| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.24 |
| Liaison | Justin Mog |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Louisville
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Justin
Mog Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives Office of the Provost |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
In the Fall of 2010, the UofL Sustainability Council launched the website (louisville.edu/sustainability) to consolidate information and provide links to the wide variety of sustainability initiatives on our campuses. It includes the following sections:
Sustainability Council:
Annual Reports
Climate Action Plan
Contacts
Council Documents
Eco-Reps
Get Involved
Green Tips
Links
Memberships & Affiliations
Ratings & Rankings
Meeting Schedules
Admin/Finance/Outreach:
Community Engagement
Diversity & Affordability
Human Resources
Investments
Peace & Justice
Education & Research:
Academic Programs
Continuing Ed.
Events
Green Threads
Research
Operations:
Buildings & Energy
Campus Gardens
EcoReps
Food
Green Purchasing
Grounds
Info Tech
Master Planning
Model Green Rooms
Recycling
Stormwater
Transportation
Waste Reduction
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
In 2015, the UofL Sustainability Council launched a new blog with subscribers and regular postings about sustainability (http://uoflsustainable.wordpress.com/), as well as a MailChimp e-newsletter that is distributed to hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and community partners twice each semester.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
In addition to the many UofL sustainability-related student groups which manage social media sites, the Sustainability Council hosts a number of social media platforms, including:
• UofL Sustainability Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/UofLSustainable
• UofL Sustainability Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/uoflsustainability/
• EcoReps Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/UofLEcoReps
• UofL Sustainability Twitter: http://twitter.com/UofLSustainable
• UofL Sustainability Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/uoflsustainable/
• UofL Sustainability Blog: http://uoflsustainable.wordpress.com/
All of these platforms are used to keep students and some employees engaged in sustainability on and off campus, highlighting opportunities for service, internships, events, activism, and more.
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat?:
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The Louisville Cardinal student newspaper regularly covers sustainability-related topics, and has assigned reporters to the sustainability beat. These articles are archived here: http://louisville.edu/sustainability/news
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Journal of Animal and Environmental Law (JAEL) is a student-run and peer-reviewed online publication focused on presenting multidisciplinary perspectives on animal and environmental issues. JAEL was founded in 2009 by a group of students and faculty with a passion for increasing awareness and scholarship in the budding areas of animal and environmental law. This journal publishes all of its content exclusively online and uses a variety of social media platforms to increase scholarship and awareness on pertinent legal issues.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
UofL's LEED Gold Student Recreation Center opened in October 2013, featuring geothermal heating and cooling, solar hot water, rainwater capture & storage for irrigation, and a Siemens building dashboard prominently available in the lobby on an interactive touch-screen that displays the performance of these systems and explains their function. The digital signage also displays green tips encouraging building users to make more sustainable choices in their daily lives.
At a dozen locations around campus, UofL collaborated with the Louisville Water Company in 2014-15 to install large, professional signs over filling stations promoting the environmental, health, and financial benefits of choosing tap water over bottled water. The signage was refreshed with new messaging and themes in 2019. Similar signage had previously been installed a number of UofL Athletics facilities.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
• The Sandwich Shack which was opened by UofL Dining Service in fall 2018 features a Sustainability Station in the entryway where customers waiting in line can see a hydroponics system growing food before their eyes, as well as digital signage that highlights local producers and sustainable food systems.
• UofL Dining Service posts a Local Food Map explaining where food is sourced and what's in season.
• In partnership with Louisville Farm to Table, UofL Dining Service produces marketing materials to accompany locally-sourced meal service, including menu identification of local foods and a leaflet stating “UofL Likes Local” with five reasons why the university supports the use of local food and a list of campus sustainability efforts.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Signs at the base of dozens of trees around campus help educate people about tree name, species and whether they are native to the region. These signs are a part of the Belknap Tree Tour, a self-guided 1.75mile walking tour of some of the interesting and historical trees on Belknap campus. The tour features an interactive online map, a downloadable Tree Tour pamphlet, or print versions available during business hours at the North Information Center.
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
UofL's Belknap Campus Sustainability Walking Tour requires about 90 minutes and is led by UofL's sustainability coordinator or other Sustainability Council members upon request and as a part of several larger public events throughout the year. It was created in 2010 to highlight a variety of initiatives at several stops along the way:
• Cultural Center: Organic Garden Commons, composting, fruit trees, rain barrels, greenhouse, solar power
• SAC: Bike racks & fixit stations; BigBelly solar trash compactors; permeable pavers
• Threlkeld: Lawn replacements; single-stream recycling; energy-efficiency retrofits
• Lutz Circle: No-Idling Policy; bike lanes; solar pool heater
• Steam & Chilled Water Plant: Coal-free campus
• Ernst: Biodiesel program & Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research
• Eastern Parkway: Road diet - bike lanes & bus shelters
• Duthie: LEED Gold renovation
• Sackett: Dual-tracking solar array (PV and hot water)
• Gardiner: Model Green conference room; Campus Tree Tour
• Ekstrom: Solar charging umbrella; Stormwater infiltration system
• Ville Grill: Trayless dining; vegetarian/local/organic/fair-trade foods & food waste composting
• Louisville Hall: Green Dorm Room; transit options;
• SRC: LEED Gold design - geothermal & solar hot water; Building Dashboard; Bike-share program; UofL car-share
• College of Business: Water bottle filing stations to eliminate bottled water; Vegetated Roof
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
In 2016, UofL launched a new online trip-planning and carpool-matching platform. The service is available to all free via the “Cardinal Directions” trip-finding platform at http://directions.louisville.edu. The guide shows all transportation options on one map. The carpool option helps match riders going to the same destination. The platform has been designed as a one-stop-shop for UofL staff, faculty and students who want to find ways to reduce pollution and save money, time and hassle by cutting back on driving to campus. It is also available to the public to help increase the pool of potential carpool matches.
This built on the foundation created by the "Commute Green" campaign launched back in 2009 to provide commuters with information about lower-impact transportation alternatives including: living close enough to campus to walk, bicycling (former Earn-A-Bike Program & UofL BikeShare), taking the bus (free with UofL ID!), carpooling/vanpooling, and UofL carshare. This guide is available online and is distributed in print at a wide variety of events, including new employee and new student orientations, Campus Sustainability Day, and other campus events.
An online resource page specifically for bicycle commuting to UofL has also been created: http://louisville.edu/sustainability/operations/bicycling-for-transportation
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The Sustainability Council maintains a webpage specifically for bicyclists which features a wide variety of navigation and educational tools. http://louisville.edu/sustainability/operations/bicycling-for-transportation
Pedestrians and cyclists can also get navigational help through UofL's online “Cardinal Directions” trip-finding platform at http://directions.louisville.edu.
In the past, the Sustainability Council has also distributed printed Louisville bike maps at campus events, Earn-A-Bike program trainings, and kiosks throughout the year.
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Cards Go Green! Pledge includes over two-dozen ideas for green living from reducing waste to conserving energy and water. Students are asked to pledge to take at least three of the steps when the guide is distributed in print at a wide variety of events, including new student orientations, Campus Sustainability Day, and other campus events. The Sustainability Council also maintains a Green Tips webpage, listing ideas about what residents and anyone at UofL can do to lead a more sustainable life and help improve our community.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
A brief description of these materials or publications:
University Communications & Marketing has a reporter assigned to the campus sustainability beat and regularly produces press releases and outreach material (stories, photos, videos, and announcements) for both internal and external audiences.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
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.