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University of Central Oklahoma 2007 Campus Sustainability Leadership Award Application

Category

Four-year and graduate institutions over 7,500 student FTE

Contact

Located in Edmond, Oklahoma the University of Central Oklahoma is home to over 15,000 students.  UCO is recognized as a wildlife habitat and is on the way to earning recognition as a botanical garden.  UCO is a beautiful campus in a beautiful city.

Lane G. Perry
Assistant, Executive Vice President
100 North University Drive,
Edmond, OK
405-974-2556
lperry@ucok.edu

Governance & Administration

The University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), with more than 15,000 students and 650 full-time and adjunct faculty, is sited on 206 acres with approximately 1.6 million square feet of space in 45 buildings.

The Administrative Division is where the example for sustainability and environmental stewardship begins. The Administrative Division has to "be" the change they want to see in their university and only by being the example will others recognize their efforts. Through Administrative directives UCO has committed to the following sustainability objectives:

• 100% Green Energy by means of wind
• Gain status as one of the leading Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partners
• Development of “on sight bio-diesel” for all diesel vehicles
• Focus on the operations of work weeks, LEAN processes and performance contracting
• UCO Recyling Program for Sustainability
• Create a safe environment that does not only focus on environmental sustainability, but also on human sustainability.

The Administrative Division set the objectives in motion by giving each department the facilitative powers needed in order to implement sustainability change. The example set by the Administration by empowering the employees is what led to the success of our sustainability program.

Operations

The Environmental Protection Agency applauded UCO’s wind power leadership position through numerous accolades. UCO ranks in the Top Ten Universities and Colleges in the United States in Green Power usage. UCO is a proud member of the Green Power Leadership Club and was recently recognized at the EPA’s annual banquet for our number one position in the EPA Partner Challenge. UCO partnered with the local Electric Authority, Edmond Electric, in order to purchase wind energy and currently uses 26,000 mwh.

In 2006, the employees of the Physical Plant took advantage of administrative support and the opportunity to use their abilities to promote change in the world of Bio-Diesel. The employees of the Physical Plant recognized a problem that came with an opportunity. The department explored a move from Petrol-Diesel to Bio-Diesel fuel for their equipment. Bio-Diesel is fuel produced for diesel engines from vegetable oil or animal fat. This change allowed UCO to embrace a more economical fuel source, a more environmentally friendly fuel substitute, and create a template for other interested parties to implement.

Lean University, a 2007 SACUBO Best Practice Award winning program designed by the UCO staff, works to eliminate waste in processes. The use of Lean University has resulted in significant savings to the university in terms of financial and human resources. The Center for Strategic Improvement was founded to be the voice of Lean. It has been UCO’s privilege to present at NACUBO, NCCI, SACUBO, and the Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning. UCO has also formed a local consortium to pursue joint purchasing among higher education institutions in the greater OKC area. Although only in its beginning phase, this venture is expected to save UCO in excess of $100,000 per year by the second year of operation. The Facilities Management department Leaned their work-order process with the implementation of an online work-order system. Response time was reduced from 24 to 2 days (an 89% improvement), customer service improved and paper cost was cut annually by $14,000. UCO sells surplus items on eBay rather than sending them back to the State of Oklahoma surplus. This practice has generated over $70,000 in additional revenue. Finally, by making alterations to our summer schedule, the consolidation of classes to fewer buildings and the implementation of a 40 hour/4 ½ day work week during the summer, the university has saved over $100,000 per year.

Through performance contracting with Johnson Controls, Inc., major energy improvements have been made in the condition of the campus infrastructure which will be paid for with the guaranteed utility savings to be accrued from the projects accomplished. Emergency conditions have disappeared, and customer satisfaction with facilities conditions is as high as it has ever been. At the end of the second full year of measurement and verification, more than $3.1M has been saved and we have reduced our greenhouse gases by 24M pounds.

These directives from the Administration have assisted in our stance to be stewards of our resources.

