University of Utah
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Sustainability Office Website
The Sustainability Office maintains a website that is a nexus for sustainability education, research and initiatives at the University of Utah and in the greater community. The website banner quickly updates viewers on current sustainability initiatives at the University, and through its portals viewers are educated on Sustainability Academics, Research, and Campus Initiatives. The website also promotes environmentally responsible practices and provides access to green living guides. This is also the center for the University’s Climate Action Plan and other reports of University Sustainability efforts. Lastly, the website is also the jumping off point for Global Change and Sustainability Center, an organization that collaborates with the Sustainability Office.

In 2016, the Sustainability Office website is being re-designed in order to reflect the new structure of the Office as part of Academic Affairs (previously, the office was located administratively with Facilities Management). The new website is due to go live in January, 2017.

Sustainable Utah: Green News at the University of Utah (2011-2014)
The Sustainability Resource Center published a monthly electronic newsletter with sustainability news from around campus. Due to re-organization of the Sustainability Office, the newsletter is on hiatus in 2016, but there is an intention to resume publication in 2017 after the launch of a re-designed website. In the meantime, information is offered in the Sustainable Utah blog.

ENVST Newsletter (bi-annual)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies Program, the newsletter is put together by the ENVST Student Leadership Committee with help from the E&SS Program's Office.
URL: http://envst.utah.edu/

Partnership (University Neighborhood Partners, bi-annual)
URL: http://partners.utah.edu/publications/

Sustainability Office
The Sustainability Office manages several social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Social media portals act as a hub to share and to discuss sustainability news and to promote sustainability-related events on and off campus. Activity on the Sustainability Office’s Facebook page has increased from 1,340 likes in January 2014 to 2,092 likes by May 2015. The Sustainability Office’s Twitter account has 1,968 followers as of May 2015. In addition our Instagram account is our fastest growing social media platform, as of May 2016 we have 977 followers.

Environmental Humanities Graduate Program
--Facebook: Environmental Humanities Graduate Program, University of Utah

Environmental & Sustainability Studies Program
--Facebook: University of Utah Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Daily Utah Chronicle
In the online edition, the "Opinion" section is listed by topic, including "Envrionment."

Sustainability Office Media
The Sustainability Office uses social media to highlight student sustainability research projects. The Office staff includes an Outreach Coordinator and a Campus Engagement Coordinator who write and produce reports on campus sustainability.

Sustainability U Sub-collection, USpace Institutional Repository (2016-present)
In 2016 the Marriott Library created a "Sustainability U" sub-collection within the USpace institutional Repository. This project is in response to the " Call to Action" (2015) issued by American Library Association Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT), the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, and the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS) in order to facilitate the discovery, dissemination and preservation of student sustainability projects and research.

Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC) Symposium:
The Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC) at the University is currently working with Digital Scholarship Services at the Marriott Library to create a digital journal that compiles abstracts from the annual GCSC Research Symposium.
The GCSC currently offer links to previous symposium students, their departments and the title of their research posters through http://environment.utah.edu/symposium/index.html.

Sustainable Inquiry (SCIF grant, 2014)
Sustainable Inquiry was a student-run, faculty-assisted, peer-reviewed publication focused on some of the greatest sustainability challenges of our times. Articles include undergraduate and graduate student research from the University of Utah. One issue was published in 2014. This project may be revived in the future.

Green Construction and Buildings
The University of Utah strives to provide a sustainable built environment for its students, employees, and visitors. All new building construction that costs more than $2.5 million is required to achieve Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), as well as perform 40% better than code energy performance. The State of Utah mandates energy efficiency in all state-owned buildings.

As these buildings are being constructed, signage and video clips are displayed to highlight green building features. While there are now twelve buildings on campus that are LEED certified, along with another nine buildings in progress for LEED certification. This article highlights sustainability signage found in the SJ Quinney College of Law building, which earned platinum LEED certification
URL: http://law.utah.edu/new-building/

Chartwells
The largest provider of food services on campus is University Dining Services, operated by Chartwells. They are committed to providing sustainable foods whenever possible, reducing their food waste and promoting composting and recycling. They purchase from many local suppliers, including the Edible Campus Gardens in season, for use in their daily operations. Chartwells has published a Sustainability Commitment document, which describes current practices as well as outlines future goals to increase support and use of sustainable food systems. Chartwells' commitment to sustainability is further strengthened by the commitments and global resources of its parent company, Compass Group North America.

