Ohio University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

The Ohio University Office of Sustainability has a website which features the Sustainability Plan, the Climate Action Plan, sustainability-related programs featured at the university, links to sustainability-related social media accounts, and opportunities for campus sustainability engagement.

Sustainable Ohio University Leaders (SOUL) sends a biweekly e-newsletter to all members of the campus community who have signed up for the newsletter. The newsletter contains sustainability announcements, upcoming events, SOUL meeting information, and sustainability in the news.

The Office of Sustainability actively engages in social media marketing and communications through four well-known social media platforms. These platforms include: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Student Newspaper: In Fall 2014, The Post assigned a reporter to the Sustainability Beat. Since such an assignment, stories about the Ecohouse, sustainability-related events and food waste have been commonly featured in The Post.

The Office of Sustainability has a webpage which features student sustainability research projects from the Sustainability Implementation and Sustainability Marketing courses, and another webpage which features Sustainability award-winning research from the University's Student Research and Creative Activity Expo. Also, the Consortium for Energy, Economics & the Environment (CE3) at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs in partnership with the Russ College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Arts and Sciences takes a multidisciplinary approach to energy and environmental issues, coupled with the extensive regional resources of Southeastern Ohio. CE3 provides a strong platform for research publications and teaching for our faculty, staff and students.

The temporary construction fencing placed on-site at any construction site is specially printed to include marketing about sustainability. Additionally, Office of Sustainability assists with special marketing of building features during and after construction when applicable. Residence Hall LEED Projects implement an Educational Awareness Initiative for residents, future students and visiting family members through the use of a series of building signage, a guided building tour that is organized for future students, visiting students and family members and is conducted by student residents, and also a green building Design Features Handout. Together they highlight green building design elements and educate the community on the many benefits of LEED certification, its environmental impacts and improvement of occupant health and welfare. McCracken Hall, home of the Patton College of Education, included in its LEED renovation project a comprehensive interior signage program including extensive wall art and an interactive digital display to inform the occupants and visitors of the aspects that make McCracken a green building. The interactive display and slideshow also explains how the McCracken project included sustainable features during construction.

Ohio University Culinary Services provides exceptional service to the Ohio University community in support of its academic mission and vision. As part of this mission, they have developed a variety of informational icons which are in use at each of our Dining Courts/Halls to share important dietary information at a glance, including the sustainability-attributes of food. Additional signage about food waste, composting and local food options are also available within each dining facility. Culinary Services has created many advertising and educational materials on various topics pertaining to sustainability. The signage hangs in prominent locations across campus. Topics include: recycling, composting, minimizing food waste, local food options, water conservation, and nutrition. Culinary Services has developed a variety of informational icons which are in use at each of our Dining Courts/Halls to share important dietary information at a glance, including the sustainability-attributes of food. Additional signage about food waste, composting, and local food options are also available within each dining facility. Electronic dining/nutrition information kiosks have been installed in all residential dining facilities. Also, a Culinary Services Mobile App has been launched to provide customers with real-time updates, menus, and nutrition info. The implementation of electronic communications have reduced the number of print products created for educational purposes. Ohio University Culinary Services provides signage about food waste and composting within each dining facility. This signage also informs customers about the life-cycle of the composted food and how it is used to beautify the Athens campus. Culinary Services, in partnership with the Voinovich Center, created a soil-to-soil video that explains the life-cycle of food at Ohio University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTOPsABabwI

Ohio University has increased the number of naturalized and or prairie plantings on campus to 11 sites totaling 207,605 square feet on the main campus. These areas are identified by signage that explains the beneficial impacts such as the creation of habitat for pollinators and wildlife as well as a reduction in maintenance costs. See page 10-12 in the link below for more details about, and a photo of, signage. Protection of Pollinators and other beneficial insects is promoted via educational signage explaining insect morphology and life cycle. The Grounds Department works with Environmental Health and Safety as well as Biological Sciences faculty to devise strategies which avoid insect extermination with chemicals whenever possible. In December 2016, Ohio University became a Tree Campus USA. Such designation required the development and adoption of a Tree and Landscape Care Plan. Ohio University's Plan does include sustainable practices for Grounds Maintenance.

A Sustainability Walking Map is available so individuals who cannot attend a tour (see below) can facilitate their own sustainability-focused walking tour of campus. Student groups, classes, and community members are welcome to request a tour of the OHIO Ecohouse, the compost facility, or both. The Ecohouse and the compost facilities are both important sustainable features of the Ohio University campus; employees of the Office of Sustainability are trained to lead tours of both facilities: Tours can be requested at https://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/services/request_forms.cfm. The OHIO Ecohouse is a living laboratory in which students can learn and practice sustainable behaviors. The house features energy efficient appliances, a solar array, a biofuel furnace, and a garden. Tours of the university's compost facility are also available. The Ohio University compost facility is the largest in-vessel composting facility at any college or university in the nation. The 6-ton system allows Ohio University to compost 100% of food waste that is produced at dining facilities across campus. Tour groups get an up-close and personal view of the whole process of turning food into nutrient-rich soil amendment.

The Ohio University Transportation & Parking Services Office in conjunction with the Office of Sustainability offers an extensive online list of transportation alternatives. These items highlight sustainable multi-modal methods available to campus. These resources include information on biking, campus & public transportation, car share, campus rental fleet, electric vehicles, charging stations and walking options. DoubleMap is a live bus tracking application which allows commuters and campus transit users to track university and city bus routes in live time: https://aptcats.doublemap.com/map/ Website URL for guides for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation: https://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/operations/transportation.cfm https://www.ohio.edu/transportation/ https://aptcats.doublemap.com/map/

The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a paved 21-mile-long bike and pedestrian path that spans between Athens and Nelsonville, Ohio. A portion of the path cuts through the Ohio University campus. A representative from the Office of Sustainability sits on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway Committee, which was a partial contributor to the creation of an informational brochure and map of the bikeway. Way Finding materials are available online and at key points along the bikeway in designated kiosks. In 2016, the Office of Sustainability assisted the Athens City County Health Department (ACCHD) with the development of painted mile markers along the entirety of the pathway. The ACCHD recently completed the installation of physical signage along the bikeway to provide safe navigation to all users of the path.

The OHIO Ecohouse website offers "Sustainable Living" tips.

Official University Newspaper: Ohio University Communications and Marketing office has a reporter responsible for sustainability news. Sustainability is regularly featured by announcing advancements in the Sustainability and Climate Action Plans, featuring events or explaining grants.

Information about Other Outreach Materials provided by Sarah Lack, Communications Specialist III, University Communications & Marketing, on 12/20/17. Language for the student research publications from the Energy and Environment team at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs provided by Jen Bowman, Director of Environmental Programs, on 12/21/17. Additional url for Sustainable Food Systems: https://www.ohio.edu/food/about/Sustainability.cfm Culinary Data provided by Erin Robb. Information provided by Meghan Little Tree Care Coordinator, Office of Sustainability for the Ecohouse and Grounds Signage. The Post (student newspaper) editor, Elizabeth Backo verified statement about their sustainability coverage on 2/6/18.