Recycling:

• Paper, plastic, glass, cardboard
• Used motor oil and antifreeze
• Tires
• Vehicle Batteries
• Dry cell batteries
• Scrap metal
• Aluminum cans
• Donation of toner cartridges for recycling
• Reclamation and reuse of refrigerants
• Some offices buy printer cartridges that are refillable
• Production of bio-diesel from used cooking oil

Energy/utility efficiencies via Performance Contract:

• Energy efficient chillers and boilers
• Motion detectors to control lights
• Thermal energy storage tank
• Energy efficient lights/ballasts
• Generator to reduce electrical demand load
• Reduced water consumption
• Wind power – UCO purchases 100% Wind power
• Energy misers on vending machines
• Energy Management and Control System for HVAC automation

Landscape Management:

• Computer controlled irrigation system
• Mulching
• Integrated pest management
• Plans to become botanical garden
• Wildlife Habitat (National Wildlife Federation)
• Disposal of litter

Disposal of excess property:

• Reuse of property on campus
• Donations to public schools
• Disposal through State Surplus Property Office
• E-bay sales

Hazardous Materials Management:

• Limitation of paints that harm environment
• Disposal of lab chemicals through authorized vendors
• Use of chemical dilution tank
• Proper removal and disposal of asbestos
• Purchase of servers with reduced lead content
• Disposal of motor pool fluids through authorized vendors

Use of technology for efficiency:

• IPODS – Professors using IPODS in the classroom
• Telephone servers have replaced tape backup systems
• SANS – Storage solution replaces backup tapes
• Enterprise Software – Purchase of Enterprise software saves campus money/time
• On-line services – Reduces need for paper: receipts, reports, etc. Reduces number of
• students waiting in line; reduces need for staff at enrollment counter
• On-line credit card and check payment services - Reduced number of students waiting in Bursar line

Use of technology for energy savings/paper savings:

• Use of carts in place of trucks for deliveries
• On-line surveys – Reduce need for paper forms
• Mass E-mails reduce need for paper
• On line forms reduce paper forms/reports
• WebCT – Course Management tool – reduces need for paper

Use of technology for security/confidentiality:

• JCI provides network capabilities
• Key control boxes – secure keys to prevent loss
• Video Surveillance protects assets and personnel

Transportation and Parking:

• Broncho Bus provides public transportation alternative option
• Broncho Bus routes - designed to frequent several high-UCO-occupancy apartment complexes surrounding campus, to reduce students commuting to campus
• Biking - Broncho Bus & Edmond Trolleys have been outfitted to hold up bikes (4 on
• Broncho Bus, 3 on Trolleys) with a front-mounting bike rack system
• H.O.V. - High Occupancy Vehicle program for commuter students
• Carpooling - thru our transportation vendor (Metro Transit), carpooling partnerships can be created
• Chariot - electric personal mobility unit (instead of fuel-powered vehicles)
• UCO now has 625 bicycle rack spaces

Items- future consideration:

• Van pooling for faculty, staff, and students
• Expand H.O.V. program
• Revamp fleet vehicle program - use a standardized motor pool to eliminate
• unnecessary vehicles being owned by UCO (more of a rent-a-car system charged for the use); fleet of hybrid or high MPG vehicles for university use
• Biking - create biking regulations, trail markings, registration, and enforcement
• Hiring of a full time Sustainability Coordinator
• Establishing a UCO Sustainability web page on the UCO web site

Curriculum & Research

The College of Math and Science and the College of Business have joined efforts in using Bio-Diesel as a medium for learning. Both university colleges have invested their time and the student’s class time to learning more about Bio-Diesel. The college of Math and Science and the department of Engineering and Physics have invested their time in studying the effects of Bio-Diesel on diesel engines and the environment in which they are used. There are students doing independent research on these effects and through this process the students are acquiring real world applications to the theories practiced in class. The same opportunities are occurring in the College of Business. Students have studied the operations management aspect of Bio-Diesel creation as well as the cost analysis per gallon. The students are gaining value to the purpose of their education by taking advantage of the opportunities to apply the theories learned in the classroom into the real world.

The Center for Strategic Improvement (CSI), the voice of Lean, is currently preparing a series of courses certifying Lean facilitators and managers for higher education that will begin in the fall of 2007. These courses are being offered in conjunction with the College of Business in order to offer certification for students. This project component is in the nascent stages of development and should be implemented in fall of 2008. The CSI will offer the courses for the Lean facilitators and managers for higher education first and through this endeavor prepare a student certification program.

