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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Suzanne Savanick Hansen
Title: Sustainability Manager
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
Sustainability Plan in progress, in place by Sept. 15 2009.
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC: Sept., 15 2009
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available: Sustainability is included as one of six Institutional Goals and Master Plan Objectives:
"6. Integrate Sustainability
- Consider environmental and long-term performance criteria in future development.
- Expand sustainability practices in the everyday operations of the campus and its maintenance." (p. 4)
Sustainability is also included as one of seven Master Plan Imperatives and Strategies
"6. Integrate Sustainability Practices into Campus Operations, Maintenance, & Future Development
- Deliver the highest levels of sustinable design in each new building and grounds project, using national and state guidelines for direction.
- Explore the use of innovative and long-term cost-saving technologies, such as wind power, solar power, and roof gardens.
- Evaluate existing facilities and operational practices in order to increase the use of sustainable practices.
- Support the efforts of student groups that seek to promote environmental awareness on campus. (p. 6)
Details are included on pages 31-32.
[ ] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available: Do no
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes
If you answered "No" to question 5, please proceed directly to question 11.
6) Please provide the name of the committee and list the number of meetings held since August 2008.
Name: Sustainability Advisory Committee
Number of meetings: 9
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[# 1 ] Administrators
[# 2] Faculty
[# 3 ] Staff
[# 4 ] Students
[# ] Other. Please describe: the meetings are open and others from Macalester College attend by invitation or as they want to sit-in/participate.
8) Please provide the name of the chair(s) of the committee for the 2009-2010 academic year, and indicate which stakeholder group the chair(s) represents.
If 2009-2010 academic year information is not yet available, please provide information for 2008-2009 instead.
Name of chair(s): Suzanne Savanick Hansen
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student): Staff, Sustainability Manager
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)? President
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August 2008.
Key issues/programs that the group has addressed/implemented since August 2008: Sustainability Strategic Plan, sustainability purchasing policy, subsidized bus passes
Progress made on each of these issues since August 2008: Sustainability Plan will be complete by September 2009, purchasing policy is in final draft form awaiting approval
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[ 1 ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ Sustainability Manager ]
[# ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ ]
12) Does the head of the sustainability staff report directly to the president or another high-level administrator (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor)?
[ ] N/A
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe: Reports to VP of Operations
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created): Sustainability Office, 2008
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[Y ] Yes. Please provide URL: www.macalester.edu/sustainability
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[ ] No
[ ] In progress. Formal policy is under review and will likely be adopted in the summer of 2009.
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ Y ] All We have a policy of purchasing ENERGY STAR products where these products are available.
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[Y ] Some. Please describe: All letterhead is 100% recycled, all copy paper is 30% recycled, all toilet paper and paper towels are 100% recycled.
[ ] All. Please describe:
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[S ] Some. Please describe: We are changing over to all Green Seal cleaning products as we finish our existing stock of products. To date approximately 60% of the campus is changed to the new products.
[ ] All. Please describe:
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ A ] All
20) Does your school use only pesticides that meet the standards for organic crop production set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Canadian Organic Standards (excluding on-campus farms)?
[N] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
Please check all that apply.
[ ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ Y ] Yes. Please provide total annual GHG emissions (in metric tons of CO2e). Also, include the start date for each year as well as the URL to each inventory, if available online, or attach the document.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, 1990-2006: http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/students/projects/carbonemissions.pdf
1990: 17,930 metric tons CO2
2006: 21, 675 metric tons CO2
2007: 19,350 metric tons CO2 (reduction due to data accuracy)
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
The purchase of carbon offsets does not count toward greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for this indicator. They are counted in a subsequent indicator.
22) Has your school made a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by a specific amount?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please list details. Details to be included in the Sustainability Plan due Sept. 15th
Reduction level: neutrality
Baseline year:
Target date: TBA
If you answered only "No" or "In progress" to question 21, please now skip to question 27.
REALIZED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
23) Has your school achieved a reduction in GHG emissions?
[] No
[ Y] Yes. Please list details. Due to data accuracy
Percentage reduced:
Baseline year:
Date achieved:
24) Please provide the total heating and cooling degree days averaged over the past three years.
Data on total degree heating and cooling days is available at: http://www.degreedays.net/. This information will be used to help reduce bias between schools in different climates.
Cooling degree days average over the past three years: 3 at base temp of 65
Heating degree days average over the past three years: 21 at base tem of 65
25) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-thousand-square-foot basis for the past three years.
