Portland State University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

pdx.edu/sustainability includes information about current sustainability news, projects, research and operations, and displays 3 main categories: "research", "education" and "action", as well as upper level tabs with more information.

The site includes the Solutions Blog, current news items, and links out to all the related sustainability offices on campus. People can also sign up for the e-newsletter, or connect via social media from this main site.

The Institute For Sustainable Solutions publishes monthly e-news Bulletins that go out to 2,000 recipients. When signing up, individuals can opt to receive the student, staff, or faculty-focused newsletter. The newsletter features a "Green Campus Spotlight" column from the Campus Sustainability Office that highlights sustainable operations news: http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/news.

The Campus Sustainability Office publishes a monthly Green Campus Spotlight, which is included in the e-news bulletin, and includes information about campus sustainability efforts.

- Student research, such as the annual Solutions Generator project (funding 10 student projects with up to 50 students total), are showcased on the pdx.edu/sustainability web site
- A new sustainability project database is being developed to catalog all campus-based research, including research conducted by students.
- Students are encouraged to apply for travel grants through the Institute for Sustainable Solutions to present research
- Students may present at PSU's annual campus sustainability celebration, Undergraduate Research Conference, Student Leadership Conference and Urban Ecological Research Symposium. Students are also encouraged to submit presentations to the annual AASHE conference and bi-annual Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference.

Here are some of the sustainability areas with signage.

Engineering Building
Epler Hall
One of the goals of Epler was to make stormwater management interesting and engaging for the public. As a result, the system was designed to be visible and interactive. The "show" starts when it begins to rain. Rain falling on the roof is directed to several river-rock "splash boxes" in the public plaza. From there, water travels through channels between the brick pavers in the plaza to several planter boxes. The water is filtered as it passes through the planters before entering a large underground storage tank. The water from this tank is then treated with UV light before returning to the surface for use in the public toilets and irrigation. Epler's stormwater harvesting system was awarded a $15,000 Emerging Technology Grant from the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development's G/Rated Program. It reduces the building's need for municipally-treated potable water by approximately 110,000 gallons annually, saving PSU roughly $1,000 each year.

Shattuck Hall
PSU Project Manager: Jennifer Sharp, Facilities and Planning
Design: SRG Partnership
Construction Management/General Contractor: Howard S. Wright Construction Company
Funding: $13.7 million in State Authorized Deferred Maintenance Funding

The renovation and upgrade of seismic, heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing and communications systems in Shattuck Hall have been completed and the 95 year old building that originally served as an elementary school is now home to ten general classrooms, the Department of Architecture, a computer lab, wood and metal shops, a fine-art foundry, and the Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO). The very successful deferred maintenance project is an inspiration for future PSU and State of Oregon projects, especially with its potential for achieving Gold LEED Certification from the US Green Building Council. Fitting features for Shattuck Hall, also the home of PSU’s Department of Architecture, include spaces where the inner-workings of building systems are visible by design giving students actual working examples of innovative construction elements and remodeled components.

Campus Loop
PSU Project Manager: Mark Fujii, Facilities and Planning
Design: Winzler and Kelly
Construction Management/General Contractor: Fortis Construction
Funding: $17.5 million in State Economic Stimulus Funds

Building upon the work completed in Phase I, Phase II of the Campus Steam & Chilled Water Loop will further expand and connect partially networked and stand-alone heating and cooling systems into centralized plants and add emergency power backup for essential operations. The project is scheduled for completion by end of August 2010.
- Science 2 to Millar Library and Millar Library to the East and to the West Heating Plants: replacement of and addition of new runs to connecting the campus buildings to the network of steam, condensate return and chilled water piping.
- Science 2 to Cramer Hall: installation of chilled water piping to connect the two central cooling plants housed in Science 2 and Cramer Hall.
- Peter W. Stott Center to Shattuck Hall: construction of a new tunnel completing the steam and chilled water loop that connects the core buildings surrounding the South Park Blocks. The construction of this tunnel will also serve as a future distribution point the inclusion of campus buildings on the eastside of SW Broadway Avenue.
- Science 2: installation of a new chiller and cooling tower that will add capacity to allow for future planned buildings and expansions.
- Cramer Hall and University Service Building: installation of backup generators in each building to provide emergency power to the campus buildings where uninterrupted service is essential.

Each of these installation areas also has an educational sign to show the location of campus loop infrastructure, its cost, and what the end results of upgrades will be.

Science Research and Teaching Center (SRTC)
PSU Project Manager: Mark Fujii, Facilities and Planning
Design: IDC Architects (Division of CH2M Hill)
Construction Management/General Contractor: Hoffman Construction
Funding: $26.3 million in State Deferred Maintenance Funds and $19 million in State General Funds, Bonds, Federal Funds, and Economic Stimulus Funds.

