UK Sustainability Advisory Committee

Erosion & Sedimentation Control
Exterior Pavement and Landscape Design to Reduce Heat Islands
Exterior Lighting Design to Reduce Night Sky Light Pollution
Safety and Risk Management, Air and Water Effluent
Specify Water Efficient Landscaping (native plantings)
Provide Fundamental and Enhanced Building Systems Commissioning
CFC Reduction
Improve Laboratory Equipment Efficiency
Right-size Laboratory Equipment Load
Facilitate Storage and Collection of Recyclables
Hazardous Material Handling
Encourage Construction Waste Management
Emphasize Recycled Content for Materials
Encourage Use of Local and Regional Materials
Maximize Indoor Air Quality Performance
Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control
Specify Low VOC Emitting Materials
Maximize User Controllability of Building Systems
Maximize Daylight and Exterior Views
Indoor Environmental Safety / Airflow Monitoring, Fume Hood Commissioning, Alarm Systems

HVAC Sustainable Design Considerations:

Heat recovery system for laboratory and vivarium exhaust and 100% outdoor air supply systems. Glycol runaround heat recovery loop to reclaim sensible heat from exhaust air to be used to help preheat outdoor supply air.
Collect condensate from air handling units and reuse condensate to pre-cool lab exhaust air before heat recovery coil. System will collect condensate, store it in a tank and spray water mist into exhaust air to cool exhaust air before it goes across heat recovery coil. This will help improve summer efficiency of heat recovery system by cooling glycol loop further to provide more pre-cooling of outdoor supply air.
Variable air volume systems for all systems (except vivarium which requires constant volume). Includes lab supply, lab fume hoods, office and classroom AHU systems.
Variable volume hot water and chilled water pumping systems using variable frequency driveson pumps.

PLUMBING Sustainable Design Considerations:

Dual flush water closets for all but handicap accessible design toilet compartments.
Sensor faucets for lavatories at 0.5 gpm flow. Furnish tempering valves at each lavatory module. HW piping shall be fully circulated to each chase to assure instant access to hot supply.
Shower valves at 1.8 gpm flow.
Sink faucets at 1.5 gpm flow.
Laboratory sterilizers shall be furnish with vacuum pumps in lieu of aspirators in order to reduce the amount of water required to generate vacuum.
Laboratory glass-washers and cage-washers shall be equipped with heat exchangers to reduce the effluent temperature without the utilization of cold water.
Condensate water from the AHU units located in Penthouse mechanical room will be collected by gravity to a storage tank and booster pump system located in the basement. Tank will equipped with level control to start/stop the pumps and flow control valve. Condensate water will then be pumped to the HVAC exhaust mist system. A set of 10 micron bag filters will be provided after the pump system. When the storage tank is full, the excess condensate will be diverted to the storm water system. (See HVAC Condensate Collection Description above)

ELECTRICAL Sustainable Design Considerations:

Energy efficient lighting technology.
Daylight harvesting via occupancy sensor with integral photocell employed at building perimeter.
Occupancy sensor lighting controls in offices, conference rooms, laboratories and similar areas.
Lighting levels to meet recommended IES, ninth edition luminance values.

1.1.2. Patient Care Addition (new Hospital building – under construction 2007 to 2010)

Sustainability Considerations

General Planning:

100 Year Building: the most sustainable act is to plan to construct and operate an adaptable, flexible and expandable building that will have a long life span built of higher quality and more durable materials.
Universal Room Concept: Choosing to use universal variable acuity rooms that can be easily renovated for variety of purposes, reducing waste typically associated with renovations.
Places of Respite: From the courtyard garden to the dining terrace to the chapel to the variety of seating areas inside and out, there are numerous places for reflection throughout the building to allow individuals and families to gather.

Site:

Access to Public Transportation for patients, families and staff.
Use of a previously developed site.
Native plantings and water efficient landscaping.
Green Roof that will reduce the heat island effect and assist in retaining storm water. In other areas, there will be a white roof membrane that will also reduce thermal heat gain.

Energy:

Highly efficient lighting on motion sensors and minimizing light pollution.
Mechanical systems on variable speed drives providing a high controllability of the systems per space.
Efficient insulation strategies.

Materials:

Natural, recycled and easily renewable materials specified with low VOC content.
Durable and easily cleanable materials both inside and out.
Exterior masonry panels that inhibit moisture penetration and mold growth.
Low emitting adhesives, sealants and paints.

Indoor Environmental Quality:

Building is non-smoking.
During construction the Contractors will be required to follow a stringent air quality plan.
Commissioning of the mechanical systems to ensure their proper operation.
75% of all public spaces will have views to the outside enhancing the daylighting opportunities.
Chillers use environmentally friendly refrigerants.

1.1.3. Forage Animal Production Research Lab (In Design)

A new building being designed for the College of Agriculture Campus will be designed to LEED and will incorporate many green features like a true green roof, a rain garden that helps form the building entrance and LABS21 Environmental Performance Criteria.

1.1.4. Digital Village Building

A 40,000 gross square foot building in design that will become the University of Kentucky’s first LEED certified building.

1.2. Physical Planning Activities

1.2.1. Bicycle Plan

Implementation of the 2005 Campus Bicycle Plan: Shared paths have been created on campus that link residence halls to the campus core using existing pedestrian paths that are wide enough for bikes and pedestrians. Improvements to sidewalks and streets are being made to connect the shared path system to the city streets to facilitate off-campus bike trips. A new pathway will be created through the Arboretum Woods providing a critical link in Lexington’s north-south trail system. Recent counts of bicycles in racks on campus in October 2008 indicate a significant increase in bicycle use compared to 2007.

1.2.2. Legacy Trail

The Legacy Trail is a joint UK/LFUCG project to construct a 5.6 mile shared use path through Coldstream Research Campus and Maine Chance Farm.

1.2.3. GIS Services GIS Services

University of Kentucky PPD GIS Services has converted many campus and utility documents to GIS and are in the process of sharing information and streamlining operations with enterprise GIS. Areas currently being pursued using GIS for sustainable reasons are listed below.

Energy monitoring and reporting (utilities)
Light pollution (lights)
Urban planning (trees, green space)
Storm water mitigation, design, and analysis (impervious data and trees)
Air quality improvement (trees)
Natural cooling (trees)
Wildlife habitat preservation (trees)
Route maps for daily work orders, efficient gas usage
Waste tracking (recycling bins, battery recycling, dumpsters)

1.2.4. Coldstream Research Campus Master Plan

This planning project will explore ways to redirect the development of Coldstream Research Campus by introducing a more urban model including mixed-use facilities that will introduce new services that support the research component more effectively and make Coldstream more a desirable place to live and work. Live and work concepts are being explored to encourage reduction in the use of the automobile and greater use of biking and walking paths. The planning is also focused on the city park as an amenity and as a means of managing storm water from the development.

1.2.5. College of Design Building Study

This study recommends a design that would incorporate many sustainable features like captured rainwater, gray water treatment, pervious paving evapotranspiration and solar heated water. The building would take advantage of its location to provide diffuse light into occupied space and use direct sun exposure to feed a photovoltaic array on the roof. Passive solar massing would lower heating and cooling loads and a geothermal exchange system would reduce energy consumption.

1.3. Physical Plant Management

1.3.1. Renovation Activities

1.3.1.1. Interior Design

Interior Finishes & Furnishings:

The Interior Designers employed by the University are certified by the state of Kentucky.
The designers select sustainable materials that are manufactured in a manner that is environmentally conscious.
The majority of manufacturers that provide finishes and furniture for UK have adopted as their policy to have all products evaluated by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) in order to reduce waste through recycling.
All finishes and furnishings used on campus meet or exceed the Federal guideline requirements for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Carpet and textile manufacturers are using alternative resources such as PLA fibers which are derived from starch based agricultural products such as corn, rice, and sugar beets.
Listed below are some of the items and the reasons products are selected for use on campus on a daily basis.

Floor coverings:

The predominant carpet manufacturer used on campus uses nylon fibers that are made of 25% recycled content. The backing for their carpet tiles is made of 100% recycled non-PVC materials.
Interior Design and the Physical Plant Division are in the process of completing our first extensive carpet replacement project where 100% of the used carpet has beensent for recycling.

Furniture:

Furniture manufacturers are practicing forestry management (replanting trees).
Finishes meet or are below the allowable ratio of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
Packaging materials are being made of post-consumer waste.
Many furniture manufacturers that UK purchases from are adopting the GreenGuard Certification Program.
Laminates are being selected that are GreenGuard Certified. They are also being applied to wheat or straw board. The boards weigh about 20 percent less, which makes it easy to transport.

Upholsteries:

Many types of upholstery that are used on a daily basis on campus to contain 25%-100% recycled content or can be recycled in the future.

1.3.1.2. Building Renovations

1.3.1.2.1. Chemistry Physics Building

Green Features incorporated into the recent Chemistry Physics Building renovation projects are as follows:

DDC programmable system
Energy recovery
Variable flow fume hood controls
Insulated supply ductwork, piping, etc...
Variable speed drive on the outside air unit.
Environmentally friendly polypropylene glycol in the energy recovery system.

1.3.1.2.2. Boiler Replacements

Two new ultra-low NOx gas boilers were installed at the CUP plant behind BBSRB. These boilers were specified to operate while producing extremely low NOx levels (9 ppm) and with a capacity turn down of 16%, allowing for precise matching of capacity to load. They have also been provided with exhaust stack economizers to improve efficiency.

