University of South Carolina
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

The university’s sustainability plan began in 2000 with the campus Environmental Policy identify several initial goals. These were developed through the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) which is made up of faculty, staff and students from across campus. The initial goals were tracked through annual reports submitted to the EAC by campus departments. In 2008 the process was amended by adding an annual Earth Summit which occurs each October during Sustainability Week. During the Earth Summit members of the EAC as well additional representatives from across campus participate in the open forum to review the progress towards goals and update the goals. This process allows members of the campus and local community to identify issues and concerns they have related to sustainability as well as to work together to develop short term strategies to address the goals. The EAC meets regularly throughout the academic year to review the progress and provide feedback. Each April the EAC meets to review the annual report and progress of the year and provide input on the results. The final report and status is briefed to the President and campus administration. Goals and strategies are also developed with the input from the priorities of the President as well as guided by STARS.

The original goals of the EAC still exist but have been supplemented by short term and more detailed objectives that are assigned to specific departments or students teams of Sustainable Carolina. The student teams incorporate the goals and strategies into their plans for each semester and report monthly on their progress. The teams include faculty, staff and community members and also coordinate with green teams in select departments that also have assigned goals. The majority of these goals and strategies are tracked on a spreadsheet, however additional more detailed goals for the student teams are identified on the annual team plan under Sustainable Carolina. Sustainable Carolina also produces and annual Blueprint as part of the campus strategic planning process that reflects the major efforts and progress of Sustainable Carolina.

The Overarching Goals of Sustainable Carolina:
Goal 1: PROMOTE CAMPUS-WIDE INTEGRATIVE, ECOLOGICAL THINKING
Goal 2: BUILD CAMPUS CAPACITY FOR TRANSFORMATION
Goal 3: PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF CAMPUS RESOURCES
Goal 4: BUILD A GREEN ORANIZATION

Original EAC Goals:
GOAL 1: Members Of The University Community (Faculty, Staff And Students) Will Have A Basic Understanding Of Their Impact On The Environment
Objective 1: Incorporate environmental and sustainability issues into the University curriculum
Objective 2: Increase opportunities for informal learning about environmental issues for students, faculty staff and public
Objective 3: Encourage research that aids in understanding of issues and solutions to environmental problems
Objective 4: Increase service activities by faculty, staff and students that enhance environmental awareness within the institution and foster sustainable thinking within the larger community
GOAL 2: The University Community Will Promote Environmental Sustainability By Example.
Objective 1: Conserve resources (waste reduction, recycling, energy and water use minimization)
Objective 2: Minimize negative impacts of the University on the environment
Objective 3: Think globally and act locally by promoting and using recycled or remanufactured goods, locally-generated products and native species in natural landscapes where possible
GOAL 3: The University Will Evaluate And Monitor Progress Toward These Goals On A Continuing Basis.
Objective 1: Implement an Environmental Management System for auditing inputs and outputs and quantifying savings from sustainable practices
Objective 2: Produce an annual “Environmental State of USC” report under the leadership of the Environmental Advisory Committee

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES of SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FROM EARTH SUMMIT PROCESS:
Facilities:
Increase Overall Recycling Rate to 25% by 2013
Increase Overall Recycling Rate to 50% by 2018
Become a Zero Waste Campus by 2050
Reduce GHG emissions by 20% of 2010 Baseline by 2010
Achieve Carbon Neutraility by 2050
Complete first net-zero building by 2013
Reduce Energy Consumption by 50% from 2004 Per SF Levels by 2020
Utilize 5% or More Renewable Energy in All New Buildings by 2015
Utilize 10% or More Renewable Energy in All New Buildings by 2020
All New Buildings Will Utilize 50% Less Energy than Base Code by 2016
Eliminate All CFC & Halon Use by 2013
Eliminate All HCFC Release by 2012
Eliminate Emissions from All Lawn Maintenance Equipment by 2014
Eliminate 50% of Storm Water From New Construction by 2015
Eliminate 75% of Storm Water From New Construction by 2025
Reduce Overall Campus Storm Water Impact on Rocky Branch by 40% by 2025
Reduce Overall Campus Potable Water Consumption by 60% by 2016

EDUCATION:
Broad normalization of sustainable behaviors and targeted expertise of key sustainable issues via integration of sustainability into the University curriculum.
Expose all USC undergraduate and graduate students to principles of sustainability.
Increase external and internal perception of USC as highly sustainable and as an example in the efforts towards sustainability to transform the state.
Increase research around sustainability issues.
Implement Sustainability Institute to increase public-private partnerships.

TRANSPORTATION:
Convert 100% of campus fleet to alternative fuel vehicles by 2015
Campus Fleet emission free by 2025
Reduce commuter emissions by 20% from 2008 levels by 2015
Create a pedestrian/bicycle friendly campus
Make the campus a living laboratory for transportation systems & technology research & application

ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Expose all students to concepts of environmental & social justice issues
Ensure University investments reflect sustainability commitment & goals
Integrate justice issues into strategic planning process

Teams within Sustainable Carolina report progress on their objectives monthly through a digital reporting system on Sharepoint. Monthly these are reviewed collectively at a Green Council for Sustainable Carolina. Green Teams within departments meet regularly to update their progress and both green teams and Sustainable Carolina teams communicate their progress to the campus through the Environmental Advisory Committee meetings, annual Earth Summit and annual report.

Traditional metrics such as waste, energy and water are tracked and reported through campus based systems such as FAMIS and METASYS. Greenhouse gas emissions are tracked annually through and annual updating process by departments for the President’s Climate Commitment and tracked on Clean Air Cool Planet’s reporting tool. Non-traditional metrics are assigned to student teams within Sustainable Carolina to track by coordinating with campus departments or by graduate assistants in the Office of Sustainability and Sustainable Carolina. These may include the following:
Curriculum number of current classes and number of new classes
Transportation Fleet conversion status
Student participation in number of events, attendees and hours
Student Leadership development in number of events, attendees and hours

Many of these are reported by student teams immediately after meetings or campus events through a digital system on Sharepoint that allows detailed tracking of on-going efforts across campus. Staff of Sustainable Carolina and the Office of Sustainability monitor these each month and integrate the results into updates for the Environmental Advisory Committee and the annual report.