Florida International University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Higher education is in the midst of a profound transformation. Every facet of education – what is delivered, how it is delivered, to whom and at what cost – is under scrutiny and impacting change within and throughout every university. This has opened up unprecedented opportunities for universities to rethink how best to educate the next generation of thought leaders. Florida International University (FIU) recognizes the opportunity this paradigm shift presents. With a forward- facing approach, we will continually assess our environment and make adjustments, strengthening our foundation and upholding our mission and sacred obligation to our students, faculty, staff and community. This obligation is based on our certainty that we provide hope and opportunity to thousands of hard-working students and their families who know that a university education can make a clear difference in the quality of their lives. The fragile South Florida ecosystem is a major national point of research, study and concern. FIU enjoys unique opportunities to leverage our tropical location for learning and research that focuses on environmental issues. With the Florida Everglades in our backyard, FIU scientists at the Southeast Environmental Research Center have been at the forefront of Florida Everglades research for more than two decades and have made great strides to restore and build resiliency for this vital ecosystem. Additionally, our academic centers include the International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong (the only garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden outside Hawaii) in Coconut Grove, the Aquarius Reef Base in the Florida Keys, the Wall of Wind at the Engineering Center and the Batchelor Environmental Center (in collaboration with the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science) at BBC. These initiatives will play an important role moving forward in the development of our preeminent programs and in helping our community enhance community sustainability.

Campus Master Plan 2010-2020 http://facilities.fiu.edu/planning/masterplans_2010-2020.htm http://facilities.fiu.edu/planning/MasterPlanOutlines/CMP_Update_10_20_TOC.htm

FIU Beyond Possible 2020 Strategic Plan: As a graduation requirement, the program aims for every graduating student from he university to have taken a minimum of 6 credits from the Global Learning list of courses. Since the initiative’s launch in 2010, over 35,000 students have taken FIU’s signature global learning courses and participated in a vast array of co-curricular global learning activities. Every one of these learning experiences are specifically designed to build our students’: Global Perspective: Ability to conduct a multi-perspective analysis of local, global, international, and intercultural problems. Global Awareness: Knowledge of the interconnectedness of local, global, international, and intercultural issues, trends, and systems Global Engagement: Willingness to engage in local, global, international, and intercultural problem solving.

FIU's Climate Action Plan lays out different scenarios to reduce carbon emissions from a 2007 baseline. The Climate Action Plan will look at three different emissions reduction scenarios. The first scenario represents aggressive reductions, which will place FIU at 25% below 2007 levels by 2030. The second scenario represents moderate reductions that will place FIU at 20% below 2007 levels by 2030. Finally, the third scenario represents baseline reductions that will place FIU at 15% below 2007 levels by 2030. The “business as usual” track is outlined in the executive summary to compare to the different reduction scenarios. 2020 is another benchmark year to make sure FIU is on track to meet the goals set. There should be a 10% reduction in emissions by 2020 in all three scenarios. A greenhouse gas inventory will be updated as needed and reported a minimum of every two years. FIU has an interim goal of a 10% reduction below 2007 levels by 2020. They can be found in the report http://gogreen.fiu.edu/_assets/documents/climate/FIU-Climate-Action-Plan-2009.pdf http://reporting.secondnature.org/institution/detail!864##864

Campus Master Plan 2010-2020: ELEMENT 15.2 SUSTAINABLE DESIGN GUIDELINES It is the intent of these guidelines to establish that FIU’s expectations is to build in an environmentally responsible manner which is sensitive to geography, sensitive to energy and resource consumption as well as supporting regional resources and strong local relationships. These guidelines are aimed to establish direction for a successful outcome of new Buildings. All buildings at FIU campuses will be required to follow the USGBC guidelines for a minimum LEED level of Silver certification. The criteria outline by the USGBC score card should be utilized and monitored at every phase of project. All buildings must also meet basic Energy Star criteria and must comply with all the FIU building standards regarding Master plan infrastructure strategies and overall sustainable Campus practices. The FIU sustainable office must review and comment during all phases of the project to Assure campus wide best practices are being taken into account. stars.aashe.org Florida International University | STARS Report | 193 All new buildings must meet all FIU building standard criteria that refers to hurricane preparedness assuring all building systems, envelop and infrastructure strategies are not in conflict or will enhance sustainable criteria, such as with storm water management, and overall water collection systems, day lighting, power redundancies, envelop materials and design. The following drivers should be taken into consideration: - Set goals and benchmarks for each building aligned with budget. Conduct site survey and evaluation of existing conditions - Analyze various methods of meeting goals and benchmarks and use results to make decisions. This analysis should be repeated during all phases to further refine and validate decisions. Expected outcome must be reviewed and monitored during construction. - This outcome should be measured to determine success and establish benchmarks or lessons learned for future projects. http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Planning/MasterPlans/MasterPlans10_20/CMP_Update_Docs_10_20 /CMP_Update_Chapters_10_20/Element_15_Architectural_Design_Guidelines.pdf The measurable

