| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.28 |
| Liaison | Geory Kurtzhals |
| Submission Date | Jan. 4, 2022 |
University of Notre Dame
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Geory
Kurtzhals Sr. Director Office of Sustainability |
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign:
In celebration of Earth Month, students participated in the Office of Sustainability's first-ever Sustainability Cup competition, which is now underway. We are excited for this opportunity to work together to reduce the University’s environmental footprint, starting in our residence hall community.
Competition points were awarded in three categories:
Energy Conservation
Recycling Cleanliness
Sustainability Education
During the month of April, energy consumption per student and recycling cleanliness was tracked in all on-campus residence halls.
Sustainability Education points can be earned by doing things such as adding a discussion about sustainability at your Hall Council meetings, scheduling hall-specific Earth Day events, and getting together with your dorm mates for a documentary watch. Dorm sustainability or environmental commissioners play a key role.
The top three dorms received a Sustainability Grant to advance green practices in the hall, and all participating dorms will be featured in the Office of Sustainability’s communications.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
In addition to increased campus awareness and engagement, the competition reduced contamination of the residence hall recycling system by nearly 5% overall, and the results have persisted over time.
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Following the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, through the formation of a Presidential Sustainability Committee, the University of Notre Dame developed a Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy. Office of Sustainability staff produce annual progress reports that are distributed widely across campus, often with an accompanying event to discuss barriers and opportunities. The document and recommendations are intended by the Committee to be regularly updated and modified to reflect new strategies developed by students, faculty, staff, and specific working groups. These seven groups continue to move forward the goals stated in the original document as well as develop and set new, updated sustainability goals for the University. Students across campus complete class projects and research which contribute to strategy progress.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
This has set concrete targets for sustainability. The University has completed several of the original goals, which include: 1) the installation of three geothermal well fields. The completed systems will have the capacity to reduce Notre Dame's carbon dioxide emissions by 11,803 tons per year. 2) the ceasing of coal-burning for a fuel source. Accomplishing the goal one year ahead of the original 2020 schedule allowed the University to reach a 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions per gross square foot based on 2005 levels, well before the initial timeline.
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
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.