| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.98 |
| Liaison | Michael Amadori |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.25 / 4.00 |
Michael
Amadori Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Published Plans That Address Sustainability
Strategic Plan
Yes
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The most recent strategic plan, HWS 2015, has explicit language about sustainability as it relates to the built environment and its role in assisting the educational mission of the institution by creating a living laboratory where theory is applied in physical plant projects. Attention to 'community' and 'inclusive excellence' are also central to HWS 2015.
Key sustainability-focused recommendation from HWS 2015:
"One of the Colleges' greatest assets is its natural and built environment. Maintaining and improving that environment's accessibility, sustainability and flexibility is critical to HWS 2015. Capital projects, whether for new construction or renovation, must follow HWS sustainability practices, giving appropriate attention to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and best practices. They must also be energy efficient and funded to ensure appropriate maintenance. Likewise, technology, including pervasive wireless capabilities and one-card access to services and facilities, is essential as students, faculty and staff extend the boundaries of teaching and learning. By eliminating barriers to the physical campus, increasing resources to better provide for nontraditional learning needs, meeting the requirements of the Colleges Climate Action Plan, and building and maintaining the campus with an eye toward flexibility, we can continue to lay a solid capital and technology foundation for future generations of the HWS community."
A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Sustainability Plan
No
A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Climate Action Plan
Yes
A copy of the climate action plan:
The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Other Published Plans
Yes
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Buildings & Grounds: http://www.hws.edu/about/pdfs/sustainable-purchasing.pdf
Strategic Diversity Plan https://www.hws.edu/about/pdfs/strategic-diversity-plan.pdf
Measurable Sustainability Objectives
Curriculum
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Research
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Campus Engagement
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Public Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From our HWS 2015 Campus Strategic Plan:
Expand the Geneva Partnership by implementing a wide range of mutually beneficial initiatives with substantive results for students and community. This will form a deeper relationship with the City of Geneva so that we can improve life for all who live, work and study in the region.
From Strategic Diversity Plan:
Create a Community Employment Task Force using the Geneva 2020 framework to bring all appropriate community resources and stakeholders together to address and reduce the barriers local residents face to full employment.
Work with Geneva Workforce Development to identify skills gaps for economically vulnerable populations and develop regular bilingual training programs/workshops to address the gaps.
Review hiring practices at HWS to ensure local economically vulnerable populations have sufficient access to jobs at HWS.
Air & Climate
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Climate Action Plan:
30% reduction in total Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions of 2007 baseline by 2015
60% reduction in total Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions of 2007 baseline by 2020
100% reduction in total Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions of 2007 baseline by 2025
Buildings
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Campus Master Plan:
Campus planning will promote sustainable facilities that connect people with the environment and reflect the HWS commitment to individual behaviors that encourage sustainable practices. Where possible adaptive reuse of current facilities will be considered, and new facilities will be designed with sustainable practices guiding both the creation of the facility and long-term energy efficiency.
- Be mindful of the solar orientation of buildings
- Incorporate green roofs, where possible
- Optimize energy conservation and efficiency
- Reuse existing buildings
From Climate Action Plan
- All new construction and major renovations will meet USGBC LEED requirements
- Require all construction and renovation projects to undergo an emission reduction analysis for electricity and give emission reduction projects priority
Energy
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Climate Action Plan:
Mechanisms to reduce emissions from electricity and natural gas fall under the following four categories: 1) execute the Energy and Climate Committee’s mission and project scope, 2) set building reduction goals, 3) develop a system to target and monitor campus wide emission reductions from heat, and 4) establish a Renewable Energy Credit Purchasing Policy.