1.3.1.2.3. Chiller Replacements

Four (4) old and inefficient, 1,000 ton chillers were replaced at Cooling Plant 1 with 4 new 2,250 ton chillers. The new chillers have an operational efficiency of 0.646 KW/ton at the design conditions. Installed two 5000 ton chillers in CP # 2 with synchronous electric motors to help control our electric power factor penalty cost.

1.3.1.2.4. Roof Replacements

Recent roof replacements have typically utilized foam overlay in lieu of a roof tear-off. Using this approach retains the value of existing insulation and provides a highly reflective (white) surface, reducing energy consumption and reducing construction waste.

1.3.1.2.5. Classroom and Office Upgrades

1.3.1.2.5.1. General:

Classroom Renovations have improved the teaching environment in older buildings like Chemistry Physics. Refurbishing older facilities is a green practice.

1.3.1.2.5.2. Law Building:

Renovated offices and faculty lounge, adding day-lighting to windowless spaces.

1.3.1.2.5.3. Observatory:

Located this facility on the roof of an existing parking garage, saving green space and providing a location with minimal light pollution.

1.3.2. Business Operations

1.3.2.1. Energy Saving Performance Contracting (ESCO) (Bid 2008/2009 with Construction and Renovation in 2009 to 2011)

Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) or "Performance Contractors" that are national companies capable of providing comprehensive energy and water management analysis plans as well as energy and water-related capital improvement services.
The selected UK ESCO will provide for a full range of sustainable energy and water services to be financed through a performance-based contract, guaranteed savings contract, or similar agreement that would be self-funding.

These services are to reduce energy consumption associated with facilities operations (and for services which do not reduce consumption per se but are aimed at reducing carbon emissions). The goal is to identify cost savings measures that will offset the capital investment. The ESCO will also include training of facility staff in measuring and verifying ongoing operational costs and savings.

This 2009 contract will include:

Analyzing the performance of various facilities, including building shells, lighting, mechanical equipment, and operating and maintenance, and develop a comprehensive plan for reducing dependency on fossil based fuels and water. When feasible, LEED-EB Certification will be sought on retrofitted buildings. The final recommendation will provide an estimated cost/benefit in sufficient detail to determine the terms of a guaranteed performance contract.
Analyzing the campus wide steam heating plants and cooling plants to improve the efficient of steam and chilled water production. Including but not limited to waste steam heat recovery, condensate return improvements, cooling tower power reduction, and improved chiller efficient, improved pumping efficient, and others.
Providing a detailed cost for developing the University staff and data systems required to perform the measurement and verification for guaranteed performance projects. Proposals for initially outsourcing measurement and verification are acceptable, providing this function is transferred back to The University upon completion of all construction. The final recommendation will provide an estimated cost/benefit in sufficient detail to determine the terms of a guaranteed performance contract.
Providing a Behavioral Modification program that encourages energy conversation through behavior change. Program should be tailored toward a University and developed, implemented, and measured to maximize effectiveness and initiate a culture of energy efficiency.
While the full scope of these energy saving initiatives has not yet been finally established it is anticipated that the work volume could be in the range of $25 to $40 million dollars. The goal is to reduce overall UK energy consumption by 10% to 15%.

Status: The process of consultant selection is underway. A firm will be selected by late spring 2009 and cost reduction and significant overall energy reduction will commence in fiscal year 2009/2010.

1.3.2.2. Campus Electrical Upgrades (ongoing practices)

UK stopped using T-12 (1.5 inch) lamps and has used efficient electronic ballast with T-8 (1 inch) lamps florescent lighting for 15 years on new construction and renovations.
Installed some electronic ballast with T-5 (5/8 inch lamp) florescent lighting, current T-5 technology is best suited for high bay lighting applications.
UK has used efficient compact florescent lighting for 15 years.
Installed motion detectors on room lighting when practical.
UK followed the former EPAs' Green Lights guidelines on lighting efficiency which is now merged with the EPA Energy Star program and is consistent with the EPA Green Building recommendations.
UK has used two watt LED exit signs for 15 years.
UK uses multiple switches for multi-level lighting in classrooms and conference rooms. Turn off lights by windows for daylight harvesting.
UK uses dimming ballast florescent lighting instead of dimming incandescent or quartz.
UK has not used inefficient incandescent lighting on new construction and renovation for 15 years.
UK uses thermostats to control outdoor cabinet and electric switchgear heaters.
Energy efficient lighting is in our UK Standards.
Energy efficient electric motors are in our UK Standards.
Recommend departments purchase energy efficient printers, copy machine and computer CPUs' with sleep mode to save energy when not in use.
Installed some motion detectors in rooms to control lighting, heating and cooling. When room is unoccupied, lighting, heating and cooling goes off or to a minimum.
UK has a heat wheel for heat recovery in Mines and Minerals and uses glycol loop heat recovery on fume hood systems.
UK uses variable speed electrical drives on fans and pumps to give better flow control and reduce energy consumption.
UK Standards include computer automated control of parking structure lighting to lower light levels when unoccupied and to turn off perimeter lights and do daylight harvesting during the day.

1.3.2.3. Janitorial Services (2007/2008 implementation)

The University now utilizes green cleaning products and techniques in all campus buildings and many of the Medical Center buildings (a major change in practices).

Chemical use has now been reduced from 19 chemicals products to four.
Micro fiber tools and rags have replaced paper products.
The use of disposable mops has been reduced 80%.
UK no longer uses buckets thus reducing water consumption.
Dust mops are now cleaned in house to save money.

1.3.2.4. Campus Wide Recycling

Solid Waste

UK generates 30,911,322 pounds of Solid Waste/year:

21,121,410 pounds sent to the landfill.
9,789,912 pounds diverted or recycled (paper, cardboard, metals, plastic, etc.)
285,000 pounds of leaves were composted (at the facility on the Woodford Farm)

$150,000 of landfill charges saved through solid waste diversion efforts.
All apartment type housing on campus is now recycling through the LFUCG’s recycling program.
During the fall 2008 football season the Kappa Delta Sorority began assisting in the collection of aluminum cans from the stadium area. Hopefully this will be a long relationship as it is a win-win situation.
At football games UK collects cardboard from the concession stands. Students from the residence hall program assist with this.
Most all outdoor events are supplied with recycling containers during the events.
A contract has been let for the recycling of the grease from our different "kitchen" areas. The grease is processed into bio-diesel which is burned in our vehicles.
The university recycles packing peanuts, vermiculite, toner cartridges and other items in small quantities.
UK purchases in such a manner that our use of pallets has diminished substantially.
College of Ag operates a large composting facility on the Woodford Farm near the City of Versailles, Kentucky.

Other Waste

In an attempt to help curb heavy metals the University recycles its computer and other electronic scrap. During 2007-08 178,886 pounds were recycled.
During 07-08 the university recycled approximately 7,969 pounds of fluorescent bulbs and nearly 9,300 pounds of batteries.
2,905 gallons of oil and antifreeze recycled in 07-08
Chemical recycling program to remove good chemicals from the waste stream for use by others.
UK sells paint at auction which is collected from our Paint Shop.

1.3.2.5. Campus Energy Management

UK operates a sophisticated 24 hour/7 Day manned centralized energy management control center (Delta Room) which centrally monitors and controls the majority of HVAC and other equipment on campus. e.g. night reduction in use and other off peak activities. This central control has lowered campus energy use and is estimated to save $1.5 to $2.0 million annually.

1.3.2.6. Campus Vehicles

1.3.2.6.1. Motor Pool

The use of bio-Diesel fuel and ethanol in the UK fleet of vehicles reduces oil dependency. Management Operations also applies alternate fuel strategies to farm activities

1.3.2.6.2. PPD Service Vehicles

Physical Plant purchased 5 additional electric carts bringing the current fleet to 63, including 3 loaner carts (new program) that are available for various purposes. The use of carts is less intrusive, reduces emissions and lower cost.

1.3.2.6.3. Parking and Transportation

Ride Sharing. In the fall of 2008 Parking and Transportation Services provided the campus with AlterNetRides, web-based software that allows UK employees to anonymously search and find rides with other UK employees. UK PTS also promotes Ride Sharing by designating certain convenient spaces for carpools of 3 with a carpool permit priced at about 1.5 times that of a regular E permit.
UK PTS provides campus with 24-hour shuttle service on Monday through Friday and limited service on weekends when classes are in session.
In July, PTS launched "Permits for Passes" program. PTS allowed permit holders to turn in their permit in exchange for a one month LexTran pass so they could try LexTran. The response was not huge, but there were a few people who did decide to continue using LexTran instead of driving after the promotion ended.
Use of Bio Diesel as fuel in all CATS buses.
Bike Lanes. To promote the use of bicycles on the campus UK and the City of Lexington are engaged in an ongoing effort to add bike lanes to campus streets. As of December 2008 the following sections of campus streets have on-street bike lanes:

Euclid Avenue (Limestone to Ashland)
Rose Street (Rose Lane to Huguelet)
University (Hilltop to Cooper)
Huguelet (Limestone to University)