Discovering Our Campus Arboretum: Standardizing and Updating our Tree Signs. (SCIF grant, 2015)
Student project to standardize and update tree plaques in order to bridge the gap between higher education and ecology of place.

State Arboretum Signs
The UniversMost information regarding our sustainable groundskeeping or landscaping strategies can be found on our Green Map, which is specifically focused on below in our walking map description.

Many of these landscaping strategies focus on a water-wise design, in an effort to use less water (using plants that also typically require less maintenance). Other features include native flora, efficient irrigation systems, as well as a stormwater garden and a bioretention facility.

Green Map URL: http://greenmap.utah.edu/

Our new S.J Quinney College of Law building also hosts several sustainable landscape designs, and signage for the following features can be found inside the building:

Adapted and Native Vegetation
The S.J. Quinney College of Law landscape is planted with both adapted and native vegetation that thrives in our warm, dry summers and can resist the cold, snowy winters. This saves water, beautifies the campus, provides shade, and encourages local fauna and flora to thrive, supporting the urban ecosystem.

Green Roof Terrace
This green rooftop terrace creates a beautiful and environmentally beneficial environment. The planted areas reduce storm run-o from the roof, contribute to local wildlife habitat and improve the insulation properties of the roof. Rainwater from the roof will be directed to the on-site stormwater holding tanks to recharge the aquifer and be used for campus landscape irrigation. Some of the concrete pavers on this roof have special pollution-absorbing properties that are being studied for efficacy by researchers in the College of Engineering.

Stormwater Retention
Rain gardens and underground detention tanks on the S.J. Quinney
College of Law site will capture all stormwater from the building plaza, sidewalk and roof. Planted areas will also hold rainwater from adjacent parking areas. The captured water will be held and slowly released into the ground at the site, to recharge groundwater aquifers and prevent runoff pollution of surface waters.

Translucent Photovoltaic Shading System
The roof garden shading system is constructed with translucent photovoltaic panels. This 50-kilowatt photovoltaic array is anticipated to generate approximately 5% of the power needed to operate the building. As part of the entire building project, the S.J. Quinney College of Law will also invest in offsite solar power.

Efficient Irrigation System
Landscaping on the S.J. Quinney College of Law site is watered with drip irrigation and highly efficient sprinkler heads. The irrigation system is tied into the campus control system, which allows the irrigation to respond to current temperature and humidity levels. This contributes to the University of Utah goal for water neutrality.

University of Utah Sustainability Walking Tour [map, print, n.d.][June, 2016]
This self-guided tour will show you how your school is implementing sustainable practices to create a greener future.

University of Utah Green Map
Created through a partnership between the U of U’s Sustainability Offices and the GIS Department in Facilities Management. The map showcases the sustainability projects, installations, and green infrastructure which exist on the U of U campus, and is regularly updated to reflect the most recent information and added enhancements. Many of these projects were initiated and completed with the help of on-campus departments and organizations, and we invite you to explore their other activities by clicking the links included in the map.

State Arboretum walking maps
The University of Utah campus is the State Arboretum. Walking tours highlight campus trees:

Official University of Utah Tree Tour:
URL: http://universityofutah.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=7c12aab3af204f35b74c22a8febcaf50

U of U Tree Identification Tour (2012)
URL: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/NR_FF_019pr.pdf

Commuter Services
Website offers tabs for "Mass Transit" and "Alternative Modes."
Mass Transit:
The University of Utah has entered into a contract with the Utah Transit Authority to provide students, faculty and staff access to TRAX, UTA buses and Frontrunner trains. There are three TRAX stations that service different areas of the campus, as well as many bus stop locations in and around campus, and often these mass transit hubs are closer to classrooms than permitted parking areas. The University also offers free Campus Shuttles, and even a website with Live Shuttle Tracking or text message locations.