FIU is committed to reducing energy consumption per the Florida HB 5201 Section 30. For the last seven years, FIU has ranked #1 in Energy Efficiency among the Florida State University System. To continue improving energy efficiency FIU is committed to: 1) Finish chilled water and electrical metering on all buildings 2) Expand chilled water loop as campuses grow and continue automation of the central chiller plants 3) Increase operational efficiency of chiller plants & chilled water loop by utilizing computer-controlled chiller sequence operation 4) Transition to LED Lighting where appropriate & feasible (Streets, Walkways, Garages, etc.) 5) Work side-by-side with the Sustainability office to maximize “green” goals and increase our current Silver rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System (STARS) program by implementing energy initiatives that directly impact sustainability performance 6) Research ... Benchmark ... Listen ... Learn ... Advance http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Energy_Docs/FY12-13%20FIU-SUS%20Energy%20Performance%20Pres entation%2001-27-14.pdf

Aramark focuses on 4 key areas to reduce environmental impact: RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING The call for locally sourced food and goods that have been responsibly produced has become stronger over the last decade. Aramark's purchasing choices influence our health, our environment and even our local and global economies. That’s why responsible purchasing is a priority for Aramark. Aramark has taken important steps to make sure purchases are made in a responsible and ethical way, including: Providing a wide spectrum of responsibly sourced food products, such as sustainably sourced seafood, humanely raised proteins and fair-trade, certified coffee Adopting animal welfare principles and purchasing commitments that address a broad spectrum of issues impacting the treatment of animals for egg, pork, veal, beef, poultry and dairy products served across our operations. Offering clients and customers fresh, safe, whole foods that are raised, grown, and harvested in a sustainable manner, whenever possible Sourcing products locally, supporting local farmers and fisheries while reducing transportation fuel and emissions Using environmentally preferable products, like reusable or compostable to-go containers WASTE MINIMIZATION Waste minimization extends to every stage of Aramark's operations—from what is purchased to what is served. If not managed properly, waste adds up, and can have a long-term impact on the environment. That’s why environmentally responsible waste management practices—reducing, reusing, recycling and composting—are standard procedure at thousands of our locations every day. Aramark's focus on waste minimization reduces our environmental impact and decreases the overall cost of waste disposal. Whether it’s efficient planning for exactly the right amount of food to purchase or recycling and composting waste, Aramark minimizes the environmental footprint and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability. Multiplied across all our locations, the potential impact is enormous: Over the course of a year, just one large convention center can recycle more than 170 tons of cardboard, 2,400 pounds of aluminum cans, 3,300 gallons of kitchen oil, 180 tons of mixed paper, plastic and glass, 12 tons of scrap metal, and as many as 8,000 wood shipping pallets. EFFICIENT OPERATIONS Efficient operations go well beyond conservation at Aramark. They cover an array of practices that range from efficient building design to water-and energy-saving practices to low-impact green and even “blue” cleaning. Aramark's water-saving programs include the design and implementation of conservation plans and installation of water-saving hardware and fittings like low-flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures. And in our uniform business, the laundering process we use is even more efficient than home laundering – which uses 3 gallons of water per pound of home laundry versus 1.3 to 1.4 gallons of water per pound of laundry through our commercial service. As for energy conservation, Aramark works hard to promote efficiency in buildings, while lending our skills and expertise to clients to help them manage energy use in their facilities. Not only that, but with Aramark's environmentally friendly program Blue Cleaning™, electrically activated or ionized tap water is used to safely clean or sanitize surfaces as well as hard floors and carpets without the use of harmful chemicals. FLEET MANAGEMENT Every day, we count on over 8,000 vehicles to deliver excellent and safe service. Our fleet transports the food we serve, the uniforms we launder and the supplies we need in our facilities. Given the size of our fleet and the distances covered on a day-to-day basis, we’re going the extra mile in minimizing emissions and maximizing efficiency. We work directly with manufacturers to provide input on the design of our service fleet vehicles for increased efficiency and longevity. We also monitor our vehicles’ performance through advanced maintenance diagnostics, allowing our fleet operators to significantly lessen fuel consumption. Additionally, in partnership with federal, state and local governments, we explore opportunities with high-efficiency, alternate-fueled vehicles and incorporate them into our fleet. And through our route-optimization program, our uniforms fleet reduces miles, fuel and emissions using GPS devices and state-of-the-art routing software to map out the most efficient travel routes. http://www.aramark.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/environmental-sustainability

Campus Master Plan 2010-2020: The following are objectives of the Landscape Design Guidelines Element that address sustainability: Objective 1.5 Develop a hierarchy of landscape treatment for Campus Streets Objective 1.7 Plant materials shall further inform the five underlying goals of incorporating research and teaching opportunities, improving walkability, enhancing Art, incorporate sustainable strategies and increase the amount and quality of student spaces while eliminating use of invasive exotic species and those which necessitate excessive maintenance. Objective 1.10 Retention/Stormwater Elements: Adopt standards for landscape edge treatments surrounding ponds, lakes and storm water features.

