University of New Haven
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The sustainability subcommittee was formed in early 2018 as a part of the University of New Haven’s Food Committee. The subcommittee works alongside the Food Committee to review and bring forward new ideas for sustainability within dining services. The subcommittee reports to the head of the food committee who then reports to the Dean of students.

There are currently 3 people that sit on the Sustainability Subcommittee. • Allen MacDougal – Director of Educational Technology (Faculty) • David Nelson – Residential Life Community Director (Staff) • Diana Brennan –Sustainability Student Intern (Student)

The University of New Haven’s Office of Energy and Sustainability, which is part of the Facilities department, coordinates campus-wide efforts to reduce the University’s carbon footprint, engages students in discussions and programs designed to protect the environment, and collaborates with professors who are experts in sustainability and green design to integrate sustainability into classes and co-curricular learning opportunities. The mission of the Office of Energy and Sustainability is to “promote a culture of sustainability with the campus community by practicing operational efficiency, innovative collective action and development of sustainable literate citizens.” The office has two employees – the Director of Energy and Sustainability (full-time employee) and the Sustainability Student Intern (part-time student worker works 16-20 hours per week). In addition, there are other students who are doing credit projects with the office including lighting audits and building envelope simulations.

The University of New Haven’s office of Energy and Sustainability is tasked with setting the University’s sustainability goals and managing all programs and initiatives to achieve these goals. Between March and July of 2018, the University conducted a sustainability self-assessment which highlighted the need for additional focus in the areas of energy, waste, campus engagement, and academics. The University of New Haven completed energy audits of major energy-intensive buildings on both the West Haven and Orange campuses. The energy audits identified five key energy projects that will result in future energy savings for the campus. These energy projects include the installation of VFD’s on hot water/ chilled water pumps throughout campus, completion of a hydronic system rezone, window replacement to 1/3 of Maxcy Hall, addition of new controls to monitor kitchen fume hoods, and energy modeling for the new building on campus. Because of the energy audit findings and the University’s capital plan, the University of New Haven created the framework for a strategic energy plan to prioritize future projects that will increase efficiency and connect to available utility incentives on campus. The University of New Haven conducted a waste stream analysis on key campus buildings and developed a training for staff which discussed ways to improve the University’s recycling rate. The training was provided to all facilities staff members via PowerPoint during the Facilities Staff Training day in January 2018. As a direct result of the training staff, members became more familiar with the University’s current recycling rate and items that can and cannot be added to the recycling bins. They also gained more insight on what to do with electronics and other hazardous items that cannot be recycled on campus. Since May 2014 the University of New Haven Facilities department has partnered up with a group of students on a waste minimization initiative called “Think Outside the Dumpster.” The event occurs at the beginning and end of the academic year during Move In & Move Out periods. The Facilities Staff set up stations in front of the dorms across campus, so that students at the end of the academic year can recycle and donate their things they used during the semester such as refrigerators, lamps, and other items being collected. These items then are stored on campus until the beginning of the next academic year and resold to the students in the form of a tag-sale, and whatever isn’t sold is donated to Goodwill. In 2018, the University donated approximately 1700 lbs. of material to Goodwill. In addition, each year during the summer, the University donates furniture to both Columbus House and Goodwill. In 2018, the University donated over 500 pieces of furniture from campus residence halls to Columbus House and Goodwill.