| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.50 |
| Liaison | Jennifer Goree |
| Submission Date | June 17, 2024 |
Clemson University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.50 / 4.00 |
Jennifer
Goree Director of Healthy Campus Chair, Sustainability Commission |
Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives
Academics
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Clemson currently:
Offers an undergraduate interdisciplinary sustainability minor with more than 60 classes available.
Collects small-scale sustainability literacy data.
Offers sustainability-focused graduate programs, such as:
Planning, design and the built environment.
Environmental health physics.
Engaging the Public in Issues of Climate Change.
Offers sustainability-centered study abroad programs, such as the Trier, Germany Sustainable Energy and the Environment program and the Sustainable Cities of Scandinavia in Kalmar, Sweden.
Action Items:
Clemson will make progress by:
Expanding the opportunities in the sustainability minor.
Including sustainability as a focus in the new general education curriculum that involves the “Challenges” requirement.
Creating a formal network for faculty who incorporate sustainability into their course.
Providing incentives that encourage faculty to revise courses to include sustainability.
Sustainability Action Plan | Clemson University, South Carolina
Engagement
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Clemson currently:
Educates students on campus about how to live in an environmentally conscious way with the EcoReps program.
Provides 100% of employees with sustainability orientation.
Offers a sustainability newsletter and green-living guide.
Provides a vibrant community of sustainability-related organizations, such as Solid Green, Tigers for Green Innovation, the Food Collective, Clemson Vegan Club, It’s On Us and Clemson UNICEF.
Action Items:
Clemson will make progress by:
Providing sustainability education to all new students about how to live sustainably on campus.
Creating a guide and trainings for how student organizations can host sustainable events.
Creating a “Clemson Sustainability Fellows” program to encourage faculty mentorship of young environmentalists.
Creating a “Scope III” team of students dedicated to bringing down the University’s Scope III emissions.
Establishing clear avenues for sustainable fundraising (a focal point for donors).
Sustainability Action Plan | Clemson University, South Carolina
Sustainability Action Plan | Clemson University, South Carolina
Operations
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Air & Climate
Clemson has:
Achieved a 35% reduction in emissions/user between the years of 2006 and 2018.
Created the Kite Hill natural gas plant to produce steam with significantly reduced site emissions.
Been a coal-free campus for more than 10 years.
Action Items :
Clemson will make progress by:
Recommitting to and publicizing the goal to be “net-zero” by 2030.
Creating a subcommittee of the Clemson University Sustainability Commission comprised of faculty advisors to oversee undergraduate applications/uses of the Sustainable Energy Fund.
Forming a group of students/faculty/staff to focus on encouraging behaviors that will lower Scope III emissions.
Implementing carbon capture technology on campus through student/faculty research.
Energy
Clemson has already:
- Achieved the goal of reducing energy consumption by 20% from the year 2000 to the year 2020.
Set a goal to increase energy sourcing from renewables by 10% by the year 2025.
Executed a large-scale solar canopy project in the R6 parking lot, which will provide clean energy to campus and vehicle-charging stations in R6.
Clemson will make progress by:
Creating an energy incentive program for departmental spending.
This would encourage departments to adopt energy-saving habits by allowing them to spend less on energy when they use less energy.
Coordinating renewable energy grant writing and energy-specific donations to fund renewable energy projects.
Reducing the need for on-campus natural gas use.
Pursuing more opportunities for energy sourcing from solar projects.
Grounds
Clemson currently:
Only uses compostable trays at Schilleter and McAlister dining halls.
Uses the OZZI system to eliminate single-use take out containers.
Runs a front of house (FOH) organics collection system.
Recycles 100% of cooking oil into biofuels.
Offers vegan dining.
Uses labeling and signage to educate students on sustainable dining.
Operates with a trayless dining system.
Participates in food donation programs.
Composts waste food.
Clemson will make progress by:
Regularly setting and evaluating goals for purchasing of conventional animal products.
This could include developing a student internship focused on minimizing food waste and increasing local and plant-based purchasing.
Developing vegetarian/vegan/sustainable menu options for all catered events.
Relaunching the Meatless Monday campaign.
Purchasing
Clemson currently:
Has a Sustainable Procurement Policy that establishes preference for sustainable products.