Alternative Modes
Commuters can learn about alternative transit methods, including U Rideshare, Car Sharing, Bike to the U, and Van Pool. The Website also offers information about a program called "Safe Sidewalks are For Everyone" (SAFE), a campaign is to ensure a safe environment for pedestrians, riders, and drivers while helping avoid damage to University property and facilities by inappropriate use of wheeled devices. In 2015, the University started working with Zimride, a ride sharing network that has been very successful at other universities, and have so far had about 800 users sign up.

Bike to the U (Commuter Services)
Bicycling is convenient, healthy, and a sustainable alternative to driving to campus. It's virtually cost-free and allows much closer access to your destination than vehicle parking lots. Information includes a University Bicycle Parking Map (Google Map),
Campus Bicycle Guidelines, and a link to the Bicycle Master Plan (2011). The University of Utah is certified by the League of American Bicyclists as a Silver Bicycle Friendly University (2012)
URL: http://commuterservices.utah.edu/alternative-transit/bike.php

Safe Sidewalks are for Everyone (SAFE)
In 2013, the University of Utah proposed a policy to ban skateboards on campus, which would have eliminated a form of alternative transportation used by many students. The ban was avoided by implementing the SAFE campaign. The University of Utah is proud to be a commuter-friendly campus. We encourage the use of non-motorized forms of transportation by members of the community. The goal of the S.A.F.E. campaign is to ensure a safe environment for pedestrians, riders, and drivers while helping avoid damage to University property and facilities by inappropriate use of wheeled devices.
URL: http://commuterservices.utah.edu/alternative-transit/safe.php

Green Living Guide (2013)
The Sustainability Office has provided a Green Living Guide designed to help students live more sustainability and to learn about on- and off-campus resources.

Sustainable Utah Blog
The Sustainability Office also manages our blog, Sustainable Utah. We have over 65,000 all time views and over 1,000 followers for our Sustainable Utah blog. Sustainable Utah is a forum for sharing the U’s sustainability news, research, vision, and efforts toward a more sustainable future. Storytelling is an essential part of creating a culture of sustainability shared by the campus and surrounding communities. The blog is updated one to three times a week. In addition to our in house publishing, the Sustainability Office is leveraging stories to be published and distributed via the campus.

U EDR-Blog.org (Environmental Dispute Resolution Program)
the EDR Blog, hosted by the University of Utah’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (EDR Program). Established in 2012 as part of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment in the S.J. Quinney College of Law, the EDR Program exists to educate students and the public about the possibilities for collaboration, mediation and other dispute resolution processes as alternative methods to resolve public policy conflicts, especially around environmental and natural resource issues. The EDR Program is one of only a handful nationally with the capacity and tools to build consensus where agreement often seems too difficult or impossible to reach. The Environmental Dispute Resolution program (S.J. Quinney College of Law) partners with the Ecological Planning Center (College of Architecture + Planning)
URL: https://www.law.utah.edu/blogs/edr-blog/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sustainability Office Media
--Website: http://sustainability.utah.edu/
--Blog: Sustainableutah.wordpress.com
--Facebook: Sustainable U of U
--Facebook: Global Change & Sustainability Center
--Facebook: U of U Edible Campus Gardens

Tags: @sustainable U of U
#uofufarmersmarket #ediblecampusgardens #scif #movingu #sustainableuofu #recycleuofou #biketheuofu #recyclericeeccles #energyambassadorsuofu #ucleartheair #smartcommUTE

Environmental Humanities Graduate Program
--Facebook: Environmental Humanities Graduate Program, University of Utah

Environmental & Sustainability Studies Program
--Facebook: University of Utah Environmental and Sustainability Studies

BICYCLES & PEDESTRIANS

Commuter Services
URL: http://commuterservices.utah.edu/ (for more information, see STARS OP-18, IN-14)

STUDENT RESEARCH

J. Willard Marriott Library
--Sustainability U (Institutional Repository) : http://www.lib.utah.edu/digital-scholarship/sustainability-U.php