In September of 2008, Parking and Transportation Services with the help of the Sustainable Campus Internship Program, repeated a 1998 Cordon Count Bicycle Study of bicycle traffic and cyclist behavior on our campus. The preliminary results show a 37% increase in bicycle use over the 10 year period.
In October of 2008 PTS also conducted a survey of all Bike Parking Facilities on campus. The goals of the study were to identify to optimum rack design, document total bike parking capacity, and to identify areas where additional capacity is needed.
In October of 2008 PTS also sponsored UK’s participation in a national commuter challenge using a feature on the AlterNetRides software mentioned above. Participating UK employees and students saved a total of 31,989 pounds of CO2 emissions during the month and UK placed third (out of 13 participating schools) in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions saved.
2008 IPI Conference – Representatives from PTS attended the 2008 IPI conference which focused on sustainable parking and transportation.
Van Pool Pilot Program – (Planning Phase) - Representatives from PTS, Ag Motor Pool, Work-Life, HR and Risk Management have been meeting regularly to develop a Van Pool Pilot Program which will utilize vans from the UK motor pool. A survey was conducted to determine demand for such a service and 3 counties were identified as the most likely to be successful in a van pool pilot program – Woodford, Madison and Clark. We are still working through some red tape, but the program should be underway in spring 2009.
PTS provides special shuttle service that includes the Airport Shuttle during Thanksgiving Break, Semester Break and Spring Break; Holiday Shopping Shuttle to Fayette Mall in December; and, the Basketball Shuttle to all regular season men’s games at Rupp Arena.
Changed the Friday and Saturday on-demand service to a regular route to make the service more efficient and reduce fuel consumption.
Initiated pilot project using a K&N air filter on a vehicle to see if the vehicles uses less fuel.
PTS has a large range of online services to reduce paper consumption such as permit application, citation payment and parking appeals.
PTS sells LexTran’s Class Pass and MetroLex Pass at our main office and two satellite offices.
Requiring Medical Center Route drivers to park and turn off their buses during peak periods.
Reduced fuel consumption over the summer by reducing the number of PTS vehicles on the road. The department’s fuel expense stayed about the same even though fuel costs increased significantly.
Reduced the number of oil changes on buses from 4 to 3 times a year.
Hire a company to wash CATS buses on campus using recycled water.

Planned 2009 Sustainable Parking and Transportation Initiatives:

Implementation of the Van Pool Pilot Program
Car Sharing Program – the same group that is planning the van pool pilot program is also looking into a Car Sharing program. The program would make AG motor pool cars available to students and employees for short term rentals. This could provide an incentive to not bring a car to campus on a regular basis.
Parking study – PTS is currently looking into retaining a consultant to conduct a campus wide parking study. Transportation Demand Management initiatives are expected to figure prominently in this study.
UK PTS will continue to provide free campus shuttles.
PTS is evaluating the pros and cons of changing the work schedule of some employees to a four day work week between the spring and fall semesters.
Start installing bicycle racks on all CATS buses.

1.3.2.7 Purchasing Services

The University purchases the following green products and services:

Building Maintenance Products

Green fluorescent bulbs
Electronic ballasts
Low-flow shower heads
Recycled plastic bathroom partitions
Recycled plastic paint drop covers
25% recycled content carpet
Paints containing low VOC’s
Recycled fiberglass building insulation
LED Exit Signs
Recycled metal studs, ceiling grid and door frames
LEED Wood Doors
Programmable laboratory faucets to reduce water consumption

Janitorial Products:

30% post consumer recycled bathroom tissue and roll towels
Ammonia free glass cleaner
Neutral PH/Acid cleaners and detergents
Waste reduction soap and towel dispensers

Office Equipment and Supplies:

Remanufactured toner cartridges
30 % Post consumer recycled copy paper
Personal computers and electronics (Energy Star and ISO 14001)
Recycled office products (paper clips, file folders)
Green furniture (recycled steel, aluminum and wood)

Miscellaneous Items:

Bio-diesel fuel (95/5 and 90/10)
SYBE Safe DNA Gel Stains
Motor oil recycling
Office paper recycling
Shipping container recycling
Environmentally friendly recycling of computer equipment
Recycled tires for mulch
Vegetable based inks in printing
Grease/Oil Recycling

1.3.2.8 Residence Life

The Office of Residence Life employs a full-time sustainability coordinator and this person coordinates the following initiatives.

Recycling: All the residence halls and dining facilities have comprehensive recycling collection services and educational programs are hosted in the residence halls throughout the year. In 2007-2008 we conducted more than 25 in hall programs
Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library (www.wildcatwheels.org): Provide free bicycle check-outs to faculty, staff and students as well as an on-campus bike shop for repairs and clinics. WWBL has also added two free bicycle air stations, one on North Campus and one at the Johnson Center.
Eco-Rep Program: This peer-to-peer sustainability education and outreach initiative is new for 2008. Students living in the halls will be hired as eco-reps to deliver programs and information to their peers on a wide variety of topics throughout the year.
Save-A-Watt! Energy Challenge: We will be working to reduce occupant electrical comsumption in the residence halls by 8% this year. We will use in-hall training, education programming, competitions, new energy monitoring software, and social marketing to meet the challenge.
Sustainable Campus Internship Program: This program, co-coordinated with the Tracy Farmer Center for the environment, provides internships for students interested in developing projects that will enhance the sustainability of our campus. Both Wildcat Wheels and the Eco-Rep Programs are the result of previous SCIP projects.
Earthdays in the Bluegrass (www.earthdaysinthebluegrass.org) Every April Residence Life Sustainability teams up with UK Greenthumb to host a full month of films, workshops, presentations, and community service. The goal of the programming is to promote responsible global citizenship and celebrate the power of local action.
Holmes Hall Sustainability Living Learning Community: This LLC is devoted to promoting sustainable lifestyle choices to the members of the community. This is done through educational programming and diverse campus partnerships. Each month, Dining Services, the College of Agricultural, and Residence Life team up to provide a 100% local food meal for the residents and a guest speaker is invited. Students can travel to the farms the week of the meal and help harvest the food for the meal. Holmes Hall also has a small fleet of GREEN bikes for their residents provided by the WWBL.

1.3.2.9 Dining and Catering

Supports Kentucky food producers as much as possible—produce, meat, and dairy. Projected 08/09 purchases-$500,000. University of Kentucky Dining Services is currently expanding its partnerships with Kentucky food producers to purchase fresher, healthier foods for UK's table, to enhance the university's sustainability efforts, and to support the local economy.
During the 2007-2008 academic school years, Dining Services purchased $60,000 in locally grown produce; the 2009 goal is to increase that total to $500,000 by continuing to build local agricultural partnerships. Products will include: milk; beef; apples; zucchini and yellow squash; several varieties of watermelons; potatoes; onions; cucumbers, fresh herbs; sweet corn; beets; green beans; green, red and yellow peppers; and tomatoes for sandwiches, salads and sauces.
Stopped using trays in all Dining Services locations. This move will save water, decrease our carbon footprint, decrease chemical use, and reduce food waste.
Utilizes napkins and paper towels made from 100% recycled materials. These napkins are used in all 23 Dining Services locations.
Utilizes disposable plates, bowls, to go containers, forks, knives, and spoons that are 100% compostable. These items are used in all Dining Services locations that currently use disposable items.
Utilizes a new brand of cleaning chemicals that are more environmental friendly--less harsh and no packaging waste.
Cooking oil is recycled into furniture—resin chairs.
Partnered with the W.T.Young library and Residence Life Sustainability to provide a reusable mug to every student enrolled in UK 101.
Actively recycles—cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum and kitchen food waste in all Dining Services locations.
Coffee grounds, food waste, and other kitchen waste are composted at UK’s South Farm.
Actively switching lighting to compact fluorescent where possible.
Switched from disposable dinnerware to china & flatware at Blazer Cafe after last year’s renovation, reducing waste.
Purchased a more efficient dishwasher for Blazer Café that is more environmentally friendly using less electric, water, and chemicals.
Serve monthly "green" dinners for Holmes Hall residents (a sustainability community) that consist mainly of locally grown products.

1.3.2.10 Housing

Used many sustainable concepts during the construction of the four new housing buildings in 2004. A few examples are energy efficient lighting, lowflush toilets, low-flow showers and energy efficient glazing.
Currently re-lamping residence halls to use energy efficient lighting.
Assisted in a bulb exchange for students living in University housing during the 2006 fall semester.
Utilizing energy efficient lighting in graduate and family housing.
Utilizing more efficient, environmentally friendly cleaning equipment (vacuums, carpet extractors and cleaners, mopping systems and floor waxing machines).
Utilizing environmentally friendly can liners.
Purchase golf carts in lieu of additional vehicles whenever possible.
Use primarily water based paints to reduce usage of hazardous cleaners.
Converting to photocells to control outdoor lighting.
Initiating recycling for the kitchens in SAE, Sigma Kappa and Phi Delta Theta greek houses.
Recycling cardboard, cans, and plastics and food waste via compost.

1.3.2.11 Central Facility Stores Operation

Have now converted most custodial products to "green" certified products. These products are used throughout campus in all types of buildings.
Using a small fleet of bicycles to deliver small parcels to campus departments.

2. Academic / Research Activities

2.3 Arboretum

The Arboretum has completed the following projects:

A children’s garden within the Arboretum is being constructed to help educate young people about environmental conditions of the commonwealth and to stress the importance of good stewardship of our resources.
Constructed the Mississippi Embayment water retention area (a demonstration rain garden) in conjunction with L.F.U.C.G.
Promote gardening with native plants: The Arboretum’s extensive collection of Kentucky native plants highlight the beauty and benefits of gardening with natives.
Pot recycling: In 2008, The Arboretum recycled tens of thousands of plastic pots, establishing the need for such programs on a wider scale.
Watering with "grey water"
Environmental Tree Extravaganza: This annual display celebrates the holiday season & the environment. Arboretum trees are decorated by community groups using recycled & eco-friendly materials.
Arbor Day Celebration: Hundreds of people attend this annual event that celebrates trees, sustainability, & the environment.
Worked with Urban County Government to get "Linnies" onsite and serviced for excess compostable material.
Implementation of a comprehensive invasive plant removal project (Including the Arboretum Woods restoration, collection beds, perimeter open areas, and meadow areas.).
Identification and protection of bluegrass view sheds from within the Arboretum.
Installation of bird and butterfly habitat.
Use of native species and local building materials in new structures.
Coordination of Arboretum sustainability efforts with other agencies working to protect the Bluegrass Region.
The Arboretum designs collections that encourage ecological, functional, and aesthetic components to promote environmentally healthy landscape practices in public and private areas.
Conducts educational programs that emphasize sustainability for the thousands of school children that visit the Arboretum each year.

