| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.61 |
| Liaison | Julie Cahillane |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Northwestern University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Stephanie
Folk Sustainability Communications Manager sustainNU |
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Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
| Yes or No | |
| A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts | Yes |
| A sustainability newsletter | Yes |
| Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability | Yes |
| A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability | Yes |
| Building signage that highlights green building features | Yes |
| Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed | No |
| A sustainability walking map or tour | Yes |
| A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation | Yes |
| Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians | Yes |
| A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience | Yes |
| Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat | No |
| Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above | Yes |
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A brief description of the central sustainability website:
The sustainNU website features a variety of content centered around sustainability at Northwestern, including information on our strategic initiatives, academic sustainability options, news and developments, and extracurricular opportunities. The main purpose of the website is to engage students and community members in Northwestern's sustainability efforts, and to show them ways they can get involved.
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The website URL for the central sustainability website:
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A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The sustainNU staff runs the sustainability monthly newsletter, which is sent to approximately 3,700 NU students, faculty, staff and community members. The newsletter includes tips for sustainable living, upcoming events, and updates on environmental developments on campus.
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The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:
sustainNU staff manages active Twitter and Facebook pages, which focus on environmental news and opportunities at Northwestern, in the Chicagoland area and beyond. The Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern manages Facebook and Twitter accounts that focus on curriculum and research related to sustainability.
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The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
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A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The monthly newsletter of the Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN) is centered around sustainability research and curriculum. It includes announcements of research positions and projects, pertinent accomplishments, and findings of Northwestern research teams, and funding opportunities for students and faculty. The ISEN website also features student sustainability research projects, including project summaries and reports.
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The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
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A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
All LEED Certified buildings prominently display USGBC plaques. Silverman Hall also includes a sustainability dashboard that highlights the green features of the building. Plans are in development to create a similar dashboard for the new Norris University Center, which will be constructed in 2018.
In the 2014-2015 school year, sustainNU decommissioned the escalator in the main library, which was a waste of energy when stairs and elevators were available nearby. Signs announcing this change and encouraging sustainable practices are now displayed in the library.
In addition, all office spaces seeking Green Office Certification displays signage reminding occupants of sustainable behaviors such as switching off the lights, unplugging appliances, and using electric hand dryers over paper towels. All residence halls feature similar signage.
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The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
All dining halls feature displays on the sustainability features of our dining services. Signs are set up that highlight local purchasing and support of local farms, and informational signs have also been created that explain the composting process that Northwestern Dining runs. We also highlight signage describing the Meatless Monday initiative and Northwestern Dining’s commitment to sustainability. Individual food options are marked as mindful, local, organic, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan.
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The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The University has a sustainability map online along with the main campus map. In addition, sustainability tours are available to student groups, classes, and others upon request. A sustainability tour will also be included in the 2017 reunion activities for alumni.
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The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
The Northwestern University Services site has assembled information for commuters on forms of transportation available to them, as well as created two brochures on alternate transportation methods-- both for the Evanston and Chicago campuses. In addition, the sustainNU website has information on sustainable travel options.
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The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
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A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The sustainNU website includes a page dedicated to bicycle commuting and has maps developed in partnership with the City of Evanston and the City of Chicago that illustrate routes and parking.
http://www.northwestern.edu/sustainability/take-action/travel-sustainably/resources-for-biking.html
Information on cycling is also available from the Office of Transportation and Parking.
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The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The sustainNU team a guide for living sustainably, which is available online for anyone to access. The guide provides tips and tricks for students and any member of the University community to live sustainably, including information on using energy efficiently, conserving water, eating more sustainably, and making environmentally responsible purchasing decisions.
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The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
None
A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
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A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):
In Our Nature magazine is Northwestern’s first environmental publication. Run entirely online, the magazine aims to make environmental issues interesting and accessible to the Northwestern community by reporting in ways that are engaging and entertaining. The magazine runs video, print, audio, interactive and photo content and publishes daily.
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The website URL for this material (1st material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes
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A brief description of this material (2nd material):
The Eco-Rep handbook serves as a guide for Eco-Reps on how to do their job effectively, but also as a resource for on-campus students about how to live sustainably. It features tips and resources for students to access and is available online to anyone.
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The website URL for this material (2nd material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes
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A brief description of this material (3rd material):
The Green Events Consulting Guide, created by the ASG Sustainability Committee, is a resource for student groups (and anyone) to use to minimize the impact of their event. It offers resources and tips to event planners in categories like waste reduction, food purchasing and energy and paper use. Anyone may access the guide online, or request to meet with the Green Events Consulting team to get one-on-one help with their event.
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The website URL for this material (3rd material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (4th material):
A Green Office Guide offers staff members tips on how to adopt more sustainable practices in the workplace.
None
The website URL for this material (4th material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
No
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A brief description of this material (5th material):
A Green Building Guide provides information of the sustainable features of the newly renovated Kresge Hall. The project team expects the building to achieve LEED Gold certification. This guide is available online and has been distributed to building occupants and visitors. Similar guides are being developed for other green buildings on campus.
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The website URL for this material (5th material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material (6th material):
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None
The website URL for this material (6th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material (7th material):
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None
The website URL for this material (7th material):
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material (8th material):
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None
The website URL for this material (8th material):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.