Governance & Administration

Policies -

Comprehensive environmental policy - priority areas include academics, operations, and community, includes Duke University and Health System.
Comprehensive Green Purchasing policy - addresses and recognizes potential impacts of campus purchasing -- highlighted in the June issue of University Business magazine for green purchasing program

Duke Stores Green Purchasing policy - outlines the purchasing component of Duke Store's plan to "green" its products and services; marketing strategy to move environmentally preferable products off the shelves.
Remanufactured toner cartridges policy - any purchase of toners from Duke's office supply vendor will automatically substitute remanufactured product
Energy Star policy - in all areas for which ENERGY STAR ratings exist, the products that Duke purchases will be ENERGY STAR certified or meet the performance requirements for ENERGY STAR certification…in areas for which guidelines are not available, Duke will seek energy efficient products.

University Design Guidelines -

All new construction and renovation will be LEED certified
Energy conservation and efficiency of mechanical/electrical systems and equipment is of prime importance
The trees on campus are as cherished as the vintage architecture

Campus Stormwater Management Plan - main goal is that human activities will have minimal or no adverse impacts on the environment.
Campus Master Plan - "Duke is a university in the forest" - 4th Principle of Duke's Master Plan; "conservation zones" are designated for protection on campus. Assets to be conserved include forested areas, fragile ecological areas, riparian corridors, the Duke Gardens and central open spaces
Natural Areas registry - agreement with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to place 1,220 acres of Duke Forest in the Registry of Natural Heritage Areas, setting it aside from development and invasive research.

Staff -

Sustainability Coordinator, reporting directly to the Exec. VP
Sustainability Outreach Coordinator within Office of Exec. VP
Green Purchasing Coordinator within Procurement Services
Green Dining Coordinator within Dining Dept.
LEED Coordinator within Office of Duke Health System Architect
Developing Energy Efficiency Manager position with Facilities Dept.
EMS Coordinator within Office of Env. Safety

Committees -

Environmental Management Advisory committee - reports to Assoc. VP of Facilities about campus-wide sustainability issues
Duke Transit Advisory committee - reports to VP Campus Services about impact of transportation planning, recommendations, and improvements
Committee on Facilities and the Environment - charged to review all projects that are destined for consideration by the Building and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees. The committee has the responsibility of commenting on facilities and the environmental issues of University projects.
Duke Forest committee - responsible for planning future of Duke Forest
Duke University Student Dining Advisory committee - student committee about dining and its campus impacts
Adhoc Green Dining Committee - promotes, develops and raises awareness about people and planet healthy eating on campus
Adhoc Green Labs Committee - focuses on ways to help research labs reduce waste, avoid hazards, and conserve resources

Operations

Many of the policies listed above affect operations across campus. The following list describes only a fraction of the many operational programs that support Duke's commitment to sustainability.

Sixteen registered (or higher level) LEED projects including lab buildings, dormitories and classroom space

Projects of the University Wetland Center include transforming a degraded creek in western Durham into eight acres of wetlands containing areas of open lake, marshes, and bottomland hardwoods; The Duke Forest Stormwater Improvement and Wetlands Restoration Project aims to improve the hydrology, habitat, and water quality of Sandy Creek before its confluence with New Hope Creek.

Currently planning redevelopment of 200-acre Central campus that will integrate ecological sustainability initiatives into all aspects of the project, from designing a transit-oriented walkable campus to restoring biological diversity.

The second-largest university purchaser of green power in US; Purchaser Award at the 2005 Southeast Green Energy Summit.

Facilities Management Department committed to energy efficiency and sustainability; programs include regular steam trap maintenance program, saved over $250,000 since 1995; using biodegradable transformer fluid; developing long-term energy policy to guide future campus development

Conducted comprehensive campus GHG gas emissions inventory and developed a feasibility study of the numerous mitigation options; currently considering future GHG policy decisions

Conducted a comprehensive inventory of environmental impacts associated with campus dining; subsequent projects include "green" criteria in the campus evaluation of dining facilities, the Divinity School hiring an environmentally and socially responsible vendor for the school's restaurant, and current evaluation of the origins of Duke's food

80 alternative fuel vehicles in campus fleet including buses and sanitation trucks that run on biodiesel or CNG.

Transportation department promotes alternatives such as carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, and public transit.

Currently collect 17 different types of recyclables, diverting over 1250 tons of traditional recyclables from the landfill each year; collect many non-traditional recyclables, such as food compost, motor oil, pallets, coal ash and tires, reducing waste stream by an additional 5,000 tons; recently started a Rechargeable Battery and Cell Phone Recycling Program

Partner in Hospitals for Healthy Environment, committed to the elimination of mercury in the University's solid waste stream by the end of 2005.

Reprocessing medical instruments rather than utilizing single-use disposable instruments; realized savings of 40% since inception.

