| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.23 |
| Liaison | Rachael Wein |
| Submission Date | July 11, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Smith College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.33 / 4.00 |
Deirdre
Manning Environmental Sustainability Director Office of Environmental Sustainability |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | No | No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds |
No
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
|
No
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
|
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | No | No |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | No | No |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
Smith College's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAMP) includes plans for academic and co-curricular integration: "Institutions of higher learning should lead the way toward more effective environmental stewardship by promoting environmental literacy; cultural and scientific appreciation of the natural world; and sustainable practices in their curricula, campus designs and operations, and interactions with the broader world."
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
The document was written in 2009, with short term goals to be completed by 2015. The short term goals listed below have largely been completed.
Near-term goals by 2015:
• Establish a major in Environmental Science and Policy (ES&P) with 20-30 majors graduating each year.
• Strengthen the existing Landscapes Studies minor with 15-20 minors graduating each year
• Create a fully funded and operational CEEDS.
- Create an environmental concentration under the auspices of CEEDS
• Provide adequate staffing in ES&P and LSS to support these initiatives
• Expand environmental offerings throughout the curriculum
- Create environmentally-oriented courses in all three academic divisions
• Increase study-away opportunities
- Increase the number of students participating in environmentally oriented study abroad experiences (programs, internships)
Long term goals include:
- Increase demand for Smith graduates by environmental organizations.
- Enhance Smith College's reputation as a place to study the environment.
- Establish Smith College as a national presence in the media, policy and among non-profit and research organizations.
The long term goals will be measured by looking at various metrics including number of successful applicants to environmental graduate programs, number of successful graduating job seekers, number of 5-year alumnae in environmental fields, and number of 5-year alumnae who completed the environmental concentration and articulate clearly the benefits of their integrative education as key to personal fulfillment.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Spacial Analysis Lab, Environmental Science & Policy Department, Center for the Environment, Ecological Design & Sustainability, Office of Campus Sustainability
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
Ingrained in Smith's Sustinability and Climate Action Plan (SCAMP) are lists of projects for students and faculty to engage in revolving around the sustianability goals of the college. In cooperation with CEEDS, ES&P and other academic departments, these projects will become integral to student learning.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Projects for students and faculty to engage in include but are not limited to: Energy audit of College Hall
Design/implementation of conservation programs
Campus-wide and house-to-house energy competitions
Continued maintenance, validation and improvement of the building energy model portfolioUpgrading the biannual transportation survey to improve response rate and data quality. Survey students on car/bike usage at SmithDevelopment of survey instruments or other methods for analyzing student water use Analysis of water use within specific buildings or departments
Development of communication and/or educational materials on water use Development of social marketing campaigns within student housing
Review of existing report on environmental impacts of using the Mill River for irrigation Development of cost benefit analysis of proposed irrigation project
Environmental life-cycle analysis of proposed irrigation projectDevelopment of survey instruments or other methods for analyzing student water use Analysis of water use within specific buildings or departments
Development of communication and/or educational materials on water use Development of social marketing campaigns within student housing
Review of existing report on environmental impacts of using the Mill River for irrigation Development of cost benefit analysis of proposed irrigation project
Environmental life-cycle analysis of proposed irrigation project
Energy audit of College Hall
Design/implementation of conservation programs
Campus-wide and house-to-house energy competitions
Continued maintenance, validation and improvement of the building energy model portfolio
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Environmental Science & Policy, Center for the Environmnet, Ecological Design & Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
In November 2007, Smith President Carol Christ signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). Signing the commitment pledges the college to:
• measure our greenhouse gas emissions, and
• create a climate action plan with a target date for becoming a carbon neutral campus.
Carbon neutrality is defined by ACUPCC as “...having no net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to be achieved by eliminating net GHG emissions or by minimizing GHG emissions as much as possible, and using carbon offsets or other measures to mitigate the remaining emissions.”
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
- By 2015 reduce emissions to 22,330 MT eCO2 or 29% below the 1990 level (22% below 2009).
- By 2030 reduce emission to 8,480 MT eCO2 or 73% below 1990 levels.
• Add 3.5 million kWh of on-site renewable electricity generation and 4,500 MMBtu of solar thermal energy by 2030 to replace fossil fuel use
• Evaluate and replace boiler fuel consumption with a sustainably harvested, domestically produced and/ or recycled biofuel by 2020
• Evaluate and replace cogeneration turbine fuel consumption with a sustainably harvested, domestically produced and/or recycled biofuel by 2030
• Revisit and revise these assumptions on a regular basis
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Facilities Management, Center for the Environment, Ecological Design & Sustainability, Office of Campus Sustainability.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Smith plans to improve efficency measures, both mechanical and associated with building envelope improvement.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Reduce electrical consumption 19% through efficiency projects (4.4 million kWh) by 2015 and by an additional 9% (2.1 million kWh) by 2030.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Facilities Management, Center for the Environmnet, Ecological Design & Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
A two-year grant from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation promises to bolster sustainability efforts at Smith. The $168,751 grant will support the ongoing efforts of Smith College Dining Services to develop sustainable, local and healthy food practices.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Efforts supported by the grant include:
• Hiring additional staff and student workers to establish sourcing protocols aimed at encouraging the use of locally grown produce and locally raised meat and fish.