2.4 College of Agriculture

Maine Chance Farm - As part of an ongoing process to improve environmental quality on the University’s Farms, the College of Agriculture (COA) has implemented many projects to improve the sustainable of the farms. These projects include the enhancement of stream corridors that traverse through the farm and management of what, some may consider, wastes as beneficial materials. The areas listed below represent some of the environmental initiatives that have been implemented.

The College of Agriculture has created a riparian area on the Maine Chance to act as a buffer area between horses and an unnamed tributary to the Cane Run Creek/Watershed. Fences that have been installed to keep horses out of the stream have created a riparian area of approximately 7 acres. Additional plans for the area include planting 4,600 trees in the spring of 2009.
A paddock on the University’s Spindletop Farm has become known as the BMP (Best Management Practice) paddock, because of the numerous BMPs that have been and are planned to be implemented. This offers the COA the ability to use this paddock as a single tour stop to highlight numerous BMPs that producers can consider implementing on their farm. A stream crossing was designed by NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) engineers to allow horses to cross using an approved heavy traffic design. Water gap gates were installed along the stream to allow the water to flow along the stream, but that would prevent horses from walking along the stream corridor. Livestock gates were installed along the newly enhanced riparian area to provide a means of rotation grazing. Gully erosion that was created from runoff was eliminated and corrected by designing and installing a gully erosion structure. The next phase of the project will be to develop a spring for watering horses year round.
Riparian areas on the Spindletop and Maine Chance Farms have been overtaken by invasive species (unwanted vegetation/vegetation not native to this area). Invasive plants have the tendency to overtake the stream, block the sunlight to native plants, and reduce the effectiveness of the floodplain. Therefore, a program was initiated to remove the invasive vegetation.
A pervious concrete pad was installed to wash horses. The concrete acts as a treatment system to separate solids from liquids. It also provides a means to treat and store wash water before it is discharged.
The Animal Research Center in Woodford County creates animal manures that are used as a fertilizer for field crops. The farm has taken a proactive step to defend the environment against pollution by developing land application rates to the field crops based on nutrient analysis of the manures, existing soil fertility, realistic yield goals, and application method. In addition, the placement of animal manures is conducted using Global Positioning System (GPS) acquired data and applied using variable rate technology that takes into consideration the type of soil, the yield potential, and any environmentally sensitive areas.
An organic farming project has been implemented on the South Farm to demonstrate sustainable agriculture. To eliminate the need for inorganic fertilizers, the organic area uses composted animal manures created by another sustainable waste management program.
A new animal cooling system, for dairy cows, was installed to reduce water usage by thousands of gallons each year. This system uses tiny water droplets created by specialized sprinklers to create evaporative cooling so that the cows do not become exhausted by the summer heat. The system operates off of a timer to reduce water usage even more, but still provides a cooling effect for the cows, which makes them eat more and produce more milk.
LDDC Addition and Digester:

The Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center is planning to dispose of animal carcasses using a process known as Alkaline Digestion. This process will produce thousands of gallons of highly basic waste. Instead of discharging this waste into the sanitary sewer system, the University has gained permission to utilize the waste as a beneficial material to grow field crops. Therefore, instead of creating a waste stream that would need to be remediated at the sewage treatment plant, the University will utilize the nutrients and alkalinity in the material to fertilize crops. Normally, the soils used for growing field crops would be amended with inorganic fertilizers, which require energy, and the soils would become slightly acidic over time. By recycling the LDDC waste, we can reduce the amount of inorganic fertilizes and soil amendments purchased.
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Faculty in the department of biosystems and agricultural engineering do research on new and sustainable forms of energy, pollution control, water quality, erosion control, and stream restoration in mined lands. Research in precision agriculture helps reduce energy and chemical use. Faculty and staff are developing programs for home builders on building more energy-efficient homes and "green" homes, not to mention outreach to the general public in those areas.

The University of Kentucky is one of only 20 university-led teams from around the world selected to compete in the United States Department of Energy (DOE) 2009 Solar Decathlon. This is only the fourth time the Solar Decathlon has been held and the first time UK has applied to participate. The Blues Team, an interdisciplinary group consisting of students, faculty and staff from six collaborating colleges and 16 centers and departments on the UK campus, was created to execute the decathlon project. The collaborative effort will be led by UK's three principal investigators: Hilary Bryon, lecturer in architecture in the College of Design; Donald Colliver, associate professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering at the College of Agriculture; and Gregory Luhan, associate dean for research at the College of Design. Other colleges with faculty serving on the project are the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Communication and Information Studies, the College of Engineering, and the College of Medicine.
Bioenergy Research and Extension

The College is extensively involved in research and outreach regarding bioenergy sources and production. In a recent survey of the College, 38 faculty and staff were engaged in research and/or outreach activities including feedstocks, environmental issues with feedstock production, biofuel production and biorefineries, utilization of biofuels, environmental issues of biofuel production, economics of bioenergy, education and workforce development, and policy issues. In addition, the College hosts web sites and workshops regarding bioenergy and produces curriculum resources for educators.
Entomology

In 2008, the Cooperative Extension Service worked with the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute and the University of Kentucky Robinson Scholars Program to train a group of Water Pioneers. The Water Pioneers were 28 high-school sophomores from 28 eastern Kentucky counties. For one week in June 2008, these students received a week of intense water education from natural resource experts in the Cooperative Extension Service. Students were administered exams and showed a 17.6% pre/post increase in content knowledge. All students indicated that they were "quite likely to" or would "definitely" put something that they learned to use. In addition, the Water Pioneers were challenged to return to their respective counties and design and implement a community project based on their week-long training. Seven months later, all 28 students had made an impact on their community. Many of the Pioneers worked with younger students, passing along the same water education that they had learned during the summer. Other student also wrote articles about local water quality that appeared in local papers; still others made a direct impact by organizing stream clean-up events. One student¹s project expanded beyond the due date and expectations: he discovered a serious county-wide sewage problem in his community and he is currently working to raise awareness about this issue and to encourage his local government to correct the problem. The Water Pioneers program is scheduled to continue in 2009 with a new group of students.
Environmental and Natural Resources Issues (ENRI) Task Force

Staff at the ENRI task force are involved in sustainability projects within two high profile watersheds in central Kentucky: Cane Run and Mill Creek. Amanda Gumbert’s position within the ENRI task force like mine is a partnership between UK College of Agriculture and the KY Division of Conservation to educate landowners about water quality practices on their farms.

Ashley Osborne helped work on a College wide sustainability web site Go Green (http://www.ca.uky.edu/gogreen/index.php).

Human and Environmental Science and Family and Consumer Sciences The Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles Club, with leadership from faculty members Elizabeth Easter and Scarlett Wesley, collected used denim during September and October. The Denim Drive was a partnership effort with Cotton, Inc. More than 900 pairs of jeans were collected. Those jeans will be recycled into insulation which Cotton Inc. will donate to Habitat for Humanity building projects in hurricane affected areas. The jeans collected will provide insulation for two homes. A promotional story is on our website at http://www.ca.uky.edu/HES/index.php?p=402.

Dietetic and hospitality management students in quantity foods production learn about local foods and sustainability through their use of Kentucky-grown foods in the operation of the Lemon Tree Restaurant. Students in the Lemon Tree are teamtaught and directed by Dr. Sandra Bastin, an Associate Extension Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, and Bob Perry, Project Manager & Chef, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Working Group in the College of Agriculture.

Faculty in the Department of Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles are engaged in sustainable retailing research.

Linda Adler has developed materials related to green products in the home and green living. At least a portion of these resource materials are included on the go green website - http://www.ca.uky.edu/gogreen/index.php.
Landscape Architecture

Faculty in the department of landscape architecture teaches stewardship throughout their curriculum. It is such and integral part of what they do and who they are, that they do not use it in course titles. Faculty and staff in this department design rain gardens, bio-swales and other aspects of sustainable landscapes. Students who take courses in this department learn the GIS technology we currently use in regional planning.
Plant Pathology

Research:

In collaboration with faculty in the Dept. of Biosystems and Ag Engineering, a faculty member has a project to investigate the ability of corn stalk rot fungi to process cellulosic biomass derived from corn waste products (stover) to produce ethanol directly, and/or to produce a more compact (more easily transported) biomass product that will be cheaper and easier to process by enzymatic means to yield simple sugars for ethanol production by yeast.

A faculty member is developing glycerol as a protective agent against soybean diseases prevalent in Kentucky. Our work has shown that exogenous application of glycerol induces robust resistance against multiple pathogens in plants. We are now trying to develop this further for use in the field and testing the efficacy of glycerol against other pathogens that are prevalent in KY. (Funded by the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board)

A project is ongoing to enhance soybean yield by manipulating the expression of seed trait-determining genes. Here we are trying to increase soybean yield by manipulating the expression of orthologs of genes that are known to increase seed size or number in "model" plant species such as Arabidopsis. (Funded by the United Soybean Board)

A multidisciplinary project is underway to evaluate timing programs for fungicide applications on golf course fairway grasses, to maintain these with the minimal amounts of fungicide, applied strategically.