Sustainability Research
Bio-diesel
Process Improvement

Classes taught at UCO:
BIO 2263 Environmental Biology
BIO 3544 Ecology and Lab
BIO 4334 Environmental Microbiology
BIO 4204 Plant Ecology and Lab
ECON 4713 Resource Economics
HLTH 3162 Environmental Health
MGMT 4813 Strategic Management Policy
NURS 4124 Community Health Nursing I
GEO 3703 Conservation of Natural Res.
GEO 4813 Geographic Current Events
POL 4423 Environmental Politics
SFTY 3633 International Safety
SFTY 4123 Industrial Safety I
SFTY 4163 Environmental Safety
SFTY 4323 Underground Storage Tank Mng.
SFTY 4333 Storm Water Management

Campus Culture

In an effort to resolve longstanding facility energy and capital investment problems and help keep tuition prices manageable, the university has followed ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management in a facility upgrade project that is avoiding more than $3.1M in utility bill payments and helping the university improve its image with students and the public.

The project also is reaping tremendous environmental benefits, and by 2024 will have natural gas reductions that will avoid the production of 272 tons of greenhouse gases, electrical reductions that will avoid the production of 9,924 tons of CO2, and water consumption reduced by 400 million gallons.

To raise awareness about energy efficiency among students, the staff has developed creative ideas, such as door hangers for dorm rooms with energy-saving tips on one side and the football schedule on the other, and launching an environmental group for students. The Office of Facilities Management provides posters and flyers to show how the university is reducing its utility bills to make funds available for other campus enhancement purposes.

UCO has also formed a local consortium to pursue joint purchasing among higher education institutions in the greater OKC area. Although only in its beginning phase, this venture is expected to save UCO in excess of $100,000 per year by the second year of operation. Additionally, the campus has involved several student clubs in activities on Earth Day, Arbor Day, Energy Conservation Awareness Week and the Big Event Program (Day of community service). There are numerous student organizations that have been inspired by the example set by the University’s faculty and staff programs. One organization, Leaders of Tomorrow, has raised over 10,000 cans for the non-profit organization Cans for Africa and has done a combined effort of 2,500 hours of community engagement. The UCO Recycling Program is working in conjunction with this student organization in order to assist in the collection of aluminum cans and other recyclable materials. The students on UCO’s campus are being inspired by the projects and programs being implemented by the faculty and staff and are following their lead in “being the change”.

Community Service & Outreach

Edmond Mayor Saundra Naifeh recently wrote,

“The University of Central Oklahoma has taken a leadership role in the arena of energy conservation and sustainability. They are the only institution of higher learning in Oklahoma to implement a strategy for Green Power. Their efforts to enhance the campus’s facilities and systems through innovative financing have resulted in the University being recognized with the 2005 Best Practice Award from the Southern Association of College University Business Officers and the National Association of College and University Business Officers Innovation Award. The University’s performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc., has resulted in savings of $3.8 M in utility bills alone.

In addition to their commitment to wind power, the University has developed and implemented a system to create BioDiesel that supports 100% of the University’s diesel equipment requirements. This BioDiesel initiative has become a model for other Universities and our local school system.

We, the City of Edmond, see the impact UCO has on our community and applaud their efforts of leadership in being a good steward of our resources.”

This excerpt from a letter written by Edmond’s Mayor, Saundra Naifeh denotes the commitment to community UCO has with Edmond. Our ideas are theirs and theirs, ours. We share a common ground, because we share the common earth. We are currently taking our Bio-Diesel practices and model to the local public schools and other universities in the area. The Administrative Division has signed numerous memorandums of understanding (MOU’s) with the City of Edmond in regards to projects, initiatives and decisions being made. The leaders of the City of Edmond and the Administrative Division meet monthly to discuss projects, ideas, and decisions that may affect the community that is both UCO and Edmond. The wind power UCO receives comes from a partnership created with Edmond Electric, the local electric company.

The service-learning components on our campus are also vital to the student’s development as a steward of today and tomorrow. To the University of Central Oklahoma service-learning is a type of academic study that is closely tied to community engagement through assigned reflection and juxtaposition. The marriage of service-learning and servant-leadership is essential to the development of the next generation of leaders. This type of edification connects thought and feeling in the actions of the student in order to guide the student in determining his or her ability to influence the world in which they live. The Success Central curriculum focuses on the development of self and through this development the student leader can develop others and whole communities. The realm of possibility exists in the ones who breathe. UCO strives to take students and allow them the opportunity to act on their newly learned ideas. The in-class curriculum coupled with the out-of-class experiences helps solidify the theories and in return allow the student the opportunity to develop their own theories.

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