| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 64.19 |
| Liaison | Melissa Cadwell |
| Submission Date | Jan. 23, 2025 |
Syracuse University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 4.00 |
Melissa
Cadwell Sustainability Coordinator Energy Systems & Sustainability Management |
Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives
Academics
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Engagement
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Operations
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Climate Action Plan: https://sustainability.syracuse.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CAP-Formatted.pdf
ENERGY DEMAND
Syracuse University is reducing overall energy consumption.
Established universal guidelines for heating and cooling of occupied spaces. This temperature control ensures that room occupants are comfortable but that rooms are not excessively heated or cooled. Some laboratories, research areas, and archival rooms have additional cooling parameters to serve the needs of the space.
Campus usage reports are created, summarized and reviewed against past year reports. These reports include electricity, natural gas, steam and water. The results are used for upgrades to buildings that will reduce energy consumption.
Renewable Energy Supply
The University is also exploring solar energy production. Solar hot water heating was installed on 20 South Campus residences. This pilot project is estimated to save 300,000 kilowatt hours, avoid 125 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, and supply 50 percent to 60 percent of the energy necessary to heat the water for the residential units.
Administration
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE (PG. 78) (Sustainability Grapic on PG. 79)
The Campus Framework provided the university with a systems-based approach to sustainability and mobility that provides a broad vision for campus-wide policies and networks but also focuses on smaller investments that encourage more sustainable practices.
The plan improves mobility through adopting universal design approaches to overcome the challenges of
the campus’s dramatic topography. It developed a unified, singular system of mobility that allows the
campus community to seamlessly transition between pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks to encourage modes of transportation that reduce carbon emissions and promote exercise and wellness. Additionally, by integrating signage and wayfinding within the physical environment as well as adopting virtual navigation
modalities, the plan helps people navigate the campus more intuitively and establish a memorable experience of the campus environment.
Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
Optional Fields
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | No |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | Yes |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | No |
| Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | --- |
| SDG Accord | --- |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | Yes |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | Yes |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
o Association of Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
o Second Nature
o New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education (NYCSHE), On Steering Committee
o New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3)
o Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.