Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.99
Liaison Deborah Steinberg
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Carnegie Mellon University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Barbara Kviz
Environmental Coordinator
Facilities Management Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
Yes or No
A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts Yes
A sustainability newsletter Yes
Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability Yes
A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability Yes
Building signage that highlights green building features Yes
Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems Yes
Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed No
A sustainability walking map or tour Yes
A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation Yes
Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians Yes
A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience Yes
Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat No
Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website:

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:
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:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:

Students use Facebook and a weebly website to share environmental sustainability information.
http://cmusustainability.weebly.com/


The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
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:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

Each building that is LEED rated have USGBC plaques mounted in a prominent locations.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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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:
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:
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

A google map shows where bike racks are located, how many, and if under cover.

Bicycle/Wheeled Transportation Policy
Policy Statement
The purpose of this policy is to provide regulations for a safe and convenient environment for bicycles and other wheeled transportation permitted on campus walkways (e.g., skateboards, in-line skates and motorized carts), while at the same time providing for the safety of all members of the campus community. These regulations do not apply to transportation for persons with disabilities (e.g., wheelchairs).

http://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/theword/comm_standards/bicycle.html


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Carnegie Mellon’s Sustainability House is an experiential learning experience dedicated to sustainability and environmentally conscious living. Capitalizing on students’ concerns and passion for the health of our world, this housing community allows students to connect with their peers who share similar interests, as well as academic and personal goals. Sustainability House works in collaboration with student organizations and other campus and community environmental resources to enhance peer-to-peer learning about sustainability.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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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A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):

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 (1st material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (2nd material):

The Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation is a university-wide research initiative at CMU focused on improving energy efficiency and developing new, clean, affordable and sustainable energy sources. On their website they offer several resources and publications.


The website URL for this material (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (3rd material):

Briefing Book
The Office of Government Relations publishes a university-wide research briefing book.


The website URL for this material (3rd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
No

A brief description of this material (4th material):
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The website URL for this material (4th material):
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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 (5th material):
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The website URL for this material (5th 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 (6th material):
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The website URL for this material (6th 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 (7th material):
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The website URL for this material (7th 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 (8th material):
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The website URL for this material (8th material):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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