Per-Thousand-Square-Foot Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total maintained building space in thousands of square feet.
2008: n/a
2007: 19,350 metric tons CO2/1355 = 14.28
2006: 21, 675 metric tons CO2/1355 = 15.99
26) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-full-time-student basis for the past three years.
Per-Student Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total number of full-time enrolled students.
2008: n/a
2007: 19,350 metric tons CO2/ 1873 students = 10.33 metric tons CO2/fulltime student
2006: 21, 675 metric tons CO2 / 1889 students = 11.47 metric tons CO2/fulltime student
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)?
Recommissioning of HVAC systems in science building, commissioned a campus-wide energy audit, lightbulb switch to more efficient models, water efficiency projects (have installed some faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and low-flow toilets), newest building on campus is designed for LEED platinum-certification (certification pending).
ENERGY CONSERVATION
28) Do you facilitate programs that encourage members of the campus community to reduce energy use (e.g., cash incentives, signs reminding individuals to turn off lights and appliances)?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe: Signs near lights and computers, campus energy reduction competition (Macalester College is a participant in and the organizing hub for the Minnesota Campus Energy Challenge), newest building has a real-time monitor of the building’s energy use.
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ ] No
[Y ] Yes. Please specify percentage of overall electricity generated from each of the following sources and describe details below.
[ 0 %] B100 biodiesel
[ 0 %] Clean biomass
[ 0 %] Concentrating solar power (CSP)
[ 0 %] Geothermal
[ 0 %] Low-impact hydropower
[ less than 1 %] Solar photovoltaics (research panel on the science center)
[ less than 1 %] Wind (small educational wind turbine on campus)
[ ] Other
Description:
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please specify number of systems and total BTUs generated annually, if available: One system on the EcoHouse
RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE
31) Has your school purchased electric energy from renewable sources or renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs and electricity from renewable sources must be Green-e certified or meet the requirements of the Green-e standard.
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe. 100% offset for new Markim Hall
Date of most recent contract: 2009-2011
Quantity (kWh): 152,438
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents: 1.1%
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[] No
[Y] Yes. Please describe. 100% offset for new Markim Hall
Date of most recent contract: 2009-2011
Quantity (BTUs): 33.89 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (MtCO2e) (Do not have data in MBUs) It offsets 6,382 therms of natural gas.
Percentage of your total non-electric energy use that it represents:
ON-SITE COMBUSTION
33) Please provide total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion: 115,547.2
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source:
Fuel Oil (#2 and #6) 59,202 gallons of #6; 16,956 gallons of #2 (10%)
Natural Gas 104,327 MBTU (90%)
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[ N ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ 0 %]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [# ]
Description of renewable energy sources used for on-site combustion for heating and cooling:
FOOD & RECYCLING
The food portion of this category is covered in a separate dining survey.
RECYCLING OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
36) Please indicate which traditional materials your institution recycles (check all that apply).
[ ] None
[ X ] Aluminum
[ X ] Cardboard
[ X] Glass
[ X ] Paper
[ ] Plastics (all)
[ X] Plastics (some)
[ Y ] Other. Please list: printer toner, ink cartridges, cell phones, computers
37) Diversion rate: [ 27 %]
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[ Y] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[ x ] Batteries (non-alkaline)
[ x ] Cell phones
[ x ] Computers
[ x ] Lightbulbs
[ x ] Printer cartridges
[ ] Other E-waste. Please list:
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 100 %]
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe: Very limited opportunity. 2 specialty student houses (the Spanish House and the Ecohouse) have backyard composting. Four people live in the Ecohouse. The compost at the Spanish House includes compost from there, the Veggie Co-op dorm (~30 people), and from MULCH, Macalester College’s community garden.
SOURCE REDUCTION
41) Do you have any source-reduction initiatives (e.g., end-of-semester furniture or clothing swaps and collections)?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe: End of year donations collected for student garage sale. All year we have a Mac Free Swap listing service on our intranet.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available: Green building policies will be included in the upcoming (Sept. 15th) Sustainability Plan. Next building is using the Minnesota B3 guidelines.
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[# 0] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
44) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 1 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria
[ sq ft] Certified-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ 17000 sq ft] Platinum-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Markim Hall, CERTIFICATION PENDING
45) Please indicate buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of ENERGY STAR buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
RENOVATIONS AND RETROFITS
46) Please indicate LEED-EB certified buildings.