• Evaluating Smith’s student-run community garden, which currently lacks a long-term planting and business plan, in an effort to guarantee future sustainable success.
• Conducting an evaluation of current menus to determine beef usage that will inform Smith’s practices regarding purchasing local and/or grass-fed beef.
• Identifying local products that can be processed, chopped and/or frozen, via the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center, and then stored for future use.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Dining Services
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
The Sustainability and Climate Action Management Plan includes a section on Energy and Buildings. Smith College has over 100 buildings which encompass more than three million gross square feet of floor area or 75 acres of indoor space. Buildings require heat, hot water, cooling, and electricity. Because of this, buildings account for approximately 85% of the college's total emissions, making building energy use the top priority for carbon reduction efforts.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
• Reduce electrical consumption through behavioral conservation programs by 10% (2.3 million kWh) by 2020
• Reduce thermal demand by 20% (48,000 MMBtu) by 2015 and by an additional 8% (15,000 MMBtu) by 2030
• Reduce eCO2 by 29% (7,700 MT) by 2030
• Reduce electricity consumption by 15% by the end of 2014 (MOU with National Grid) compared to 2011 baseline
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Facilities Management, Center for the Environment, Ecological Design & Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
Blank
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Blank
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Blank
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
The Sustainability and Climate Action Management Plan includes a section on purchasing. This section catalyzed the creation of an Energy Star Purchasing Policy and a Printer and Copier Paper Purchasing Policy.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Energy Star Purchasing Policy:
When making purchases using college or grant-funding, Smith College personnel will purchase products that meet the given need while minimizing energy use. In most cases, this policy will be satisfied through the purchase of Energy Star (for Business and Government) certified products in any area for which this rating exist.
Copier Paper Purchasing Policy:
• All paper used for copiers and printers on campus will contain at least 30% post-consumer recycled content. (This is consistent with state and federal paper procurement guidelines). Non-recycled content should be sourced from Forest Stewardship Council certified sustainably managed forests (or equivalent).
• All offices and departments will purchase paper that meets or exceeds this standard.
• The WB Mason purchasing website will be modified such that only printer and copier
paper that meets this standard is available via the Smith College account.
• We recommend that paper be purchased via the WB Mason website rather than having
individual departments purchase paper from off-campus retailers e.g. Staples, often at
additional expense, labor and carbon emissions.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
The Purchasing Office
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The Sustainability and Climate Action Management Plan features a section on transportation. Smith College plans to reduce its carbon footprint by reducing the amount of single occupant vehicles used for commuting, and by making fuel-saving improvements to the campus fleet.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Improve fleet-weighted average EPA estimated fuel mileage from 16 mpg to 25 mpg by 2015, which will reduce fuel use in college fleet vehicles by 33% (10,000 gallons saved, 85 MT eCO2 eliminated).
Reduce single-occupant personal vehicle use for commuting from 69% of trips to 59% of trips by 2015 (167,405 miles or 69 MT eCO2)
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Grounds Management, Center for the Environmnet, Ecological Design & Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The Material Purchasing and Waste Management section of the SCAMP outlines Smith's waste challenges and goals.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
• Reduce campus printer fleet from 700 to 450 by 2020
• Reduce landfill solid waste by 20% (147 tons) by 2015
• Increase recycling rate to 34% of solid waste by 2015
• Increase recycling rate to 50% of solid waste by 2025
• Reduce GHG emissions by 72 MT eCO2 though composting and solid waste reduction by 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Facilites Management
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
More than half of this water is used in houses by students and dining services. Smith College aims to reduce the potable water consumption through a combination of efficiency and behavior change.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
More than half of this water is used in houses by students and dining services. Smith College aims to reduce the potable water consumption through a combination of efficiency and behavior change. These goals are outlined in the SCAMP.
Date Revised: July 26, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Facilites Management
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The Smith College Sustainability and Climate Action Management Plan (SCAMP) is a roadmap to reducing resource use and associated impacts. Our goal is institutional culture change. The future will be best served by a community of students, faculty and staff who make individual and collective choices consistent with our goals to use fewer resources and choose wisely what we use. The SCAMP reviews current environmental performance, establishes priorities and, identifies metrics to measure progress.
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.