Ongoing annual field evaluations are made of commercial biological control products for disease control on golf course turfgrasses, in order to reduce use of chemicals.

A researcher lists the following sustainability practices in his lab:
- Re-use of "disposable" plasticware.
- Use of glass test tubes in favor of disposable plastic ones.
- Use old and "mistake" computer printouts for scrap paper, followed by traditional recycling.
- Always turn off light in rooms that are not in use when I exit them (especially equipment/dishwasher rooms).
- Take home autoclaved plant material for use as compost.
A researcher’s project in fatty-acid signaling in plant defense has demonstrated that these energy-generating molecules are also involved in plant defense to microbes. Altering the plants own metabolism to induce defense will not only benefit the development of truly sustainable crop protection strategies, but also enable the promotion of beneficial microbial associations. A research project on glycerol metabolism and its role in Arabidopsis/fungal hemibiotroph model system has have demonstrated a role for the primary metabolite, glycerol-3-phosphate in inducing plant defense to the anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum. Efforts are directed towards applying this information for combating anthracnose in corn, with the goal of improving stability of crop yields by minimizing losses due to this disease.

Extension:

Plant diagnostic activities are geared towards reducing losses to diseases by giving agricultural producers, foresters, landscape managers, and homeowners sound information to avoid damage and minimize losses.

Extension programming has been developed to address the dramatically increasing (and unsustainable) use of fungicides in field crop production in recent years, particularly in corn and soybean.

Educational programs originating from our department have been shared throughout the U.S. on fungicide runoff from treated turfgrass swards, with recommendations on minimizing resulting contamination of surface waters.

Teaching:

Principles of Plant Pathology (PPA 400G), the introductory course in plant pathology, has a heavy emphasis on disease control through cultural practices and host plant resistance, in an effort to reduce use of pesticides.

Plant Disease, Population Biology, and Biotechnology (PPA 641) has become focused on the biological principles that will result in the most durable (through time) deployment of transgenes for disease resistance, increasing the sustainability of transgenic disease resistance.

Operations:

All cardboard is recycled. Most cans, bottles, and bond paper is recycled. Most computer users turn them off at the end of the day. In one lab, users often do not have any lighting on except the automatic room lighting used when switches are in the off position. This lab also recycles all #1 and #5 plastics from routine lab purchases.

Stacks of heavy paper resulting from autoclave verification dry-cycle test packages are used or recycled.

Several lab programs recycle disposable plastic-ware in a variety of ways. Most departmental members use recycled paper for much printing as possible.

Personal Actions Within the Dept. of Plant Pathology to Increase Sustainability:

One faculty emeritus has been riding a bike to work consistently over the course of a 37-year career!

In the past year, a faculty member cancelled his parking pass and is now riding his bike to work year-round. He has also taken to only using one of two light banks in his office to reduce energy consumption, reduces his use of paper towels, uses recycled paper for as much note-taking as possible, and generally has become very attentive to reducing his carbon footprint in many areas of his personal and professional life. He hangs clothes to dry or dries them on a drying rack; he doesn’t fertilize nor irrigate his lawn and therefore mows as infrequently as possible; he minimizes light usage at home and at work; he has a programmable thermostat for reducing heating and cooling energy needs; he reuses plastic bags as often as possible; he uses cloth bags for groceries; he takes brief showers to reduce consumption of hot water; and he drives only small four-cylinder cars, including when renting a vehicle.

A large number of departmental members recycle at their homes. Many use water filter systems at home to avoid buying bottled water.

Another faculty member provided the suggestion to UK's "Make a Difference" program to to install motion detectors on lights in hallways/stairwells that are not in frequent use or after hours to save energy.

Several staff members have heavy use of native plants in their yards, which are more adapted to local conditions and therefore require fewer inputs. Several departmental members divert rain water into rain barrels or otherwise away from the storm system. Numerous departmental members have vegetable gardens. Many buy local produce from the farmers market on a regular basis.

A researcher lists the following sustainability practices for his personal life:
- Recycle everything that it recyclable.
- Compost all household food wastes that are compostable.
- Mulch lawn clippings.
- Maintain turf at 4 in blade length to minimize need for watering.
- Use a rain barrel.
- Divert house and garage downspout water onto flower and vegetable gardens 7.
- Use all leaves that fall on my property for mulch and compost.
- Rake leaves manually.
- Insulated my attic and eaves.
- Use plastic window sheeting in winter.
- Routinely seal all window cracks in upper levels and basement to eliminate drafts in winter 12. Had a device installed that periodically cuts out our air conditioner unit during periods of high usage.
- Maintain indoor temps at 64 deg in winter, 80 deg in summer.
- Ride a bicycle to work every day and use it travel around campus (I have done this ever since I started at UK, 11 years ago).
Another researcher composts and recycles at home, and the family shreds all the paper that comes home from the public schools and whatever else he can get his hands on to mulch their flower and vegetable gardens.

On departmental staff member recycles all #1 and 2 plastics, as well as cleaned metal cans such as from the cat food. She composts all garden debris is along with chicken litter, stall muck, etc. The finished compost is added back to the flower beds and garden. Occasionally, the flower beds are fertilized with manure 'tea'. For several years she has had an arrangement with a tree service to dump all local loads of wood chips into run-off ditches and low spots in the field so as to "make" soil instead of moving it from one location to fill up another. Soil can either be made or moved; I have chosen to take the slower path of making it Nature's way! To her, soil is precious; don’t you dare move it!! Tree branches and twigs, anything less than 5" diameter, is chipped. About 4 years ago she bought a chipper, right after that big ice storm, which she uses for neighbors also. Old wire fencing is taken to the local Convince Center for recycling, along with any unwanted metal items. In the country there are many sites of dumped bottles and such found in the woods, including rusted wire fence. All this is being gradually cleaned up and recycled.

A staff member installed a programmable thermostat (minimal heat (55 degrees) & air conditioning (80 degrees) when not at home or during the night); had KU install a device on air conditioner which limits energy consumption during peak hours; replaced windows with energy star windows.
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Working Group

The group consists of one member from each of the departments within the College of Agriculture and the Tracy Farmer Center. This group serves as the front door for the college to quickly respond to sustainable agriculture and food production and marketing related questions from producers, processors and the public. Its tasks are to:
- plan and coordinate college programs in sustainability related issues,
- promote the development of new programming and events,
- develop support for existing College programs which contribute to sustainability,
- work closely with those implementing the undergraduate Sustainable Ag undergrad curriculum,
- strive to integrate current instructional, research and extension efforts and, increase their visibility and impact,
- collaborate with campus and community level groups working on sustainability, and
- recommend to the College administration regarding needs and opportunities for investment and support in this area.
Currently the group is conducting an inventory and analysis of all departments and courses in the College of Agriculture with their regard to agriculture and food sustainability to see where synergies might be and how to take advantage of them.

Future plans are to conduct an inventory and analysis across the university in a similar manner.

Members of this group represent the university and the college on numerous local, state and national sustainably oriented non-profit organizations including: Slow Food USA, Partners for Family Farms, Community Farm Alliance, Chefs Collaborative, American Grassfed Association, S SAWG, SARE, Sierra Club, Partnership for a Green Community and many others.

Consulting with restaurants who want to pursue local food options is an ongoing mission of this group including UK Food Service for whom we have served as meeting brokers with the producers for their inclusion of KY hamburger and dairy products. We also work with private sector restaurants, other colleges and universities and producers who seek to connect with each other.

In the past year we have been contacted for assistance by two bourbon distilleries, three produce companies, two food distributors, three dairies and numerous local farms and small producers seeking sustainable options for their various operations.

Academically this group also serves as a speakers bureau for classes and events across the university on sustainable food and agriculture topics. An innovative collaboration with the Gatton School last year was the MBA 680 course in which the students had to design a restaurant concept and include locally grown food.
Department of Horticulture

Sustainable production systems are a major programmatic emphasis, and central component of this department’s mission. This includes the discovery, evaluation and education related to horticultural crop and landscape systems that are sustainable in terms of economics, natural resources and other environmental considerations, and the health/safety of growers and consumers. Horticulture faculty, staff, and students conduct applied as well as fundamental research focused on developing sustainable production systems suitable for Kentucky. Strategic research addresses current needs related to the maintenance and development of the horticulture industry. Fundamental research addresses basic questions in plant science to gain a better understanding of critical plant processes and to complement strategic research projects.
Organic Farming Research and Education Unit

In 2003 the Department of Horticulture dedicated twelve acres of the Horticulture Research Farm in south Lexington to be used exclusively for organic farming research, outreach and education. The section is currently certified for organic production and is being used for multidisciplinary research projects by faculty from several departments. Additionally, part of this area is being used for the Sustainable Agriculture undergraduate curriculum’s Apprenticeship Program, which allows students to grow a range of horticulture crops and market them to the university community through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. During the development of this section of the farm a collaboration was created with faculty in the College of Design, which has allowed several different groups of Architecture, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture students to work together to build an Organic Farming Research and Education Center. The ideas of sustainable design and green building have been incorporated throughout the project. Currently two buildings and an outdoor pavilion have been constructed, and plans are in place to expand this effort in the future.
Sustainable Agriculture Undergraduate Curriculum

