University of Pennsylvania
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Education and Research:
Penn has long-standing, robust academic and education programs in sustainability for faculty, staff, and students. The undergraduate Major in Environmental Studies, one of the country’s first, was launched in 1972, followed soon thereafter by the companion Masters program. Currently, each of Penn’s 12 schools offers coursework focused on environmental sustainability, producing remarkable benefits for the campus and beyond.
In 2007, Penn began offering ‘Toward Environmental Sustainability on Penn’s Campus,’ an innovative class that culminates with student presentations to senior administrators on ways to advance the University’s sustainability goals. Another success story comes out of the Wharton School, where TerraPass, a leading carbon offset system was developed by Professor Karl Ulrich and his 2004 MBA class. Since then, TerraPass has enabled individuals and businesses to reduce over 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide worldwide. In 2009, PennDesign will accept its first students in a new two-year Masters of Ecological Design program, and the College of Arts and Sciences will inaugurate a new Minor in Sustainability and Environmental Management.
Students and faculty alike participate in co-curricular education through a variety of organizations on campus, as highlighted in four exemples. PennGreen is a pre-orientation program offered to 40 incoming freshmen to provide students with an environmental introduction to Penn and Philadelphia while building their capacity to engage in environmental activism. FarmEcology is a student-initiated endeavor to raise awareness on Penn's campus about the benefits of local foods. The group's projects include coordinating a local food buying club, consulting with Penn Dining on local food purchasing, hosting speakers, and other events related to eating sustainably. The Program on Law, the Environment, and the Economy at PennLaw brings scholars, regulators, and policymakers to campus to engage and encourage research opportunities for students and faculty on such topics as global warming and natural hazards. Wharton’s Insititute for Global Environmental Leadership follows a similar model, bringing top executives to Penn and partnering on student research with leading corporations.
Sustainability research opportunities attract students and faculty to organizations such as the Penn Energy Research Group, which sponsors research on energy issues including fuel cells/ceramic sensors, energy conversion for solar power, and hydrogen storage. The TC Chan Center, a collaboration between Penn and Tsinghua University, brings together experts from around the world to work with students to research and develop strategies for sustainable environments and high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. This year, Penn’s Center for Teaching and Learning will hold sustainability workshops for faculty to build capacity in the Provost-sponsored ‘Sustainability Research in Action’ track.
Campus Operations:
Penn’s forthcoming Climate Action Plan provides a sustainability framework to unite numerous projects underway that enhance campus sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. Highlights include:
- Penn continues to be the largest purchaser of wind power among American universities, with over 193,000 megawatts (46% of total power used) purchased annually, earning Penn recognition by Scientific American Magazine (June 2009) as one of the country’s top 25 green leaders
- The 2006 campus master plan, Penn Connects, features sustainability as the guiding principle. Penn Park, a newly acquired 14-acre industrial site adjacent to campus, will increase Penn’s open space by over 25% as asphalt lots are converted to parkland featuring state-of-the-art stormwater mitigation, reduced urban heat island effect, and a diverse biohabitat in a landscape of native plantings.
- A LEED Silver or higher policy will be adopted for all new buildings, including the anticipated Platinum LEED Morris Arboretum Horticulture Center.
- At the Harnwell Residence, in fall 2008 introduced a real-time energy and utility interactive touch-screen monitor in the residence lobby, to provide consumption rates for heating, cooling, electricity, and water usage.
- Green roofs can be found at PennVet’s Hill Pavilion, Wharton’s Koo Plaza, and The Radian apartments, with green roofing renovation projects at Penn Nursings Claire Fagin Hall and Kings Court English College House, converting asphalt roofing into lush rooftop landscapes.
- Reusing stonework and paving materials is a common practice at Penn. The Civic House interpretive native garden, completed in 2007, used paving stones and 19th century granite curbs set in a sand bed to facilitate infiltration of storm water.
- Through Penn Dining and Bon Appétit’s Farm-o-Fork program, at least 20% of the food students enjoy is from local farmers within 150 miles of the Penn campus. Local harvest dining events raise students’ awareness about the impact of their food choices, and a once-a-week farmer’s market on campus accepts dining cards to allow integration of local agricultural produce into student’s diets. Recyclable/compostable takeout containers are used in dining halls and retail locations across campus.
- In 2008, Penn entered into a ground-breaking agreement with PhillyCarShare, a 50,000-member Philadelphia-based carshare nonprofit founded by four Penn graduates. This agreement represents the largest university car-sharing program in the country, with dozens of vehicles convenient to campus. Penn staff receives discount rental rates and PhillyCarShare will contribute 1% of revenues from Penn users into a Penn Sustainability Fund.
- PennMOVES collects items donated by University of Pennsylvania students as they leave campus each spring, diverting waste from landfills. In May 2009, over 90,000 pounds of items were sold in the local community, raising $35,000 for the United Way’s West Philadelphia charities program.
Administration and Finance:
Penn’s sustainability leadership extends far beyond its campus borders:
- Since Penn founded UC Green in 1999 to unite town & gown in local greening efforts, it has engaged over 5,000 volunteers, planted 2,075 trees, and renewed over 60 blocks with streetscape improvements.
- The Executive Vice President of Penn is the chairman of the University City District, a special services district dedicated to improving the quality of life in Penn’s adjacent neighborhoods.
- The Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES) at Penn was asked by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to serve as the co-chair of the Sustainability Advisory Board and worked closely with the City’s Sustainability Director in developing Philadelphia’s sustainability framework.
- Penn’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator is a founder and current Chair of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, a nonprofit group working to transform the region through sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design, construction and operation. Penn commits significant resources to sustainable retrofits of its buildings. Upgrades to eight buildings at a time – an investment of over $1.6M annually – has resulted in over $9M in annual energy savings. Additionally, Penn dedicates $1M annually to carry out energy conservation in campus laboratories.
- The Penn Green Fund grant program will launch in September 2009 to make funding available to all members of the University to pursue sustainability initiatives. One-time $50,000 grants will fund projects that directly reduce Penn’s environmental footprint.
- Penn also dedicated $40 million to redevelop 14-acres of industrial land with a publicly accessible park that President Amy Gutmann notes “…will dramatically enhance our athletic and recreational amenities, create a beautiful new campus gateway and further link University City and Center City,” without displacing any residents or businesses.
President Gutmann’s 2007 Penn Compact ensures that Penn’s quality education is acccessible to students from across the country and across the globe, regardless of their means to pay. A student from a family with income less than $90,000 no longer pays tuition, and if less than $40,000, will also receive room and board at no cost. Consistent with other premier institutions, Penn supports comprehensive services to ensure equal opportunity of employment and access, regardless of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or physical disability.
Penn continues to provide opportunities for faculty and staff development. In July, FRES will hold LEED training for all project managers and encourage staff members to become LEED Green Associates. In September, staff will be invited to become Eco-Reps and participate in a series of monthly workshops and lectures that engage staff on sustainability topics that will enable them to green their workplace and home and serve as role models and coordinators for their departments.
AASHE Bulletin
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