Campus Master Plan 2010-2020: TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT 11.0 (1) REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSIT, TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND PARKING SUB- ELEMENT: GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES Goal 1.1 Transit: Florida International University shall continue to develop, operate, and maintain a safe and efficient multi-modal circulation system that provides ease of mobility; leading to decreases in number of single occupant vehicles (SOV); reduction in fuel consumption and dependence on foreign oil, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy conservation and protecting the natural environment. Objective 1.1.1 Transit: The University shall allocate funds for capital expansion and improvements of multi-modal systems that relieve on-campus traffic congestion and reduce the demand for additional parking. Coordinate with Miami- Dade Transit (MDT) and local/host communities to determine the best and highest use for the transit proposed to serve the campus properties. http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Planning/MasterPlans/MasterPlans10_20/CMP_Update_Docs_10_20/CMP_Update_Chapters_10_20/Element_11_Transportation.pdf

Campus Master Plan 2010-2020: ELEMENT 13.0 CONSERVATION Objective 2.3 Improve Solid Waste Recycling and Resource Conservation: Establish measures that expand solid waste recycling. Policy 2.3.1 Maintain and expand the general recycling program for paper, aluminum, glass, etc. Increase recycling goals for proportions of materials recycled established. Monitor compliance with the program on a regular basis. Coordinate with the Environmental Studies Program/ Policy 2.3.2 Review State, regional and local standards for waste management annually. Solid waste management on all campuses shall be in compliance with state, regional and local standards. Policy 2.3.3 Single stream recycling bins shall be made available in all buildings, courtyards, in open space areas, etc. on both campuses. This program should be made compulsory on a university-wide basis. Policy 2.3.4 Expand recycling collection to include compostable materials. Policy 2.3.5 Purchase and promote the use of recycled and reusable food and beverage containers by students patronizing campus dining facilities. http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Planning/MasterPlans/MasterPlans10_20/CMP_Update_Docs_10_20/CMP_Update_Chapters_10_20/Element_13_Conservation.pdf

Campus Master Plan 2010-2020: ELEMENT 15.0 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN Building Performance and Hardening The guidelines encourage a minimum of 25% reduction of energy consumptions based on ASHRAE standards as well as a maximization of water re-use strategies on site. http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Planning/MasterPlans/MasterPlans10_20/CMP_Update_Docs_10_20/CMP_Update_Chapters_10_20/Element_15_Architectural_Design_Guidelines.pdf ELEMENT 13.0 CONSERVATION Objective 2.2 Maximize Water Conservation: Establish measures that reduce water utilization. Policy 2.2.1 Conserve water and reduce chemical use through the use of xeriscape design principles, which include but are not limited to: - Use of drought tolerant and native plant materials; - Use of low volume delivery fixtures; - Zoned irrigation systems; - Moisture sensors and rain switches; - Use of drought tolerant ground cover; - Use of canopy trees; and - Use of soil amendments and mulch to enable soils to retain moisture. Policy 2.2.2 Retrofit existing campus buildings with water-saving devices. Require that water-efficient (high efficient) fixtures and other water-saving devices be installed in all future buildings and adhere to Miami-Dade County Water Efficiency Standards in Section 8-31 of the Miami-Dade County Code, and Chapter 6, Section 604.4 of the Florida Building Code Policy 2.2.3 Reduce the use of potable water for landscape irrigation by expanding the use of harvested greywater. All irrigation must comply with the Miami-Dade County's permanent landscape irrigation restrictions in Section 32-8.2 of the Miami-Dade County Code Policy 2.2.4 Promote Florida Friendly principles through the use of drought- tolerant landscape species, the use of irrigation systems that conserve the use of potable and non-potable water supplies, and restrictions on the amount of lawn areas. Policy 2.2.5 Decorative fountains consuming large quantities of potable water should be discouraged. Natural water features such as raingardens and retentions ponds should be used to promote conservation and best practices for stormwater management. http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Planning/MasterPlans/MasterPlans10_20/CMP_Update_Docs_10_20/CMP_Update_Chapters_10_20/Element_13_Conservation.pdf

The FIU Strategic Plan’s name, FIUBeyondPossible2020, reflects the fact that these are precedent-setting goals. We plan to be the first public, majority-minority research institution to achieve these goals. Success will require a collective will to move beyond the familiar. It will take broad-based and continuous support from our internal and external communities. It will force us to step collectively outside our comfort zone to address new challenges.

We Are Still In Open Letter - support of the Paris Climate Agreement