Strategy
Notre Dame’s Sustainability Strategy is centered around three strategic goals:
- Reduce Emissions: Reduce the University’s carbon and other energy related emissions through conservation, efficiency, technology and optimization of fuel utilization and energy sources.
- Conserve Resources: Optimize resource utilization on campus with a focus on overall waste reduction and increasing reuse and recycling.
- Increase Awareness: Expand sustainability knowledge and understanding at Notre Dame through communication and outreach, with a particular focus on the connection between sustainability, Catholic Social Teaching and the Common Good.
Goal 1: Reduce Emissions
Target: Reduce carbon footprint from 2005 levels by 50% per gross square foot by 2030
In order to achieve this ambitious goal, Notre Dame will continue to employ a variety of strategies, including:
- Conservation: Conservation is a critical component of reducing carbon emissions, and it requires the participation of the entire campus community. Conservation includes turning off lights, adjusting thermostats appropriately, and turning off unneeded equipment.
- Efficiency: Notre Dame has thus far invested over $10 million in efficiency measures such T5 and T8 fluorescent lighting, LED lighting, variable speed ventilation fans, and premium efficiency pumps.
- Technology: Motion sensor-controlled lighting, heating, and cooling and daylight-sensing outdoor lights reduce energy use as well.
- Optimization of energy sources: Utilization of a greater percentage of gas versus coal in recent years has contributed significantly to reductions in carbon emissions. Notre Dame has also installed several renewable energy pilot programs.
What You Can Do:
- Adhere to the Thermostat Set-Point Policy
- Turn off lights when you leave the room, and use daylight when possible
- Unplug appliances not currently in use
- Use CFLs or LED lamps, not incandescent light bulbs
- Purchase Energy Star refrigerators and other appliances
- Report broken thermostats
- Set your computer and monitor to go to sleep when not in use
- If you work in an office, read the Notre Dame Guide to Sustainable Office Practices
- Get Green Office Certified!
- If you work in a lab, sign up for a greeNDiscovery energy audit
Goal 2: Conserve Resources
Target: Increase landfill diversion rate to 50% of total waste by 2016 and 67% by 2030
Waste reduction has two aspects: reducing resource use and diverting waste from landfill. Reducing resource use by avoiding unnecessary disposable products is the first choice. “Landfill diversion” means finding a better destination for anything that would otherwise end up in the trash: it includes recycling, composting, and donating. Notre Dame will continue to expand on existing waste reduction strategies, including:
- Improving access to single stream and specialty-item recycling
- Converting administrative processes to paperless formats
- Expanding opportunities for reuse and donation
- Reducing the use of bottled water on campus
What You Can Do:
- Go paperless: look for ways to minimize printing
- Ban the bottle: avoid bottled water and other over-packaged goods
- Reuse: choose rechargeable batteries, reusable dishware, and other items that can be reused
- Recycle: everything except food and liquid can be recycled on campus
- Donate: rather than throw something away that someone else could use, donate it throughOld2Gold, ND Lights, or one of the campus clothing drives.
- Get Green Office Certified!
Goal 3: Increase Awareness
Target: Continually increase understanding of and engagement in campus sustainability initiatives among students, staff, and faculty each year
Notre Dame will continue to expand on its diverse education and outreach programming in a variety of ways, including:
- Student events and competitions
- The Green Ambassadors program
- The greeNDiscovery laboratory efficiency program
- Partnerships with Residence Hall Staff and Sustainability Commissioners
What You Can Do:
- Educate yourself: Watch for lectures and events and keep up with sustainability news
- Get involved: Join greeND, Students for Environmental Action, or your office Green Team
- Join the conversation: Participate in campus sustainability discussions on Facebook
- Do some research: Investigate campus opportunities as well as online resources
- Get Green Office Certified!