition tile, sheet flooring, upholstery etc.
    In general, we make a conscious effort in design to select reusable materials and products that don't emit harmful gases or are destructive to the environment.


Grounds

For all campus grounds work in order to help control phosphorus and ground water runoff, the UK Physical Plant Grounds section uses low phosphorus fertilizer and makes every effort to apply the recommended rate and clean off hard surfaces after application. We try to control the amount of grass clippings and debris from entering storm drains which further helps control the phosphorus and ground water runoff.


HVAC Sustainable Design Considerations

Life Cycle Analysis/operating efficiencies and maintenance requirements used when making decisions on system design and material selection.


Water Usage

  1. Water Conservation Programs.
  2. Water/waste audits.
  3. Leak detection and repair programs.
  4. Low flow shower heads and other low flow fixtures in new dormitories as well as replacements elsewhere.
  5. Low water landscaping where possible.
  6. Do not install water cooled equipment. (When funds available we replace existing water cooled equipment.)


Transportation

  1. Live Where You Work Program - assistance for home buyers through Human Resources Office to live near campus and reduce vehicle demands.
    1. Program provides employees with a forgivable loan for 5% of the purchase price (capped at $15K)
    2. Eligible Employees must purchase an owner occupied property in the area defined around the Lexington campus (higher-level administrators and tenured faculty not eligible)
    3. Program goals are: 1) recruitment and retention of faculty and staff; and 2) neighborhood revitalization
  2. UK Bicycle Study - Successfully sought funding for a joint LFUCG/UK bicycle study.
  3. Campus Bicycle Plan:
    1. Yellow Bike Program - Provides free transportation to students who need a bike.
    2. Bike Rental Program - Provides a bike to campus departments for employees to use to move about campus without relying on a vehicle.
    3. Creates a campus fully accessible to bikes with bike storage conveniently located near classrooms, workspaces and residence halls.
    4. Creates a campus bike circulation system that is integrated with Lexington's bike system, connecting to parks and other off campus destinations.
    5. UK recently added bike lanes- Huguelet; Euclid.
  4. UK promotes Ride Sharing by designating certain convenient spaces at less expense per permit.
  5. UK provides free Campus Shuttles.
  6. Use of Bio Diesel as fuel in buses.
  7. Use of electric golf carts by campus grounds in lieu of vehicles when possible.


Housing

  1. Used many sustainable concepts during the construction of the four new housing buildings in 2004. A few examples are energy efficient lighting, low-flush toilets, low-flow showers and energy efficient glazing.
  2. Currently re-lamping residence halls to use energy efficient lighting.
  3. Assisted in a bulb exchange for students living in University housing this past Fall semester.
  4. Utilizing energy efficient lighting in Graduate and Family housing.
  5. Employs a full-time recycling coordinator.


Stores

Have now converted most custodial products to "green" certified products. These products are used throughout campus in all types of buildings.


Sustainability Committee - On Going

The Sustainability Task Force is a collaborative effort among a diverse group of faculty, staff and students interested in the sustainability of UK's campus and the surrounding environment.

In December 2002, a diverse group of students, staff, and faculty met to discuss the state of environmental/sustainability issues at the University of Kentucky. Coordinated by the student environmental group, UK Green Thumb, the unofficially named "Environmental Task Force" discussed what initial steps could be taken to lead the university towards sustainability. The group concluded that before we could move forward with seeking change, we needed a more comprehensive base of knowledge on what had occurred at other universities. The group met twice during the 2002-03 academic year, gained momentum, and continued to meet regularly. Now officially the Sustainability Task Force, the group has meetings scheduled monthly for the 2006-07 academic year.

Topics addressed by the committee and subcommittees include: environmental education and literacy, research, business operations, lands use and building goals, community outreach, procurement practices, waste management, recycling, transportation, and water.

The focus of the committee is to explore methods to increase the knowledge base of our citizens, students, and faculty regarding sustainability efforts; assist the University in developing improved programming in sustainability related-areas; and guide the University in becoming a model of environmental soundness within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.


Other Initiatives

The College of Ag is working on a degree in Sustainable Agriculture.

They have set aside approximately 12 acres to be certified as "organic" by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

In collaboration with the College of Agriculture, a pilot program was initiated in the early summer, offering fresh, locally grown produce in all campus restaurants. UK Dining Services partnered with Elmwood Stock Farm in Scott County and Reed Valley Orchard in Harrison County for the trial period. The first delivery of cantaloupe, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes was made in August.

We have also connected this effort to our residential living learning community called G.R.E.E.N (Gaining Real Environmental Experiences Now). Students in this learning community go to one of the UK-owned farms and harvest produce which is then prepared by prepared by Dining Services. The students then participate in a community dinner and engage in discussions on sustainability.

  1. Arboretum:
    1. In cooperation with the LFUCG the University is constructing a model storm water detention basin on UK property at the Arboretum. It will involve use of native plants along a drainage swale to provide storm water quantity and quality management (detaining water and filtering water) in a more natural and attractive way.
    2. In itself the Arboretum is a commitment to sustainability in that it sets aside 100 acres of campus land in a park like setting, contributing to the well being of those who use it as well as the environment.

  2. Tracy Farmer Center:
    1. The Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment exists under the stewardship of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. This arrangement affords opportunities to build upon a variety of existing synergies in research, outreach, and education, while presenting the Center with a leadership role in such projects as the Kentucky Wildlife Institute and the SB271 Groundwater Research and Education Program.
    2. The College of Agriculture is committed to continuing the multidisciplinary role the Center plays within both the University and the broader Commonwealth, while providing support in areas ranging from staffing to communication and development.
    3. In general, it is an inter-discipline center with the University College of Agriculture that specializes in the study and outreach relating to sustainability initiatives.  After looking at the URL, let me know if you need me to do anything else. URL for Tracy Farmer: http://tfce.uky.edu/.

  3. Bluegrass Partnership for Greener Cities:
    1. This is a partnership modeled after a similar initiative in Louisville/Jefferson Co.  It is a partnership between The City of Lexington, University of Kentucky and Fayette Co. Schools. The concept is to pool resources to better address opportunities for sustainability initiatives as well as improve educations and outreach.
    2. A series of such groups (including UK representatives) are working on a variety of issues and projects.