Green Initiatives and Accomplishments

Learn more about CMU's initiatives and accomplishments in:



Construction
  • The new Education Building, scheduled to open in fall 2009, will be CMU’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliant building (LEED Silver certification is expected) and will have a number of "green" components:
    • A "green roof" that reduces water runoff and can keep the building as much as 10 degrees cooler, reducing air-conditioning costs.
    • Rapidly renewable resources including bamboo, as well as many regional building materials.
    • Large windows and internal light shafts to maximize the use of natural light.
    • Energy efficient heating and cooling units.
    • Environmentally friendly adhesives, sealants, and paints.
  • All new facilities, as well as existing buildings undergoing renovation or expansion, will be designed and constructed per LEED standards.
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Recycling
  • CMU’s recycling increased from 456 tons in 2007 to 518 tons in 2008.
  • More than 750 new recycling containers for newspapers, bottles and cans were distributed across campus, including in classrooms and on every residence hall floor.
  • In addition, 1,850 new recycling containers were purchased so that one could be placed within each residence hall room.
  • In 2008 CMU participated for the first time in Recyclemania, a 10-week nationwide competition among colleges and universities that aims to increase awareness of recycling and waste minimization; CMU will participate again in 2009.
  • Facilities Management and the Office of Residence life presented a fall 2008 competition among CMU's 22 residence halls to encourage increased recycling among students.
  • Members of the Student Environmental Alliance retrieved and recycled water bottles and plastic popcorn buckets in an around Kelly/Shorts Stadium after home football games in 2008.
  • CMU worked with Apple in August 2008 to recycle 4,800 pounds of computer systems, monitors, printers, and other electronic devices at no cost to the university.
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Energy Utilities
  • CMU is the first and only Michigan university to have a wood energy system. Installed in 1985, the boiler was idle for more than a decade until rising natural gas costs prompted the university to restart it in 2001, resulting in an average annual savings of $1.4M over the past six years.
  • 70 percent of annual campus steam needs are produced using wood, a renewable energy source. Most of the wood is purchased from within 50 miles of campus.
  • Using wood chips allows CMU to have a much smaller carbon footprint than most universities of comparable size.
  • A steam absorption chiller, which produces chilled water for air conditioning, was refurbished in 2008. This change allows the turbine to produce electricity year-round and replaces an electric chiller, avoiding $570,000 in annual utility costs.
  • "Turn it off" decals on light switches campuswide encourage energy conservation.
  • Low-flow faucet aerators were installed in restrooms across campus.
  • Low-flow showerheads are being installed in residence halls and athletic facilities.
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CMU Campus Dining/Aramark
  • Trays were removed from residential restaurants on campus in fall 2008, reducing the amount of water, energy, and food waste.
  • Local Michigan produce is used whenever possible. In 2007 CMU Campus Dining used 721 cases of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
  • CMU Campus Dining’s primary supplier backhauls its loads to avoid running empty trucks, thereby reducing the carbon footprint.
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Carbon Footprint, Transportation, etc.
  • CMU assessed its carbon footprint – a measurement of greenhouse gases produced by humans that indicates the impact human activities have on the environment – in summer 2008.
    • During the 2007 fiscal year, CMU produced 81,938 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions - only 4.12 metric tons per full-time, on-campus student.
    • Energy emissions account for 80 percent of CMU's carbon footprint, making it the largest factor.
    • The second most significant factor is transportation, accounting for 14 percent of CMU’s carbon footprint.
  • CMU began converting its maintenance vehicles to B-20 biodiesel fuel in 2008.
  • In fall 2008, CMU Facilities Management purchased its first electric truck.
  • Carpooling and public transportation use is encouraged.
    • Faculty and staff can participate in a voluntary ride share program.
    • Students can access a voluntary ride share board located in the Bovee University Center.
    • Bus shelters and bike racks are strategically located across campus.
  • CMU has been transitioning to green-certified cleaning products for use by custodial operations.
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