| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.37 |
| Liaison | Olivia Herron |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2022 |
Miami University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Susan
Meikle University News writer and editor University Communications |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The Miami University Physical Facilities Utility Master Plan (UMP), updated in 2017 and extended through 2026, provides a plan for moving Miami’s Oxford campus off steam heating and cooling. With this plan, Miami will move closer to carbon neutrality, by moving to electric-based power and the ability to purchase renewable electricity off the grid.
Just 11 years ago nearly all of Miami’s Oxford campus buildings were heated by carbon-intensive steam. Today, fewer than under half of those buildings are heated by steam. By 2026, thanks to the UMP, Miami’s central steam plant will be converted to Heating Hot Water (HHW) and nearly all buildings on campus will heated and cooled by geothermal, HHW or eating HHW/Simultaneous Heat and Cooling.
These energy systems conversions have reduced energy use and energy costs, and increased energy efficiency.
In addition to moving to less carbon-intensive power, energy efficiency has increased: total energy use, kBtu/GSF from 2008 to 2019* decreased 39%, even though the total campus GSF increased by 25%. (*FY 2019 was the last fully on-campus year due to COVID-19).
Other outcomes:
• Cost savings: energy, chemicals, regulatory compliance costs.
• Saving water: 43% reduction (projected) in water use; millions of gallons saved/year.
• Productivity and safety increases.
• Customer satisfaction (i.e. individual room temperature control)
One notable project from 2019 was the conversion of the Goggin Ice Center from stram to Heating Hot Water. The new energy conversions recapture about 75% of the heat used from cooling the ice with a savings of $350,000 annually in utility costs from energy use and water reduction.
UMP Projects 1-3, Completed
• 2012-2016: Project 1 — Western Campus Geothermal Infrastructure, phase 1 & 2.
• 2013-2015: Project 2 — North Chiller Plant and East Quad infrastructure/renovations.
• 2018-2019: Project 3 — South Quad Heating Hot Water conversion, Goggin Ice Center, South Chiller Plant conversion and Thermal Energy Storage tank.
Next Steps: UMP Projects 4-7, 2020-2026
• 2020-2022: Project 4 — Central Quad HHW conversion phase 1, 2, 3.
• 2024: Project 5 — Expand Western Geothermal to all Western campus buildings.
• 2025: Project 6 — North Chiller conversion to Geothermal (new well field under Millett parking lot with 1200 geothermal wells planned ).
• 2026: Project 7 — Steam Plant conversion to HHW.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Energy
Water
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
A partnership between Miami University in Ohio and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma that started nearly 50 years ago has yielded record enrollment of tribe members and better graduation rates.
“The history of the Myaamia people is interwoven with the history of this institution,” Miami University President Gregory Crawford said. This year (2022), we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this important partnership. A partnership that is very sacred to Miami University and has shaped us all in exceptional ways.”
President Crawford highlighted a few of the milestones in that partnership, including the establishment of the Myaamia Heritage Award Program and the first Miami Tribe students enrolling at the university 30 years ago. May 2021 saw the 100th Myaamia graduate, and this fall saw the largest incoming class of Tribe students.
“The Miami Tribe and Miami University are forever connected,” President Crawford said. “The warmth of our partnership has promoted the advancement and development of the Myaamia Tribe and Miami University. Like tending a fire, the university and the Tribe have a joint responsibility to continuously maintain this relationship, respond to challenges that might arise, and nurture it for future growth.
The Myaamia Center, a Miami Tribe of Oklahoma initiative located within an academic setting on the Oxford campus, serves the needs of the Myaamia people, Miami University, and partner communities through research, education, and outreach that promote Myaamia language, culture, knowledge, and values.
The Myaamia Center has two main purposes:
To conduct in-depth research to assist tribal educational initiatives aimed at the preservation of language and culture. This research is used to create a wide range of educational models and materials for community language and cultural programs.
To expose undergraduate and graduate students at Miami University to tribal efforts in language and cultural revitalization. Student experiences are gained through a wide range of activities, including visits to Oklahoma, direct involvement in research initiatives, class visitations by Center staff, and access to Miami Tribe language and cultural resources.
On Oct. 11, 2022, more than 400 Miami Tribe citizens and campus community members gathered on Miami University’s Oxford campus for a Day of Reflection commemorating the 175th anniversary of the Miami Tribe’s removal from their homelands.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Diversity & Affordability
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Miami University grounds includes more than 1,000 acres of Natural Areas with more than 17 miles of trails, most of which are accessible from the main Oxford campus. Miami supports an annual Hike-a-Thon and Wildflower Walks in the spring.
Miami supports the Oxford Area Trails System, a community-wide project that aims to complete 12 miles of paved trails surrounding the city of Oxford and Miami campus, linking the local schools and parks to Miami's Natural areas, and to a planned multimodal transportation hub (future site of a planned Amtrak stop).
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Grounds
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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.