Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 74.78
Liaison Daryl Pierson
Submission Date March 5, 2021

STARS v2.2

Portland State University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Amanda Wolf
Program + Assessment Coordinator
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Yes

Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:

The Campus Sustainability Office compiles newsletter content that is distributed to over 5,000 recipients. The newsletter features sustainability news, events, and spotlight articles from sustainability programs.
Most content is culled from
https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/news
https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/calendar/month
https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/get-involved

Our Sustainability at Portland State Facebook page (with 2,457 followers) shares news and events from around campus related to sustainability. It covers topics from research, student projects, events, student opportunities, operations, and others. Additionally, we maintain a twitter handle, @sustainablepdx (6449 followers) which tweets updates and content similar to that of our Facebook feed, but to a much broader and more national audience. Sustainability at PSU also has an instagram account @sustainablepdx (with 981 followers) in order to highlight photos of students/staff attending events around campus. Sustainability at PSU also maintains a LinkedIn group, aimed at alumni, which has 483 members.

The Campus Sustainability Office also has an additional Facebook page, PSU Reuses, to highlight waste reduction and our reuse programs on campus and an instagram account @psurecycles.

The Student Sustainability Center also has a Facebook page and Instagram page. These pages are mostly advertised to current SSC students and serve as a way to stay in touch with the students who have gone through our programs.

https://www.facebook.com/sustainablepdx/
https://twitter.com/sustainablepdx
https://www.instagram.com/sustainablepdx/
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4163976/
https://www.facebook.com/psureuses/
https://www.instagram.com/psurecycles/


Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:

Blumel Bike Garage Ecoroof Sign:
Look up and see green!
Ecoroof size: 1,120sf
Constructed March 2010
The ecoroof on top of this bike shelter represents Portland State University's and the city's commitment to sustainable site development. This ecoroof complements other stormwater management techniques throughout the PSU campus including Stormwater Planters, Green Streets, Rainwawter harvesting, and more Ecoroofs.

Stephen Epler Hall Stormwater Planters:
Sustainable stormwater solutions for clean rivers
The stormwater planters at Stephen Epler Hall are the centerpiece of a visually engaging rainwater harvesting system. The planters intercept runoff form the roofs of Epler and King Albert halls and from the public plaza between the buildings. Instead of directing stormwater runoff into ta sewer pipe, this site uses stormwater as a resource. The runoff irrigates native vegetation in the planters and is then reused for surround landscape irrigation and public restroom use at Epler Hall. This system reduces Portland State University's water and stormwater utility bills.

Engineering Building Water Conservation & Management:
Portland State University's Fariborz Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science is certified as a LEED Gold Building in recognition of the following achievements in Water Conservation and Management:
-a rooftop rainwater harvesting system channels water to the 2nd floor Hydrology Lab, where it is filtered and treated before being pumped to 1st floor restrooms for use in toilets and urinals
-Waterless urinals on floors 2-5 that utilize gravity and a bio-based oil to drain urinals and trap odors
-Incorporates native and drought-tolerant species into the landscape design minimizes irrigation needs
-Uses 40% less water than a conventional building constructed to Oregon Code.

Academic and Student Recreation Center:
All bathrooms feature dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets to reduce overall water use. The rainwater on the fifth floor eco-terrace is captured through the outdoor flooring, held in a cistern in the basement, and used for the toilets and fire suppression system. Between low-flow fixtures and the rainwater collection system, over 300,000 gallons of water are saved each year, which is 85% more efficient than a standard building.

Smith Memorial Student Union Green Screen:
Located in the Smith lobby, this interactive dashboard allows visitors to see real-time water and energy use for the building. The Student Sustainability Center also adds sustainability event and program information to a digital screen in the main lobby of Smith through their partnership with Student Activities and Leadership Programs. As well, the SSC's office sign is visible from the main lobby of Smith.

Campus Loop Sign:
PSU's Campus Loop is a district energy system that provides heating and cooling to multiple buildings in the core of campus. Centralized locations generate steam and chilled water which are distributed through a network of pipes to connected buildings. As a result, each building does not require individual boilers and chiller and the University benefits in several ways:
-increased energy efficiency and lower utility costs
-reduced carbon emissions and pollution footprint for the University
-minimized outages due to system inter-connectivity
-lower life cycle costs through reduction of materials used, maintenance, and building capital costs
-increased flexibility to convert to a more efficient fuel source if one becomes available
-ease of operation and maintenance due to central location


Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

PSU has a printed walking sustainability tour map and cultural sustainability tour map. The sustainability tour maps is also available online. The map includes campus stops such as the PSU BikeHub, water bottle refilling stations, permaculture gardens, LEED certified buildings, stormwater mitigation features. The cultural sustainability map highlight all gender restrooms, cultural resource centers, lactation rooms and more.

The sustainability offices and the Student Ambassador programs also offer regular guided sustainability tours by request.


Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

The PSU EcoReps promote sustainable living and offer learning experiences/handouts throughout the year at events, in person, and door-to-door. They partner with student leaders and staff within Housing and Residence Life to design sustainability-focused educational programming and initiatives.

A green living guide was designed and is handed out to students during tabling events.


A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:

Sustainability Pathfinder: is a notebook that also provides campus sustainability resources and provides 10 ways for students to get involved at PSU as well as sustainability traits that employers are looking for.

Cultural Sustainability Tour: a self-guided tour map highlighting cultural resource center across campus.


Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.