Purchases janitorial paper products that are GreenSeal and US EPA Safer Choice almost solely (96%).
Clemson will make progress by:
Identifying and highlighting sustainable alternatives in buyWays (Clemson’s eProcurement system) so that it is clear which products are preferred.
Developing a training and education program to instill sustainable purchasing behaviors in departments.
Developing university-wide purchasing requirements that:
Prohibit Styrofoam, with exceptions where necessary.
Establish a maximum level of non-recyclable shipping material, with exceptions where necessary.
Make steps to becoming a paperless school (ex. encourage online assignment submissions/syllabi, etc.).
Require that electronics expenditures are all EPEAT gold certified.
Transportation
Clemson currently:
Runs the CATbus and Tiger Transit systems to transport students and faculty.
Produces biodiesel on campus for use in the Clemson fleet (pilot scale).
Provides six electric vehicle charging stations.
Runs the Clemson Carshare Club reduce the number of cars brought to campus.
This involves offering a Zipcar subscription for low-cost transportation.
Incentivizes carpooling.
There is no cost for a carpool group of three or more people.
Carpooling parking spots are in preferable locations.
Clemson will make progress by:
Adding charging stations and electric bike share to the R-6 lot.
Promoting the “Park-N-Ride” system to create a pedestrian campus and shorten commutes.
Further incentivizing public transit through a reward system based on rider history.
Reaching out to faculty that live in nearby zip codes and offering incentives to commute sustainably.
Transitioning TigerTransit busses from diesel to electric.
Promoting telecommuting and virtual conferences/meetings to reduce commuting when appropriate.
Pursuing a research partnership to implement autonomous/electric transit system.
Waste
Clemson currently:
Composts food scraps and recycle oil in dining halls (back-of-house).
Runs an award-winning tailgate recycling program.
Offers move-out programs to promote donation.
Clemson will make progress by:
Improving communication of where recycling and composting is available to students on campus.
Eliminating use of Styrofoam and significantly reducing use of plastic on campus.
Maintaining a minimum 75% recycling rate for demolition and construction projects on campus.
Minimizing disposable item use through education and procurement to address the waste issue at the source.
Sustainability Action Plan | Clemson University, South Carolina
Administration
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
Optional Fields
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
In the 1987 Brundlant report, Our Common Future, sustainable development was defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs." In the decades since, the concept of sustainability has evolved. It has become more refined, nuanced and more urgent than ever. The need to address the climate crisis, social and environmental justice, and economic disparities while providing opportunities for growth and development has never been more complex and compelling. At Clemson, we understand the constraints of our planetary boundaries and strive to add to the local and global efforts to create resilient, safe operating space for societies to develop and thrive. True sustainability is proactive, urging us to do “more good instead of just less bad.”1 Our understanding of sustainability is apparent in the way we run our facilities, teach our students, carry out research and interact with our community. Sustainability is a value of the Clemson family and just another way that we are #AllIn.
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | --- |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | --- |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | --- |
| Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | --- |
| SDG Accord | --- |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | Yes |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | --- |
| UN Global Compact | --- |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
The third pillar of Clemson Elevate is to transform lives statewide and beyond through educational, economic, agricultural and heath outreach. Initiative 2's key actions are as follows:
- Improve sustainability and quality of natural resources.
- Improve the quality of natural resources and the quality, quantity and safety of food to enhance the competitiveness of South Carolina food producers.
- Expand education and outreach programs to ensure a productive, safe, and healthy livestock and poultry industry.
Initiative 3's key actions are as follows:
- Apply our knowledge of social determinants of health and health disparities in partnerships with others to improve health outcomes, especially in rural areas.
Other commitments are as follows:
- As an institution, Clemson adopted a Sustainable Building Policy in 2004 and a Sustainable Energy Policy in 2008. Clemson had the first LEED-certified public building in South Carolina and has completed 22 LEED-certified projects.
- In 2007, then-President James F. Barker, along with 600 other presidents, signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment. This joined Clemson with a coalition of colleges and universities concerned about the impact of climate change.
- Clemson's first Sustainability Action Plan under the guidance of the Clemson University Sustainability Commission outlines the steps that need to be taken in order to meet our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.