Sustainability Division

In an effort to bring sustainability awareness to the forefront, representatives from the Sustainability Division have been participating in campus and off campus events including the University’s annual Service Fair, “Taking Care of Business” an orientation for freshmen, Residence Advisory Fair, Teaching Assistance Fair, Staff to Staff presentation, Westcott Cultural Fair, and Taste of Westcott. More info

University Food Services

University Food Services (UFS) has proven it is not hard or inconvenient to be sustainable and provide top rated service to its customers.  Purchasing as many products locally, whenever possible, either directly from the producer or through local distributors, has cut down on the many miles a product would have had to travel to our campus.    The vendors currently providing locally grown or produced food items are; Beak & Skiff, Ramona’s Dressings, Plainville Turkey, Byrne Dairy, and Crowley Yogurt.   In addition to purchasing local foods, organic products are available for purchase in the Gallery Snack Bar and the Schine Dining Center.  Items you can purchase, include, fruit, pretzels, burritos, cereal, milk, yogurt, beef burgers, vegetarian burgers, cookies, crackers and cracker snack products, and bottled tea.  Every Friday, Schine Student Center Food Services offers a “Country Fare”, a small scale farmers’ market, providing local and specialty products. More info

University Community Harvest Farmers' Market

The University Community Harvest Farmers’ Market is presented by Syracuse University and the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry and is open to the public.  The market made its debut during the summer of 2007 and will be held on four Fridays during the Central New York growing season.  More info

University Bookstore

The University Bookstore has implemented sustainability initiatives throughout its stores.  The monthly newsletter “Shelf Life” is produced on recycled paper. More info

Parking and Transit Services

Parking and Transit Services has developed parking initiatives with a sustainable transportation twist.  The Park and Ride Program, Carpooling and Ride Sharing Programs and the Zip Car program are all sustainable initiatives that were instituted with faculty, staff and students as the benefiting party.   As enrollment increases for these programs the University will see sustainability benefits in the form of less traffic on campus and will a decrease in transportation emission on campus. More info

Energy and Computing Management

The University is in the process of a Campus Metering Project, resulting in upgrading utility meters on campus to quantify changes in energy consumption resulting from approved projects and policy changes. Through this project, all existing electrical meters in facilities serviced by campus substations, upon completion of the project, will provide real-time data. This project will enable SU to receive additional grant monies from NYSERDA and to achieve LEED Certification. 
The first phase of this project was completed in September 2007 when the existing campus metering system server hardware and software were upgraded. The entire project is slated to be completed in fiscal year 2010.

The Campus Sustainability Committee

A Task Force was created and charged with developing and suggesting a plan that would consider whether or not the University should be a smoke-free campus. This task force reports their suggestions to the Campus Sustainability Committee for use by the Chancellor and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to consider the proposal. More info.

Responsible Investment Practices

Effective April 2007, SU increased the attention given to reviewing and voting proxies for shareholders proposals related to environmental, social or governance (ESG) issue, making certain that strategic investments are consistent with the University’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Recycling

Recycling is a hot topic at the University   Presently the University recycles batteries, paper, metals, plastics, solvents, paints, ink and toner cartridges, fluorescent lamps, sawdust, pallets, tires, televisions, printers, computers and other electronic items, and landscape material from pruning and weeding. More info

Campus Planning Design and Construction

When the University signed the Presidents Climate Commitment (PCC) the University committed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for new buildings and renovations exceeding $10,000,000. For more information on LEED standards and certification and the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for more information on LEED http://www.greenuniversecity.syr.edu/LEED.html  and US Green Building Council www.usgbc.org
Over the past several years, Campus Planning Design and Construction (CPDC) has been leading the University’s effort to receive LEED certification in numerous University projects. More info