The college of Agriculture launched a new undergraduate major and minor curriculum specifically focused on sustainable agriculture in spring 2007. The curriculum was developed by organizing major course requirements into three clusters of classes related to the three central pillars of sustainable agriculture –economic profitability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. Additionally, five new courses were created in a fifteen credit hour sequence in Sustainable Agriculture. This sequence, which is required for all SAG majors and minors, is designed to integrate and expand on the information learned in the three clusters. A unique feature of this sequence is the two semester apprenticeship on a working organic farm and community supported agriculture (CSA) project that all SAG majors and minors must complete. The curriculum has also been designed to invite interest and engagement from students with non-agricultural backgrounds. This more inclusive approach to agriculture will enhance public appreciation for agriculture's impact on society and secure a better future for farming. The SAG curriculum has become a significant contributor to the campus, community and state-wide exploration of local and sustainable approaches to agriculture. The courses and curriculum are successfully bringing together students with and without agricultural backgrounds and the crosspollination has provided both groups with an enhanced appreciation for collaboration and partnership. SAG faculty and students are engaged in a variety of research and educational initiatives that support local, organic and sustainable agriculture.
Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program

This program was started in spring 2007 on the Organic Farming Research and Education Unit in south Lexington. The goals of this program are to provide an experiential learning opportunity for students interested in sustainable agriculture, and to educate community members about supporting local farming efforts. Students working on the CSA farm are enrolled in the Apprenticeship in Sustainable Agriculture (SAG 397) class, which is structured to provide educational opportunities in a full range of organic farming techniques, from land preparation and transplant production, to pest management and harvesting, on a wide array of horticultural crops such as vegetables, tree fruit, berries, flowers and herbs. Produce is marketed through CSA which allows university students, faculty and staff to become shareholders for a season and receive a weekly supply of fresh produce. In the first year there were 42 shareholders and that number was increased to 85 in 2008. The CSA runs for 26 weeks starting in early May and more information can be found at http://www.ca.uky.edu/SustainableAgCurriculum/csahome.html. In addition to connecting the university community to sustainable agriculture, the CSA program is becoming a model for our local farmers to learn about organic agriculture and developing integrated sustainable systems. Additionally, it has become a powerful outreach tool and has been toured by a range of interested people from pre-school children, elementary and high school students, to college students and faculty from within the United States and abroad. Numerous print and video stories from the University extension service as well as the local newspaper and TV stations have documented the creation of the curriculum and CSA and increased their visibility. An internationally syndicated TV show "Diary of a Foodie" was filmed on the farm in 2007 and used the CSA program as a model for what is being done in the land grant system in the United States.

2.5 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AT UK

Bioenvironmental Option, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Administrative Unit: Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Dr. Steve Workman
Staffing: 18 faculty
Type of Program: concentration for B.S. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Requirements: BAE curriculum plus 4 environmental engineering technical electives
Relevant Courses: BAE 438G (Fundamentals of Groundwater Hydrology), BAE 532 (Introduction to Stream Restoration), BAE 536 (Fluvial Hydraulics), BAE 538 (GIS Applications for Water Resources)
Age of Program: 50 yrs (program renamed in 2000)
Enrollment: approximately 20 students
Number of Students Graduated: 4 per year
Placement: consulting firms, graduate school

Environmental Engineering Certificate

Administrative Unit: College of Engineering
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Dr. Lindell Ormsbee (Department of Civil Engineering)
Staffing: course instructors, plus committee made up of departmental faculty liaisons and program director
Type of Program: undergraduate certificate
Requirements: major in a participating department (Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering) with a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (higher in some departments), plus:

A 3-hour interdisciplinary introductory course in environmental engineering.
A minimum of 6 hours of environmental science courses with at least 3 hours of biology and 3 hours of chemistry selected from the following: BIO 208 (Principles of Microbiology), BIO XXX (Environmental Physiology), CHE 230 (Organic Chemistry I), CHE 236 (Survey of Organic Chemistry).
At least 12 hours of approved environmentally-elated engineering courses with at least 3 hours from one of the other participating departments.

The student must achieve a grade of C or better in each course taken as part of the certificate program.
Age of Program: 13 years
Number of Students Graduated: 41 certificates awarded since 1995

Environmental Studies

Administrative Unit: College of Arts & Sciences
Responsible/Contact Person: Dr. Ernest Yanarella (Department of Political Science)
Staffing: seven faculty members, one part-time instructor
Type of Program: undergraduate minor
Budget: $7,000
Requirements: ENS 200 (Introduction to Environmental Studies) and ENS 400 (Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies), plus 6 credit hours of approved socio-cultural courses and 6 credit hours of approved science-technical courses
Relevant Courses: a growing list of undergraduate courses from political science, sociology, geography, forestry, biology, chemistry, anthropology, philosophy
Age of Program: 10 years
Enrollment: 45 students
Number of Students Graduated: 5–10 per year
Placement: most students pursue advanced degrees in either socio-cultural programs (public policy and administration, political science, environmental sociology, environmental law) or scientific-technical areas (environmental biology, environmental chemistry, engineering, forestry)

Natural Resource Conservation and Management

Administrative Unit: College of Agriculture
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Dr. Craig Infanger (Chair, NRCM Coordinating
Committee [Department of Agricultural Economics]); Dr. Larry Grabau (Director of Undergraduate Studies, NRCM [Department of Plant and Soil Sciences])
Staffing: 13 core faculty (six of them are among seven members of NRCM Coordinating Committee), one part-time instructor
Type of Program: interdisciplinary undergraduate major (B.S. degree)
Requirements: 31-32 pre-major credit hours (in specified BIO, CHE, MA, STA, GLY, PLS, ECO courses), 39 core credit hours, 18 credit hours in area of concentration (9 of those credit hours must be at 300 level or above)
Relevant Courses:

Core Curriculum:

AEC 424 Environmental Law
AEC 445G Introduction to Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
FOR 315 Conservation Biology
FOR 340 Forest Ecology
NRC 301 Natural Resource Conservation and Management
NRC 320 Data Collection Techniques
NRC 380 Analysis of Natural Resource Systems
NRC 381 Natural Resource Policy Analysis
NRC 395 Independent Study in Natural Resources or NRC 399 Experiential Education in Natural Resources
NRC 471 Senior Problem in Natural Resources
NRC 555 Geographic Information Systems and Landscape Analysis
PLS 366 Fundamentals of Soil Science

plus one of the following:

NRC 420G Taxonomy of Vascular Plants
NRC 450G Biogeochemistry
NRC 455G Wetland Delineation
NRC 456G Constructed Wetlands
NRC 477G Land Treatment of Wastes
NRC 545 Natural Resource Economics

Age of Program: 14 years
Enrollment: high 50s – low 60s
Number of Students Graduated: 12 to 33 (average 20), 2002–2007
Placement: private sector; local, state, and Federal government agencies; graduate and professional schools; non-profits

SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT UK (updated 11/4//08)

Ecological Anthropology

Administrative Unit: Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences http://web.as.uky.edu/anthropology/index.html
Responsible/ Contact Person(s): Dr. Chris Pool (Chair, Department of Anthropology); Dr. Lisa Cliggett (Director of Graduate Studies, and Faculty Contact for Ecological Anthropology Concentration).
Staffing: 11 core faculty; 17 adjunct faculty. Most departmental faculty teach courses in the ecology track and also conduct research that intersects with ecology, through which many graduate students gain research experience.
Type of Program: Area of concentration in the master’s and doctoral degree program in Anthropology.
Budget: none designated specifically, but a significant portion of departmental general budget promotes the ecological anthropology concentration (colloquium, guest speakers, field trips, etc).
Requirements: Standard coursework, thesis (MA), exam (PhD) and dissertation (PhD) in anthropology with a concentration in Ecological Anthropology. For specific requirements see the departmental web site: http://web.as.uky.edu/anthropology/gradreq.html
Age of Program: Since 1926. UK’s anthropology department was one of the first independent departments of anthropology in the country, started in 1926 with a focus on Archaeology and Kentucky prehistory. The department quickly expanded to become a leader in applied anthropology (cultural and archaeological) and in ecological and economic anthropology. Enrollment: Current graduate student enrollment is approximately 61 students, with close to half having research interests in ecology/environment.
Number of Students Graduated: In the last decade approximately 35 students have completed a PhD or MA degree with coursework and research that intersects with Ecological Anthropology.
Placement: faculty at colleges or universities; government and private sector; domestic and international agencies.
Relevant Courses:

ANT 601 THEORIES AND CONCEPTS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
ANT 603 HUM BIO CONTEXT OF SOCIOCULTURAL CHANGE
ANT 613 SEMINAR IN PHYSICAL ANT
ANT 637 SOCIOCULT DIMENS-ECO DEV
ANT 638 FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRARIAN CHANGE
ANT 640 SCI, AGR, AND DEVELOP
ANT 641 GENDER ISSUES IN DEV
ANT 645 ANTHROPOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY
ANT 650 THEORY IN ARCHAEOLOGY
ANT 652 DEMOGRAPHIC ARCHAEOLOGY
ANT 653 PREHISTORIC ECONOMICS
ANT 654 ARCHAEOLOGY OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS
ANT 684 FARM SYS RESEARCH METHS
ANT 725 SEM IN APPLIED ANT
ANT 726 AMERICAN MATERIAL CULTURE
ANT 727 SEM ON SOCIO-CULT CHANGE
ANT 731 SEM IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DYNAMICS
ANT 732 SEMINAR IN ECOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANT 734 SEMINAR IN ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANT 736 CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
ANT 741 SEM IN REGIONAL ARCHAEOL
ANT 766 GENDER, ETHNICITY AND HEALTH
ANT 774 FOOD & FOOD SECURITY IN A CHANGING WORLD

Environmental Economics

Administrative Unit: Department of Economics, Gatton College of Business and Economics
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Dr. John Garen (Chair, Department of Economics), Dr. William Hoyt (Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Economics)
Staffing: faculty member primarily responsible for the coursework is Glenn Blomquist. No other staffing.
Type of Program: part of the doctoral degree program in economics
Budget: none designated for this field
Requirements: Coursework in environmental economics and a dissertation in the field. The Ph.D. program requires two fields; some students take the environmental economics courses for a second field and write in another. Core courses in Ph.D.-level microeconomics and econometrics are prerequisites.
Age of Program: The environmental economics field of specialization has been offered for a long time; 15 to 20 years.
Enrollment: Approximately 6 to 8 students take the coursework every other year.
Number of Students Graduated: An average of one student per year completes a dissertation in environmental or a related area.
Placement: faculty at colleges and universities; federal and state government.
Relevant Courses: Year-long, two-course sequence: ECO 721 (Environmental Economics, Regulation and Policy) and ECO 724 (Environmental Economics). Coursework is offered every other year.