This project is a combination of SRTC building infrastructure upgrades and the expansion and modernization of labs and teaching space resulting in the Science and Research Teaching Center. Included in the infrastructure improvements are seismic and code upgrades, electrical, plumbing and HVAC upgrades. Included in the modernization improvements are expansions and remodeling of labs and teaching space, and the addition of a new hazardous waste handling facility. Completion of the project is targeted for May of 2011.

There are multiple locations for finding green building features information. We are working to consolidate this information so it is more accessible to students, staff, faculty, and the community.

http://www.pdx.edu/recreation/sustainability-0
http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/greening-our-campus
http://www.fap.pdx.edu/AECS/index.php
http://www.pdx.edu/sites/www.pdx.edu.recreation/files/media_assets/PSU%20asrc%202009.10.05.Brochure.pdf

The Viking Court in our student union features signage that indicates whether items are organically or conventionally grown. Local products are listed as such, and we feature brands that are well known for their sustainability efforts. All utensils, napkins, plates and coffee cups offered through Dining Services are compostable and labeled. Although we still have a long way to go in the Food Court with offering sustainable foods, progress is being made. A large poster in the cafeteria seating area shows the state of Oregon with icons depicting geographical locations of food purchased within the state. A centrally-located bulletin board also includes information about sustainable food purchases and states Dining Service's commitment to sustainable practices. Examples of highlighted practices include 100% cage free eggs, Country Natural Beef, a reusable mug discount, and the Green Threads program which offers a reusable to go container option for dining guests.

Since 2012, students in the Food Action Collective student group have hosted Farmworker Awareness Week to highlight the social and environmental justice issues surrounding the production of food. Link: http://www.pdx.edu/insidepsu/news/farmworker-awareness-week-who-grows-your-food

Victors at Ondine is Campus Dining Services' first zero-waste lunch option for students. The Court features trayless dining and plates that encourage smaller portions as well as a compost drop off for residents who have signed a composting contract. Victors purchases a variety of sustainably-produced foods that include Portland Roasting Company. Victors displays a large poster of Oregon with icons depicting local producers at the entrance of the cafe. Other posters show bike delivery by Portland Roasting and images of fair trade coffee production.

PSU Recycles! and Campus Dining Services also opened our first post-consumer composting station in the food court in spring 2010 (may not be relevant for this STARS reporting cycle, but I am including it as a record). The station displays signage to allow food court patrons to learn how to compost food scraps!

We have limited signage about sustainable grounds-keeping except for in our garden areas. Our general landscaping areas (ex: the Park Blocks) do not have signage yet.

We have installed signage at a variety of bioswales, at the Community Garden, at our newly-installed Oak Savanna student project south of the Science Research and Teaching Center, and in our student-run Grazing Garden. Signage about permaculture and student initiatives has also been installed in the heart of campus at the Montgomery Permaculture Garden.

PSU re-designed our sustainability walking tour in 2011. The map includes campus stops such as the PSU BikeHub, water bottle refilling stations, permaculture gardens, LEED certified buildings, stormwater mitigation features, and Electric Avenue. Sustainability offices and the Student Ambassador programs also offer regular guided sustainability tours by request.

Here is a short video about PSU’s Green Campus tour created by a PSU student ambassador:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUTF7MJdnmI

Information packets are part of new student & employee orientation process. Contains university specific information, Kit includes: where to find bike parking, buying transit passes, bike/transit map of city, how to take bike on transit, neighborhood specific maps, streetcar, information about PSU bike hub. Generally available at orientation.

Information is provided at new student orientation, on all campus tours, and through campus outreach through Transportation and Parking Services. Every year, PSU hosts the Bike to PSU Challenge in May to encourage alternative transportation.

The PSU EcoReps program uses Community Based Social Marketing to promote sustainable living and offer learning experiences/handouts throughout the year at events, in person, and door-to-door.

A green living guide was designed and distributed by students to each building floor in 2012. This guide is being migrated to a new, in progress sustainability website on the main housing website.

PSU’s student newspaper features regular articles about sustainability. These are not through a specific column, but the topic is covered at least once per week. The Vanguard publishes a special Earth Days issue each April.

We have a Sustainability at PSU Facebook account that covers topics from research, student projects, events, operations, and others. Also, several student groups have a social media presence.

Environmental Club
PSU Earth Week
PSU EcoReps
Food Action Collective
Earth Days
Village Building Convergence

PSU Sustainability manages an active Twitter accounts for the Institute for Sustainable Solutions. Ooligan Press, a student-run publishing department, publishes sustainably-created books through the Department of English.

PSU Sustainability offers the Graduation Sustainability Pledge for all graduates of PSU. Starting on August 15th, 2009, all graduates have been given the opportunity to take a sustainability pledge stating:

"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”

They received a green ribbon for their graduation gowns. The ribbons made a distinct impact on the look and feel of graduation.

The Sustainability Communications Team provides a sustainability brochure for New Employee Orientation, given through the HR department. This covers how to connect to sustainability efforts on campus, as well as individual actions new employees can take to lessen the University's impact.