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Asumag 924 201407 Sustaining Momentum 118130451
Asumag 924 201407 Sustaining Momentum 118130451
Asumag 924 201407 Sustaining Momentum 118130451
Asumag 924 201407 Sustaining Momentum 118130451
Asumag 924 201407 Sustaining Momentum 118130451

Sustaining momentum

July 1, 2014
If you are looking to recruit the best students to your school, then be prepared to be fully transparent about your sustainability program. If you do not have a sustainability program in place yet, here are some guidelines to help you get started.

Whether selecting institutions that provide early education or selecting universities for higher ed, many factors influence the decision-making process for both students and their parents. Factors such as location, quality of education, academic and athletic reputation, student life, community involvement, and diversity have always played a crucial role in the decision-making process. What’s new is the recent shift toward selecting institutions that embrace sustainable and green programs. With heightened awareness around green efforts in recent years, more students are selecting institutions that emphasize and embrace sustainable practices.

An environmentally conscious reputation not only raises a school’s profile but also helps attract students, faculty, staff – not to mention alumni donations – while benefiting the planet. Who doesn’t want to attend school in a facility that strives for better air quality, less exposure to toxins and minimal waste?

We’ve entered the age of transparency. With information much more easily accessible than it used to be, educational institutions are stepping up. They are investing resources to adopt sustainable maintenance and operational practices and communicating openly and proudly about these practices. If you are looking to recruit the best students to your school, then be prepared to be fully transparent about your sustainability program. If you do not have a sustainability program in place yet, here are some guidelines to help you get started.

1. Conduct a thorough inspection of your facilities.

In order to create a sustainable program, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of current maintenance practices, processes and products. Suggested steps to take include:

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  • Determine current products and processes. Make a list of every product used or process employed at your institution and the effect each has on the environment. Depending on the size of your institution and the scope of work, create a task force to streamline common processes without sacrificing thoroughness.
  • Speak with staff and students to determine their needs. Speaking with the people who use the facility the most will help you understand where the greatest needs are and what products and processes can address those needs. This will also help when determining areas where you can improve sustainability.
  • Model best practices after current sustainable zones. Isolate practices, processes and locations at your institution that operate sustainably and look for ways to replicate in other areas of your facility.
  • Measure and summarize all operations and products with environmental attributes. Industry-wide certifications are there to help you and serve as benchmarks for environmentally conscious purchases of computer products, office supplies, desks and furniture, cleaning supplies, and lighting, among other categories.
  • Know your products. Whenever possible, purchase cleaning supplies that have received Green Seal, Design for the Environment (DFE), or Eco Logo certification; these certification logos should be easily located on the product label. Whether they have received certification or not, ensure that all chemicals used in cleaning are environmentally friendly. People suffering from asthma or other respiratory ailments often react negatively to products that contain volatile organic compounds.

2. Educate, encourage and engage before and during implementation.

Comprehensive analysis and evaluation of areas for improvement is crucial to planning a school-wide sustainability program, but education in support of the new products and processes that are introduced as a result of that analysis is equally important. Many people have a limited understanding of sustainability, why it’s important, and how it can be implemented in ways other than recycling. Offer training sessions geared toward each group of people within your institution. For example, elementary school students don’t need to learn about eco-friendly ways to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, but they should understand the importance of shutting off the lights when they leave a room. Meanwhile maintenance staff should be shown how to properly use new products.

To reinforce sustainable habits, post supportive signage throughout facilities as a constant reminder of the school’s commitment to sustainability and how each person can make a difference. Introduce a kickoff party or competition with incentives and send emails at regular intervals highlighting new sustainability initiatives at the school or in the broader community. Additionally, make recycling easy by installing recycle bins in areas such as classrooms, teacher lounges, eating areas, and high foot-traffic locations.

3. Structure the program based on needs and budget.

Furniture can provide an eco-friendly option for schools, contributing to create better indoor air quality for building occupants.

Based on your evaluation of operational and maintenance practices at your institution, you should have an understanding of your specific needs. However, no school operates on an unlimited budget, so target initiatives based on needs and budgetary constraints. Consider the following initiatives as a place to start:

  • Set printing limits for students and staff. Encourage teachers to take advantage of overhead projectors and emailed or web-based documents in lieu of hard copies. When paper is required, ensure it is made from recycled content.
  • Redefine your documents settings. Review and establish new standards for your documents margins, font, and line spacing. Moderate adjustments can reduce paper consumption by 5-10 percent. Have your technology department conduct an enterprise-wide software and equipment reset and effectively communicate to faculty, staff and students the results of the new standards.
  • Establish standards for suppliers. Partner with organizations and suppliers that meet strict vendor codes of conduct for sustainable practices. If your current suppliers do not offer environmentally friendly options, engage in dialogue on meeting standards or consider new suppliers.
  • Consider sustainable furniture purchasing options. Many furniture materials are made with volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that may have an “off-gassing” effect, releasing harmful particles into the air that can be toxic or irritating to people with respiratory diseases or chemical sensitivities. Confirm with the manufacturers that they have used low-VOC or no-VOC finishes. Many sustainable furniture options will avoid such issues.
  • Prioritize sustainable computing for IT products. Reduce the use of hazardous materials, maximize energy efficiency during the product’s lifetime, and promote the recyclability or biodegradability of defunct products and factory waste.

4. Apply for certifications for your facility.

There are many certifications out there that can help you determine what products and processes are sustainable. On the same note, institutions can apply for similar certifications. Certifications such as LEED, ENERGY STAR, Green Seal, STARS, and Green Globe offer third-party validation of a project’s green features according to distinct rating systems.

These certifications are well known and highly respected, and they have the power to make an impact on school ratings, public perception and prospective student interest. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the certifications and their requirements as a guideline for implementing an institution-wide sustainability program.

5. Evaluate progress and success.

Once you get underway, to further ensure your commitment to sustainability, regularly measure the program’s progress and success by using the certification requirements as a model. Also, continue to survey the school building occupants – from students, to teachers, to maintenance staff – for thoughts on the state of sustainability in your school.

If you establish firm, clear sustainability guidelines and commit to the program you will be well on your way to transforming your current institution into a sustainable one and enhancing your overall reputation.

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