Example objectives:
- execute emission reduction efforts with a payback of 1 year or less
- track emission reduction efforts, efforts determined to have too long of a payback, and efforts in the pipeline
- establish an achievable, measurable, and identifiable efficiency goal for each building and its occupants
- upgrade energy management system
- execution of multiple energy audits
- HVAC energy study (economizing and heat recovery)
- Sub-metering of the top two electricity consuming buildings and tracking data to monitor efficiency
- replacement of 90% of lights with high efficiency light bulbs
- installation of light sensors in most classrooms and many offices
- creation of an air conditioning policy of 74-78 degrees
- installation of variable speed drives
- execution of kitchen inventory and appliance monitoring
- building scheduling and set-backs
- quarterly campus energy inspections
Food & Dining
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Grounds
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Climate Action Plan:
Section 6 of the CAP has a number of grounds and landscaping objectives. The Colleges’ strategy to decrease emissions from agriculture focuses on 1) reducing the need for synthetic and emission intensive fertilizers; 2) transitioning to low greenhouse gas emitting organic fertilizers; and 3) offsetting emissions with careful grounds planning.
Example objectives:
- Reduce the need for soil additives by using plant species native to the region.
- Replace, whenever possible, high emitting and synthetically based soil treatments with organic and low emitting treatments.
- Design a tree planting policy, built off of the Colleges one for two replacement policy that firms up the existing one for two program and extends to insure all existing trees with the intent of claiming bio-based offsets.
Purchasing
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Transportation
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Climate Action Plan:
The Colleges’ strategy to decrease emissions from transportation focus on 1) institutionalizing and centralizing an effective emissions tracking system; 2) creating a transportation working group to develop a long-term transportation plan; 3) immediately revamping current programs to maximize efficiency; and 4) growing the scope of emissions from transportation that HWS includes in GHG Inventories.
From the Campus Master Plan:
The campus master plan set out to make a more pedestrian-friendly campus through:
- Create a pedestrian and bicycle friendly campus
- Implement transportation demand management strategies to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips
- Organize the campus to minimize driving
- Provide infrastructure to support multiple transportation modes
Waste
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Climate Action Plan:
The Colleges’ strategy to decrease emissions from solid waste focus on 1) better identifying and communicating the emissions related to waste; 2) minimizing waste; 3) diverting waste from the landfill; 4) decreasing hauls.
Water
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Climate Action Plan:
- Create rain gardens designed to filter stormwater runoff-
- Include water management and run-off mitigation best practices in campus landscaping decisions
From the Facilities Sustainable Purchasing and Practices Plan:
- Utilize auto shut-off irrigation and proper irrigation scheduling techniques
- Plant drought tolerant trees and plants
- All major building renovations and new construction at HWS utilize water efficient fixtures, including low flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads
Diversity & Affordability
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Strategic Diversity Plan:
Five focal areas are included in the Strategic Diversity Plan - 1) teaching and learning, 2) recruitment and retention, 3) space, 4) student relations, and 5) community development.
Example objectives:
- Establish a peer mentor program to support incoming first years. This program could assist in connecting first years to the wider campus and serve as a way to further build community within the first year class. (Teaching and Learning)
- Adopt an affirmative action plan for hiring to better provide equal employment opportunities. (Recruitment and Retention)
- Monitor tenure success rates and turnover rates for faculty by gender, race and ethnicity and take appropriate steps for improvement where needed. (Recruitment and Retention)
- Create Small Social Spaces throughout Campus that are open 24-hours a day. (Space)
- Continue to utilize a Common Read to generate intergroup dialogues around issues of diversity and inclusion. (Student Relations)
- Work with Geneva Workforce Development to identify skills gaps for economically vulnerable populations and develop regular bilingual training programs/workshops to address the gaps. (Community Development)
- Develop a supplier diversity policy for HWS which would promote the use of women, minority and/or LGBT owned businesses. (Community Development)
Investment & Finance
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Wellbeing & Work
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Other Impact Areas
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Optional Fields
No
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | No |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | No |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | No |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | Yes |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | No |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
HWS has committed to be Climate Neutral by 2025 (Second Nature's Carbon Commitment)
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The Climate Action Plan goes beyond GHG reduction and elimination and has taken form as a strategic plan for sustainability.
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.