Lehigh University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The Lehigh Environmental Advisory Group (LEAG) was formed in 2008 by President Alice Gast to advise the university leadership on ways to improve sustainability on campus. LEAG changed it's name to Lehigh Sustainability Council (LSC) in 2017 With the signing of Lehigh’s Climate Commitment in 2009, LSC took the lead on articulating the goals. LSC advocated for sustainability staff and in 2010, Lehigh hired it's first sustainability staff person. In partnership with the Office of Sustainability, LSC has worked with many groups and offices on campus to support the implementation of single-stream recycling; recycling of used engine oil, antifreeze and vehicle tires; the compilation of a Greenhouse Gas inventory; the use of recycled papers and soy-based inks; and increasing the number of "green" office supply purchases. Other initiatives include the creation of the Lehigh Community Garden at the Goodman campus, and the creation of the Sustainable Initiative Grant, which provides small grants to students, faculty and staff to fund sustainability projects. Website URL: https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/LSC

Alec Bodzin, Environmental Initiative Representative (faculty) Alex Radus, Office of the General Counsel Representative (staff) Alyssa Milrod, Undergraduate Student Representative (student) Andrew Januszak, Library Technology Services Representative (staff) Audrey McSain, Ad-Hoc Office of Sustainability Representative (staff) Barbara Malt, College of Arts and Sciences Representative (faculty) Benjamin Davis, Graduate Student Representative (student) Bill Hunter, Office of International Affairs Representative (staff) Brent Stringellow, Facilities Services Campus Planning Consulting Member (staff) Doug Spengel, Facilities Services Representative (staff) Dr. Rudy Shankar, At Large Faculty/Energy Systems Institute (faculty) Erin Karahuta, Research Integrity Office (staff) Esther Linstrom, College of Education Representative (faculty) Jason Gall, Athletic Facilities and Events Representative (staff) Jessica DeSantis-Berg, Admissions (staff) John Fox, College of Engineering and Applied Science Representative (faculty) Karen Pooley, Co-Chair, At Large Staff (faculty) Kate Cassidy, Communication/Consulting Member (staff) Katharine Targett Gross, Co-Chair (staff) Lawrence ‘Ozzie” Breiner, Student Auxiliary Services (staff) Mark Ironside, Co-Chair/Consulting member (staff) Miki Sankary, Development and Alumni Relations (staff) Nicole McCallum, Graduate Student Representative (student) Patricia A. Johnson, Senior Officer Representative/Consulting Member (staff) Shamell Brandon, Student Affairs Representative (staff) Wasti Kahn, Undergraduate Student Representative (student)

Lehigh University is focused on advancing the intellectual footprint of the university while treading lightly environmentally and advocating equitably. With a distinctive position to make significant contributions in social equity environmental stewardship and economic prosperity, Lehigh's Office of Sustainability is committed to integrating sustainability throughout the university. The Office of Sustainability was created to centralize sustainability initiatives and reduce Lehigh's environmental footprint. The Office of Sustainability encourages and facilitates sustainability efforts of students, faculty, and staff and initiates programs that contribute to a sustainable Lehigh. Website URL: https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/

Lehigh established an environmental advisory committee in 2008. Since then, a Sustainability Office was started and two full time staff were hired. Sustainability efforts have occurred on this campus for decades, but have solidified more recently. Initiatives include President Gast's Climate Commitment, the formation of the Environmental Initiative and a presidential advisory group - the Lehigh Environmental Advisory Group (LEAG) -- as well as the university's Strategic Plan, which includes a focus on addressing issues related to energy, environment and infrastructure. In Spring 2011, a series of workshops were hosted by the university's first Sustainability Coordinator and the Lehigh Environmental Advisory Group (LEAG), which asked participants to envision a sustainable campus, share current practices, define sustainability metrics and create ambitious and measurable goals for the campus. In Spring 2012, Lehigh University adopted its first Campus Sustainability Plan. In May 2016, Lehigh adopted its Campus Sustainability Plan 2020 to advance the integration of environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic responsibility into our intellectual footprint. Below you will find additional achievements over the years: 2018 Installation of an electric vehicle charging station (with two ports) on level one of the Alumni Memorial parking garage Established partnership with LANTA on a joint agreement so that Lehigh students, faculty and staff can ride on LANTA buses for free Installation of 27 sets of Big Belly solar compacting trash and recycling bins throughout campus Sixth year participation in Recyclemania 2017 Campus Sustainability Plan 2020 released and officially communicated to campus Transportation & Parking Services acquired an electric vehicle for parking enforcement and an electric bus Completed Comprehensive Waste Management Plan for campus President Simon signed the Real Food Campus Commitment Fifth year participation in RecycleMania 2016 Campus Sustainability Plan 2020 adopted Rathbone achieved Green Restaurant Certification Eco-Rep program expanded with specific coordinator roles Sustainability Program Manager hired Fourth year participation in RecycleMania 2015 Achieved 10% Real Food (local, ecological, fairtrade, humane) Lehigh partnered with the community on planting fruit trees along the Greenway and launched the Ambassadors program Themed semesters were adopted in the Eco-Reps Program Third year participation in RecycleMania 2014 First water bottle refilling stations installed on campus: Taylor Gym, University Center, Rauch Business Center, E.W. Fairchild-Martindale Library Joined Pennsylvania Collegiate Green Sports Consortium Alumni Memorial Building received 8 new waste stations Second year participation in RecycleMania 2013 Sustainability Plan Progress Report Published First Game Day Challenge held on October 19th Sustainability Program Coordinator hired First RecycleMania competition participation 2012 1st Campus Sustainability Plan adopted 2011 Alpha Phi composter installed Campus Master Plan with Sustainable Design standards specifically mentioned Sustainability Plan workshops throughout the university 2010 Green Fund formed Sigma Epsilon composter installed Lehigh Community Garden started Eco-Rep Program started Sustainability requirement added to Greek accreditation Green Purchasing Guidelines created Sustainability Coordinator hired LVAIC Director of Sustainability Initiatives hired 2009 Climate Commitment signed Recycling converted to Single Stream Recycling Strategic Plan written which acknowledges Community Engagement, Energy, Infrastructure and the Environment as areas of particular interest 2008 LEAG formed 2007 Green House, a sustainability-themed student residential community, started