Environmental Health Sciences, Master of Public Health and Doctorate of Public Health

Administrative Unit: College of Public Health
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Dr. Robert McKnight, Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health
Staffing: seven faculty (Gail Brion, Youcheng Liu, Scott Prince, David Mannino, Ray Garman, Terry Bunn, Robert McKnight), plus others
Type of Program: graduate professional degrees (MPH and DrPH)
Budget: (to be determined)
Requirements: For the MPH degree, 12 hours of master’s content in environmental health is required, along with a capstone project. For the DrPH degree, nine hours of additional environmental health content are required, plus a doctoral-level capstone.
Age of Program: The MPH program (previous degree, the MSPH) has been available at UK since about 1990. The DrPH program has been available since 2004.
Enrollment: In a typical year, the master’s program will enroll four or five students, the doctoral program one or two students. These numbers fluctuate.
Placement: public health departments, federal agencies, faculty at colleges and universities.
Relevant Courses:

MPH:

CPH 601, Environmental Health
CPH 602, Advanced Environmental Health
CPH 601, Workplace Ventilation
CPH 662, Sampling
PM 663, Ventilation
CE 555, Environmental Microbiology

DrPH:
All requirements of masters program, plus CPH 920 (Advanced Environmental Health and CPH 921 (Professional Seminar in Environmental Health)

Environmental Management concentration, Master of Public Administration

Administrative Unit: Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Dr. Dwight Denison
Staffing: nine core faculty, 15 joint faculty, three administrative staff
Type of Program: graduate professional degree with certificate available through the Environmental Systems program
Budget: There is no program budget. The Martin School annual budget is $2,184,000.
Requirements: 42 credit hours, including the MPA core and six hours in the area of concentration. Students wishing the ES Certificate must complete an additional five credit hours in the ES program.
Age of Program: 32 years
Enrollment: generally about 2-4 a year
Number of Students Graduated: generally 1-2 a year
Placement of Graduates/Former Students: Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Council of State Governments, Area Development Districts, an environmental compliance program at UK, an environmental consulting firm, local governments
Relevant Courses:

Core Curriculum:

HA 602 Organizational Change & Strategic Planning
PA 604 Ethics in Public Administration (1 credit)
PA 621 Quantitative Methods of Research
PA 622 Public Program Evaluation
PA 623 Decision Analysis
PA 624 Government Information Systems (2 credits)
PA 631 Public Financial Management
PA 632 Public Funds Management
PA 642 Public Organization Theory and Behavior
PA 651 The Policy Process
PA 652 Public Policy Economics
PA 681 Capstone in Public Administration

Concentration and Elective Classes:

PA 727 Environmental Economics, Regulation and Policy
PA 680 Benefit-Cost Analysis
PA 690 Public Policy Analysis

Environmental Systems

Administrative Unit: Graduate School
Responsible/Contact Person: Gail Brion (Dept. of Civil Engineering and College of Public Health, Program Director)
Staffing: four faculty (David Atwood, Gail Brion, Michael Healy, Kiyoung Lee) plus two part-time instructors
Type of Program: graduate certificate
Budget: $24,000 for instructors in AY 07-08; no budget for AY 08-09
Requirements: Two core interdisciplinary courses (3 hr each) and one additional 3-hour course, plus two units of 1-hr seminar
Age of Program: 19 years
Number of Certificates Awarded: 0 to 22 (average 7), 1990–2007
Relevant Courses: ES 600 (Environmental Systems Seminar), ES 610 (Engineering and Physical Sciences in Environmental Systems), ES 620 (Natural, Biological, and Medical Sciences in Environmental Systems), ES 630 (Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences in Environmental Systems)

Toxicology

Administrative Unit: Graduate Center for Toxicology, College of Medicine
Responsible/Contact Person(s): Drs. Mary Vore and Davy Jones
Staffing: 12 faculty, 4 classified staff (full-time), 25 research staff (full time)
Type of Program: M.S./Ph.D.
Budget: Salary and benefits: $1,682,764.10 (no operating budget dollars from state funds)
Requirements: See http://www.mc.uky.edu/toxicology/Grad_program/Curriculum.asp
Age of Program: 29 years
Enrollment: 37 students
Number of Students Graduated: 5 per year
Placement: post-docs and faculty at universities, federal agencies, drug and biotech companies
Relevant Courses: TOX 509, TOX 680

3. Outreach / Community Engagement

3.1. Initiatives

3.1.1. Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community

On August 24th, 2005, the University of Kentucky, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and Fayette County Public Schools formed the Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community, an initiative aimed at stimulating greater regional commitment to environmental issues by government, schools, businesses, private citizens and young people. Since the beginning the BPGC have added many community partners to strengthen the commitment of the Partnership and to expand the expertise of the committees and their work. Ten committees or teams have been formed to identify and implement projects to help create a greener bluegrass.

Energy Efficient Buildings: Develop an energy policy; identify and highlight successful energy programs and share those programs with the community; implement training for facilities personnel; develop a proposal for an energy accounting initiative. Contact: Larry Porter at larry.porter@kctcs.edu

Transportation: Safe Routes to School is a program to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children and to increase the number of kids who choose to walk and bike on a daily basis. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, improve air quality, ease traffic congestion near schools and improve the quality of life of communities by making them more walkable and bike-friendly for all residents. Promote and expand the use of biodiesel among the Partnership; develop an ambassador program between UK and Fayette County Public Schools to promote student use and understanding of public transportation. Conduct Safe Routes to School workshops for school professionals. Contact Shane Tedder at dshedd0@uky.edu

Education: Oversee the 2010 by 2010 Rain Garden Initiative; build demonstration gardens at key locations, develop curriculum and resources for schools wishing to build rain gardens and outdoor classrooms on their school grounds, develop professional development sessions for school personnel and teachers around the use and benefits of rain gardens. K-12 education in Green and Healthy Schools and Earth Force Contact: Maxine Rudder at Maxine@kentuckypride.com

Purchasing: Develop a joint purchasing agreement among all partners so each partner can benefit from cost savings due to economy of scale. The agreement would include purchasing and disposal. Contact: Carol Hanley at chanley@uky.edu

Sustainable Foods: Green and Healthy Schools Summit, Creating and Maintaining Community Gardens, On-going Community events to promote best sustainable practices. Contact: Jim Embry at Jgembr0@cs.com

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle: Participating in the 2007 National Aluminum Recycling Program (winner of the 2006 National Aluminum Recycling Program Advertising Campaign), organizing an electronics recycling program. Contact: Tom Webb at tomw@lfucg.com

Water/Storm Water: Design and Implement signage in each of the Fayette County Watersheds, distribute public services announcements developed by the Commonwealth Watershed Education Program, participate in Community Based Field Studies teaching K-12 students about Non-point source pollution, organize and host the Kentucky Watershed Summit. Contact: Amanda Gumbert at Amanda.gumbert@uky.edu

Greenspace: Students in the science club at EJ Hayes Middle School are conducting an environmental assessment of Jacobson Park. They will be analyzing the habitats at the park and creating field guides for the park. Students in the Kentucky Studies class at Bryan Station High School will be learning about park facilities and the differences between parks in Lexington. They will then be creating a master plan for a new park on Briar Hill Road. A new competition will be begin later this month called Green Mapping. We hope that middle school and high school classes will participate in discovering our green resources throughout the community or around their schools. Analysis of Lexington City parks with k-12 students, coordination of the Lexington Green Map competition. Contact: Cindy Deitz at cdeitz@lfucg.com

Equestrian Games: Working to assist the Kentucky Horse Park and the United States Equestrian Olympic Committee to provide information and resources for hosting sustainable events. Contact: Carol Hanley at chanley@uky.edu

Outreach and Communication: Serve at the BPGC communication hub, keeping the Partnership members informed; promoting projects and initiatives with the broader Bluegrass Region; coordinating the WUKY 91.3 FM envirominutes broadcast each Tuesday at noon. Contact: Louise Caldwell Grant at louisec@lfucg.com

Green Living Expo: Developing, implementing and coordinating the Bluegrass Green Living Expo. Contact: Ben Perry at benperry@a-spi.org

3.1.2. Sustainability Lecture Series

The University of Kentucky President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee has created a new Sustainability Lecture Series to serve as a catalyst for increased discussion and debate about sustainability issues on campus. Organizers hope the lecture series will foster a culture of sustainability on campus that balances ecological integrity, economic vitality and social justice.

The inaugural lecture is scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Worsham Theatre of the UK Student Center. The speaker will be Thomas J. FitzGerald, environmental attorney, graduate of the UK College of Law, and recent recipient of the Heinz Award in the Environment.