The new Duke Computer Exchange Program, developed by Community Affairs and Procurement, recycles Duke computers for use in Durham schools and community centers

Duke's Environmental Management System - a systematic process for moving the university from regulatory compliance to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Office of Information Technology (OIT) makes double-sided printing the default on campus printers

Developed a "Duke Green Event Guide" to inform campus event planning

Partnership between Procurement and campus office supply vendor has produced a "Green Shopping List" available to campus purchasers; 38% of purchases are EarthSaver products

Procurement Services and lab supplier have begun labeling EarthSmart lab products and developing a pipette tip recycling program

Curriculum & Research

Nicholas School for the Environment -

Majors -

Environmental Science and Policy
Environmental Sciences
Earth and Ocean Sciences
Earth and Ocean Sciences
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Minors -

Environmental Science and Policy
Earth and Ocean Sciences

Opportunities (open to all undergraduates, any major)

Semester or summer of study Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort,
Spring Beaufort-to-Bermuda semester is recognized by the Office of Study Abroad

Professional Degrees -

Master of Environmental Management degree teaches students how to analyze and manage natural environments for human benefit and ecosystem health. Tracks:

Coastal Environmental Management
Environmental Economics and Policy
Environmental Health and Security
Forest Resource Management
Global Environmental Change
Conservation Science and Policy
Ecosystem Science and Management
Water and Air Resources

Two certificate programs can be pursued by students in any of the professional degree programs.

Energy and Environment
Geospatial Analysis

Master of Forestry degree develops experts in sustainable management of forested ecosystems. Students follow the Forest Resource Management track.
Concurrent degrees in law, business, public policy and teaching
Doctoral tracks -

Earth & Ocean Sciences
Coastal Systems Science & Policy
Environmental Sciences & Policy
Ecology
Integrated Toxicology

Continuing and Executive Education -

The Duke Environmental Leadership Program improves the knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and leadership capacity among practicing environmental professionals, business executives, graduate students and K-12 teachers and students.

Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions - marshals the broad resources of Duke University -- including the Duke Law School, the Fuqua School of Business and the Nicholas School -- to provide independent analysis on key environmental issues to corporate and environmental leaders, policy makers and the news media.

Program II - alternative self-designed degree program for Duke undergraduates that can often integrate several sustainability issues that are not available in the formal curriculum

Study Abroad

School for International Training - many opportunities such as:

Australia: Sustainability and the Environment
Mekong Delta: Natural and Cultural Ecology

School for Field Studies - students work together with communities around the world to learn real environmental problem-solving skills.
Two additional programs are available -

ECOSA Institute - Educational Programs in Sustainable, Ecological and Regenerative Design
Living Routes - study abroad in eco-villages

Pratt School of Engineering - offers opportunities for sustainable study in courses such as:

"Sustainable Engineering: Environmental Factors in the Design, Construction, and Operation of the Built Environment"
"Advanced Living Technology Course" - gives students the opportunity to design, build, and prepare projects for the Smart House (Pratt's live-in laboratory) and the Environmental Protection Agency's student design competition for sustainability

Duke Forest - (7,050 acres) In terms of size, diversity, accessibility and accumulated long-term data, the Forest is a resource for studies related to forest ecosystems and the environment that is unrivaled at any other university.

Community Service and Outreach

Students for Sustainable Living - student corp. engaging and educating the campus

The Eco-Olympics, a dorm vs. dorm energy, waste and water reduction competition

Green Grant Fund - $50,000 yearly to fund student, staff and faculty led initiatives to "green" Duke.

EMAC awards designed to reward campus groups and individuals committed to sustainability

Center for Documentary Studies course that teaches students documentary skills by producing a photographic and narrative display for the Faculty Commons. The documentary project focuses on the fieldworkers, farmers and distributors that provide food to the Faculty Commons.

Facilities and the undergraduate environmental group Environmental Alliance team up every fall to provide over 900 compact florescent bulbs to incoming freshman.

"Recycle for the Children" - football game recycling, revenue goes to benefit the Duke Children's Hospital.

Garbology Studies - students perform waste audits on two of the dorms at Duke.

Move Out for Charity - collect clothing, furniture, appliances, food, cinderblocks, wood, etc.

Duke GROWS project gives student volunteers and Grounds the opportunity to work together through community service and help beautify Durham.

Durham Neighborhood Partnership program seeks to enrich and improve conditions for Duke and the surrounding schools and neighborhoods.

Durham Community Environmental Coalition improves communication and partnership between the different groups working on environmental issues in Durham County

Annual summer Duke Farmer's Market

Developing campus Bike Station to provide minor bike repairs, flat tire fixes, and information about bike commuting and safety.

Free bike Fix-up Days, community bike rides

Educational Outreach/Presentations (2004-2006) -

"What's for Dinner?" - asked campus community members to consider how their food is grown, processed and prepared.

"Oil on Ice" Film

"Energy and its Impact on Indigenous Arctic Nations

"Eating Local in a Global Market

"Where Will the Natural Gas Come From?

"Controversy Surrounding Biofuels

"Ethics of Environmentally Responsible Health Care

"Facility-Level Greenhouse Gas Management

"Factory Farming and the Environment

"Gas Pump 2025

"Green Roofs

Divinity School "Holy & Beautiful: Greening Sacred Spaces" conference

"Cancer & Environment" conference

"Conflict & the Environment" Conference

"Triangle Peak Oil" conference

Denis Hayes - national coordinator of the first Earth Day, "Earth Day Then and Now: What Have We Learned?

Gregory Norris - addressing the environmental impacts of large institutions and Life Cycle Thinking to reduce those impacts

Multimedia Display on Green Building and Purchasing

Eco-Concert featuring Guster's first annual "Campus Consciousness Tour

Tour of biomass plant in Craven County, NC

Invasive Plant workshops

Robertson Program Seminars on "Energy in Transition

Sponsored Sustainable Agriculture Conference; Students United for a Responsible Global Environment conference

Student Environmental Groups -

Environmental Alliance

Duke University Greening Initiative

Social Impact Club

Environmental Law Society

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Duke Bike Advocates

WOODS - environmental education in local schools

Project WILD - pre-orientation wilderness education for undergraduates

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