Emory University
Contact Information
Education and Research:
Emory has the longest-running faculty development program in the country to support infusion of sustainability across the curriculum, the Piedmont Project (named for our bioregion). All academic units of the university contribute financially to this project and have participating faculty. The Piedmont Project is the subject of a number of published studies, documenting its broad impact on course content, teaching methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, professional publishing, and grants. Because of interst around the country in starting programs like the Piedmont Project, AASHE supports two annual workshops to teach faculty leaders the Piedmont and Ponderosa project models. Over 200 faculty have attended and more than 15 similar programs at other universities now exist. In its participation in the recent AASHE STARS pilot, Emory surveyed 1100 full-time faculty, revealing a great breadth of engagement in courses throughout the university. The results showed 159 sustainability-related or sustainability-focused courses are being taught at Emory over the past two years, and faculty reported 78 current sustainablity-related research projects.
The Piedmont Project has fostered a range of activities that have built campus community around sustainability. The Faculty Green Lunch group convened for seven years each month to hear research reports or discuss teaching dilemmas. Attendance (between 10 and 30 per month) came from professional schools and both colleges. Out of that collaborative, a Course on Water was team-taught twice in Emory College, bringing together faculty from Environmental Studies, Philosophy, LIterature, Music, and Biology. At Oxford College of Emory, a new sustainability course is team-taught by 10 faculty starting last year. National ferment and interest in developing a campus climate action plan led to an all-Emory series of Climate Change Dinner Discussions, featuring paired speakers (Chemistry, Journalism, Psychology, Theology, Economics, Law, and the Carter Center), supported by the Office of Sustainability and the Provost. The format offered facilitated discussions at small tables, in addition to the lectures, thereby encouraging networking acrosee the campus around critical issues--faculty and students from every unit of Emory participated.
In addition, the Piedmont Project has offered a Piedmont Project TATTO Fellowship to 10-15 doctoral students each year for the last five years. Fellows participate in a workshop and develop a new course syllabus around some theme connected to sustainability. Participants come from fields as diverse as Anthropology, Art History, Business, Chemistry, Comparative Literature, Educational Studies, English, Religion, History, Medicine, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish, Portugese, and Women's Studies. The experience builds connections to campus activites and many participants go on to serve on sustainability-related committees, develop activities such as a sustainability film series, or carry out disciplinary activities as a result of their experiences. Piedmont courses are often a valuable credential in a job search. This past Fall, 42 individuals from Emory College, Oxford, Public Health, Residence Life, Libraries, and Office of University-Community Partnerships came together to envision the next step for sustainability education and faculty intellectual development. A degree program in sustainable development and an "advanced course" for Piedmont Project faculty alumni are two outcomes of that meeting. See www.sustainability.emory.edu.
Campus Operations:
Emory University’s national leadership in sustainability is exemplified by its long-standing commitment to sustainable building practices. Emory constructed the first LEED-certified building in the Southeast in 2000. In 2001, Emory’s trustees resolved that all current and future construction should meet LEED standards. The University has more square feet of LEED-certified space than any other campus in America. The current minimum standard for construction at Emory is LEED Silver, but Emory has multiple Gold-certified buildings, including the first certified “Gold” LEED – EB in the country.
Emory’s goal is to reduce energy use by 25% per square foot by 2015 from our 2005 levels. Emory plans to achieve this goal through operational changes—Emory has conducted an extensive audit of major buildings to determine the feasibility of energy-efficiency retrofits and renewable energy, and promoting behavioral change--Emory holds annual energy competitions and has installed computer monitors in several of its buildings that track utility usage by floor, with translations into cost, tons of coal mined, and CO2 emissions. Emory also has installed solar panels on two buildings.
In 2004, Emory’s trustees adopted a Land Use Classification plan that sets aside 54% of the campus as protected greenspace. Emory has a no-net-loss-of-forest-canopy policy that guarantees that, when a tree is removed, enough trees will be planted to maintain the same forest canopy.
Emory has been a consistent leader in promoting alternative transportation. Emory operates the second largest transit system in metro Atlanta. Emory’s fleet is 100% alternatively-fueled, with half the fleet running on biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil from our cafeterias and hospital. Emory’s extensive commute alternatives program includes free transit passes and reduced Zipcar fees. Emory has a free bike share program, on-campus bike repair stations, and discounted bikes for staff and students. Emory has park-n-ride facilities at area shopping malls to take vehicles off the roads and reduce parking on campus. Emory’s goal is 25% fewer cars on campus by 2015.
Emory’s comprehensive water management plan incorporates water saving technologies, including rainwater harvesting for irrigation and toilet flushing, greenroofs, and condensate capture. The condensate from the heat wheels on two buildings alone saves 4 million of gallons of water per year.
Emory recycles 59% of its waste, with a goal of 65% by 2015. 95% of electronic waste is recycled, and Emory plans to match that by 2015 with construction debris, animal bedding, and food waste. Emory recycles for the CDC, area schools, and retirement communities.
Emory’s sustainable food initiative is one of the most ambitious in the country. Emory’s goal is to purchase 75% local or sustainably grown food by 2015. Sustainably grown food includes the attributes of organic farming, worker safety and fair wage protections. Emory has hired a farmer to help growers become sustainably-certified. Emory has a weekly farmers’ market to support local Georgia farmers and Educational Food Gardens located around campus dedicated to general education about seasonal foods. Sustainable Food Purchasing Guidelines were adopted in fall 2007, and provide clear goals and guidance for food purchases.
Administration and Finance:
During the strategic planning process of 2005-05, sustainability was identified as a fundamental principle of the University. In spring 2005, the Sustainability Committee was charged with developing a vision for the responsible environmental, economic, and social future for Emory. The document and its specific goals are intended to stimulate the imagination and guide decision-making, resource use, and future action in all parts of the University. For example, since adoption of the sustainability vision, our investment office has sought renewable energy and other sustainable investments. Emory’s healthcare facilities, including our clinics, hospitals, and research facilities have launched patient and staff education about sustainable practices.
Three of the seven “guiding principles” of the Campus Master Plan relate to the Sustainability Vision. The Vision statement resulted in creation of an Office of Sustainability Initiatives, including a Director, Administrative Assistant, Faculty Liaison (part-time), and Director of Emory as Place (part-time). The members of this office routinely give local and national presentations on issues related to sustainability.
Emory’s Sustainability Initiative partners closely with the Office of University and Community Partnerships (OUCP), most recently on a Sustainability Fellows program that trains and places Emory students with local community environmental organizations in disadvantaged areas of metro-Atlanta. This type of engaged scholarship program earned Emory the 2008 Presidential Award for General Community Service-- the highest federal recognition given to colleges and universities for their commitment to community service, service-learning and civic engagement. Emory alumni, students, faculty and staff also engage in an annual worldwide day of volunteer service, with many sustainability-related projects.
Emory’s Residence Life program has two sustainability-themed freshmen residence halls that focus on the lifeskills of sustainability and community-service to further sustainability outside our gates. One of Emory’s most ambitious programs is Emory Advantage which has a goal of making an Emory education attainable for any qualified student, regardless of income, and provides financial aid to help students from families with annual total incomes of $100,000 or less who demonstrate a need for financial aid.
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