The lecture series was made possible with the support of UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. The UK Greenthumb Environmental Club, the state’s largest student environmental club, aggressively pursued a new student fee that would fund sustainability related initiatives on campus. After a Board of Trustees committee declined to approve the fee in April 2008, Dr. Todd committed an equivalent amount of money to the President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee. That gift provided the necessary resources to create the UK Sustainability Lecture Series.

3.1.3. President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee

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. The Sustainability Task Force continued to meet in the 2006/2007 academic year and into the 2007/2008 academic year.

In March of 2008, President Todd formally upgraded this task force to the level of a presidentially appointed advisory committee. Carol Hanley and Mark Williams were elected as the first co-chairs of the committee which currently has 12 members. Membership on the committee is comprised of:

Two members from University Business Operations
Two faculty members
Two student members
One member from the College of Agriculture
One member from Student Affairs
One member representing our research mission
One member from the Lexington Committee
Two at Large

The committee has several subcommittees and makes an annual report to the President and Board of Trustees.

3.1.3.1. Sustainability Advisory Committee - Academic Subcommittee

Proposal to Develop and Conduct Sustainability Lunches For The Spring 2009 Semester

Description:

At least one brown bag sustainability lunch per month will be held starting in January 2009 and culminate during Earth Week, in a location that will hold approximately 75 people. The Tracy Farmer Center will provide drinks and dessert for the events. Although curriculum issues would be the primary focus, other issues could be raised, including research, sustainability practices, improving communications, and community building.

Audience:

The January event would be for students, February for faculty and staff, March for community members and the lunch in April would be a culminating discussion.

Purpose:

To create a culture of sustainability on UK’s campus
To create a climate for open debate
To involve the broader University community in sustainability issues
To garner input from faculty, staff and students on the possibility of the development of a new unified sustainable living undergraduate curriculum
To assess the needs of students and faculty regarding such a curriculum

Format:

Each lunch discussion would be driven by questions, which may or may not be the same for each session. Each session would be facilitated by a pre-chosen moderator from the targeted audience. Discussion questions might include

What are UK students’ curriculum needs as they face a world that is hot, flat and crowded?
How can we work together to develop a new unified sustainability curriculum?
How can we bring UK’s resources together to focus on sustainability and improve the lives of Kentuckians?
How do we improve communication about sustainability and sustainable practices?
How do we improve or coordinate UK’s sustainability outreach efforts?

3.1.4. UK Grant and Kentucky Pride Funds Support Outreach to Fayette County Schools for Environmental and Sustainability Education

An environmental workshop for middle and high school science and social science teachers at Fayette County public schools was held on Saturday, October 25, 2008, at the Shaker Village, Pleasant Hill, KY. The workshop brought teachers in the sciences and social sciences together to learn about: available published and DVD materials on environmental education; opportunities for environmental education field trips in Lexington and the surrounding Bluegrass region; and environmental education "best practices." Several thousand dollars in resources (environmental education books, environmental science manuals, and DVDs and videos) were distributed to teachers and high schools for courses in the social and natural sciences and school libraries. The workshop was underwritten by a grant from the Kentucky Department of Education’s Environmental Council. Dr. Ernest J. Yanarella, co-principal investigator of the grant, coordinated and facilitated the workshop.

3.1.5. Big Blue Goes Green: A Sustainability Showcase – year two

The goal of the annual showcase is for attendants and participants to learn about all of the "green" projects, curriculums, business practices and research being implemented at UK. The showcase featured displays, booths, movies and forums. In addition, the showcase provided students, faculty and community members the opportunity to learn about sustainability volunteer opportunities both on and off campus. The event was held on September 23, 2008 in the UK Student Center.

4. University of Kentucky Statement on Sustainability Policy

The University President and senior administrative staff approved the policy as proposed by the Advisory Committee in January 2009.

Section I. Commitment

The University of Kentucky recognizes that in its mission to improve the lives of Kentuckians, its greatest challenge in our time is to engage the University community to create policies and programs that will simultaneously advance economic vitality, ecological integrity and social equity, now and into the future. As such, it calls upon all levels and constituencies of the University to participate in a continuous and on-going effort to institute the teaching, research, and practice of sustainability and to establish an institutional culture of sustainability.

Section II. Definition

Sustainability has been variously defined and popularized over the past two decades. The most well-known and quoted of definitions defines sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" (Brundtland Commission Report). Others have defined sustainability more simply as "equity extended into the future" (Herman Daly). Still others have seen the transition to sustainability as associated with "moving from linear to cyclical processes and technologies" (Karl Henrick-Robert). More ambitious and encompassing is the definition of sustainability that see it as a "local, informed, participatory, balance-seeking process, operating within its Sustainable Area Budget, exporting no harmful imbalances beyond its territory or into the future, and thus opening the spaces of future opportunity and possibility" (UK Center for Sustainable Cities).

Section III. Cardinal Principle:

The Sustainable Campus as Exemplar. The University of Kentucky strives to be an exemplar in the application of sustainability principles and practices and to become a sustainable campus by utilizing participatory techniques, such as multiple scenario-building, which bring diverse perspectives to the on-going process of building a sustainable campus.

Section IV: Other Supporting Principles:

Subd. 1. Leadership. Through its pursuit of excellence in advancing sustainability education, research, outreach, and stewardship, the University of Kentucky strives to be on the cutting edge of educational, scientific, technological, social, and cultural advances in scholarship, to take the leadership role in demonstrating the feasibility of inventions of sustainability and resource efficiency, and to produce trained specialists, informed citizens, and public and other leaders knowledgeable of the meaning and wisdom of sustainability and its practices.

Subd. 2. Commitment to Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Sustainable Research. In its aspiration to become a sustainable campus that fosters sustainability in the wider community and across the Commonwealth, the University shall (a) promote innovative, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects in the natural sciences, engineering, agriculture, design, business, social sciences, and humanities to inform campus operations as well as the broader community; and (b) engage in collaborative projects and programs to translate these University efforts into programs that foster sustainable towns, cities, and regions.

Subd. 3. Education. If this University is to meet its obligations to pave the way to a sustainable world, its primary mission of educating present and future generations of students must better address the many facets of sustainability through curricular innovation. Undergraduates must be prepared to become engaged citizens involved in facing the challenges of climate change, global pollution, soil depletion, oil and other natural resource scarcities, and the mounting water crisis with interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary understanding, scientific and technical enlightenment, and cultural and social sensitivity. Graduate students and professional degree candidates must be educated and trained to tackle these same problems as civic professionals through professional knowledge and wisdom, and civic commitment, and community leadership.

Subd. 4. Community Engagement. As a land-grant institution and the Commonwealth’s flagship university, the University of Kentucky shall promote community outreach activities that enrich citizens, businesses, public and civic entities in the Commonwealth and beyond in living a more spiritually wholesome, physically healthy, and culturally harmonious relationship with their natural and built environment. Whether in its relations with the local community, the Bluegrass region, the entire state or its other geographic touchstones, the University’s responsibilities as societal exemplar and educational laboratory of sustainability entail the necessity of forging new and enduring partnerships with these agencies to build a sustainable future for all.

Section V. Implementation

Subd. 1. Administration. The University administration of its sustainability program shall include a presidentially-appointed Sustainability Committee and a Sustainability Coordinator reporting to the Vice President for Facilities Management to advance sustainability goals informing administrative policies and procedures in the areas of planning, decision making, execution, assessment, and reporting. These policies and procedures shall rely on scientific analysis and support the efforts described in subds. 2-6 of this section. The primary responsibility of the Sustainability Coordinator will be to facilitate these activities through participatory, collaborative means. The Sustainability Coordinator shall also be responsible for publicizing the work of campus sustainability programs and their outcomes among students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the larger public. The President’s Cabinet will promote the University’s sustainability agenda within its domain of influence and report to the campus community how it is advancing the culture of sustainability in support of these policies.

Subd. 2. Operations. Each University unit shall participate in an ongoing University-wide collaborative process that seeks synergies and sustainable balances in the areas of physical planning and development, including building and infrastructure; operations; transportation; purchasing; and waste management and abatement. The results of this process will include:

meeting and working to exceed all applicable and emergent energy, building, and resource conservation regulatory requirements;
working to prevent pollution at its source;
working to attain carbon neutrality;
reducing dependence on non-renewable energy and encouraging renewable energy alternatives;
and fostering the use of a life-cycle cost evaluation process in campus purchasing and construction.

Subd.3. Unit Planning. Each University Unit/College will demonstrate a commitment to developing the University’s leadership role in a culture of sustainability by: incorporating sustainability principles across the curriculum, rewarding sustainability-related research, teaching, and service.

Subd. 4. Funding. A continuous revenue stream for funding this sustainability initiative should be generated by the Vice President for Facilities Management. In addition, savings generated by successful natural resource conservation and campus-wide synergies should be re-invested into subsequent sustainability initiatives and for the benefit of the University.

Subd. 5. Accountability. The Sustainability Committee through the direction of the Sustainability Coordinator shall propose to the President measures of success in the implementation of the principles outlined in this policy in consultation with appropriate faculty, staff, students, and experts in the wider community.

Subd. 6. Reporting. The President or delegate shall report to the Board of Trustees annually on the progress toward implementing this policy to identify opportunities for subsequent improvement and greater synergies in University teaching, research, service and outreach, planning and operations.

Sustainability Efforts as of January 2009 Report (PDF)

Environmental Efforts • Sustainability Efforts as of January 2009

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