Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.41
Liaison Deborah Steinberg
Submission Date Feb. 18, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Carnegie Mellon University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Barbara Kviz
Environmental Coordinator
Facilities Management Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:

In 2012, Carnegie Mellon University centralized all environmental & sustainability information to one website and named it Environment at CMU. This site includes all of the institution's sustainability efforts for research, education, and practice.

Research:
The Steinbrenner Institute for Education and Research seeks to facilitate connections and coordinate new sustainability research initiatives, to promote and help build the strengths of Carnegie Mellon University's environmental research centers, and advance emerging and interdisciplinary interests in environmental education and research. As such, the Steinbrenner Institute for Education and Research provides information about campus-wide initiatives and findings of student and faculty groups, sustainability research, and other research publications.

Education:
Environment at CMU Environmental Education seeks to inform the students about the University's sustainability efforts in its education curriculum. The information consolidates undergraduate environmental majors and minors, sustainability courses, sustainability lecture series, faculty involved in environmental education, and different initiatives involving literacy assessment and course creations.

Practice:
The Green Practices Committee seeks to develop a more comprehensive waste reduction and energy conservation program. The Committee, which is comprised of staff, faculty and students, establish priorities, goals, and mechanisms for implementing environmental practices around the University. As such, the Green Practices Committee information on the website is meant to inform the University community and others about its practical efforts around the campus including energy reduction, waste reduction, recycling, and composting, sustainable buildings and its maintenance, sustainability commitments, and etc.


The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

Since 2004, the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research has published and distributed a newsletter every semester to inform the University community about sustainability efforts around and outside of the campus.

The newsletter is printed on 100% recycled paper using soy-based links and is also published on the Steinbrenner Institute website.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The Steinbrenner Institute for Education and Research publishes and disseminates student research, as well as the Student Showcase in the Education section of the website.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

Each building that is LEED rated has the USGBC plaque mounted in a prominent location.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

Carnegie Mellon University Dining Services vendor posts on twitter and facebook and has signage in the dining venues that offers information about purchases from local farms and vendors to tips on healthy sustainable lifestyle. They also publish a bimonthly "Dining Dish" newsletter that provides healthy dining, exercise, and lifestyle tips for students throughout the year.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
No

A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

Carnegie Mellon University's Green Practices Committee and the Steinbrenner Institute have created the "Campus Green Tour" that guides visitors through the campus's environmentally significant or sustainability-related sites. The tour includes, but is not limited to, LEED resident halls and academic buildings, green roofs, environmental research centers, the Recycling Education Center, and the central chiller plant.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

Carnegie Mellon University Parking & Transportation Services offers "Transportation OPTIONS". The "Transportation OPTIONS" informs the Carnegie Mellon community about alternative methods of travel to campus. Information includes biking, busing, carpooling (zimride), zipcar, shuttle/escort service, van-pooling or walking.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Eco-Reps is a student group focused on encouraging the Carnegie Mellon community to live more sustainably on campus. Members are encouraged not only to participate in Eco-Reps events, but to create and plan events themselves. Eco-Reps are encouraged to be sustainability ambassadors for their residence halls and to plan programs for their dorm-mates. Activities for 2012 included:

Zero Waste Monitoring at the Ceilidh Chili Cook Off and Tailgate Party, Wiegand Gymnasium Zero Waste Composting Training,
Canvas Bag Giveaways,
"Unplug Your Cell Phone Charger" Campaign,
Plastic Bag Reuse/Recycle Program.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper (either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat)?:
No

A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

Routinely, Energy and the Environment stories appear on the Carnegie Mellon website homepage. These stories are archived in a section titled, "Transitioning to a Sustainable Society".


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
No

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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
No

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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.