[# 0 ] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 0 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED-EB criteria but are not certified. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
48) Please indicate renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
49) What energy-efficiency technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., HVAC systems, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, T5 lighting, LED lighting, timers, laundry technology)?
Energy and water efficiency projects have been undertaken since the late 1960s. They include motion sensors, LED lighting, timers, faucet aerators, HVAC system upgrades, efficient appliances, and more. The EcoHouse is a newly removed student housing option that serves as a living laboratory for green technology and has the following technologies:
o R-40 blown fiberglass & cellulose insulation
o Metal (light-colored roof)
o Solar hot water
o Compact fluorescent lighting
o Solar tube in one room
o Sink aerators & low-flow showerheads
o Dual-flush toilets
o ENERGY STAR appliances
o Outside and worm/bucket composting (which is used for mulch in the garden)
o Paperstone countertops
o Non-toxic, low VOC paint
o Some furniture purchased second-hand
50) What water-conservation technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., low-flow faucets, low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, gray water systems, laundry technology)?
Most of our buildings have low-flush toilets and faucet aerators. The new Markim Hall has dual flush toilets. There is also one prairie and two rain gardens on campus.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ 93.7 % and 95% on last two building projects]
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[ ] No
[ Y] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program: EcoHouse
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house): house
Number of students involved: 4
Additional details: www.macalester.edu/ecohouse
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour): Sustainability Tour, information on orientation website, information made available to students, peer-led workshops on campus sustainability.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[# 11 ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: 10 hours
[# unlimited ] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: many students chose to do voluntary sustainability work. Student activist is encouraged.
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ N ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available:
[# ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Positions that award academic credit. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Uncompensated positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
56) Does your school have active student-run organizations devoted to sustainability efforts on campus?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available. (the list of sustainability organizations includes any Macalester club that specifically and in an inter-disciplinary manner addresses issues of social justice, sustainable economics, or environmental issues.
Total # of Active Organizations:
· Adelante!
· Afrika!
· Asian Student Alliance
· Banshee
· Amnesty International
· Environmental Funk!
· Habitat for Humanity
· Mac Peace and Justice
· MACACTION
· Mac Bike
· Macalester Conservation and Renewable Energy Society (MacCARES)
· MaCECup
· MPIRG
· Macalester Urban Land and Community Health (MULCH)
· Black Liberation Affairs Committee
· Caribbean Student Association
· Council for Religious Understanding
· Europa
· Experimental College (EXCO)
· FACEAIDS
· Geo club
· Grapevine Media Collective
· Mac Investment Group
· Clean Energy Revolving Fund
· Mac Korean Student Association
· Mac Muslim Student Association
· Macalester Association for Sub-Continental Ethnic and Cultural Awareness (MASECA)
· Macalester College Student Government (MCSG)
· Macalester Model United Nations (MacMUN)
· MacSoup
· Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA)
· Outing Club
· Pasifika
· Proud Indigenous People for Education (PIPE)
· Queer Union
· Ski & Snowboarding Club
· Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC)
· Students Making Infinite Love Exist (SMILE)
· Ua Ke (Hmong Student Organization)
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please list details for all competitions.
Name of competition: Minnesota Campus Energy Challenge
Year initiated: 2006
Frequency of competition: annual
Participants: Macalester College and other schools across Minnesota
Incentives: winning school receives a prize
Goal of competition: energy reduction, foster space for sustainability dialogue, model new energy reduction solutions/methods,
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: varies year to year
Lasting effects of competition: energy reduction, changed habits, raised awareness, reduced costs,
Website: www.teammn.org/mcec.html (new website also under construction)
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[# 8 vans; 2 pickups 12 cushmans ]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[# 0 ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models:
[# 0] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[# 0] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[# 0] Other. Please describe:
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[# ] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled. Unknown.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): Zipride carpool/rideshare listing service (students, staff), preferred parking for carpools (staff)
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ Y] Yes. Please describe the program including the size of the discount (as a percent of full price) and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): 50% off $40 punchcards; 20% off all other bus passes.
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ X] N/A. Please explain: Campus is only 53 acres. Additional transportation around campus is not needed; students travel by foot or bike.
[ ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ Y] Yes. Please describe: Shuttle to other ACTC colleges in the area.
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created: 2003
Number of bikes available: 6 (However funding for new bikes has been secured)
Fees for participation: none
Repair services provided: MacBike students hold repair shop “office hours”
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ ] No
[Y ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created: 2008
Total number of vehicles: 1 (located across the street from school. 11 total available)
Number of hybrid vehicles: all (11)
Fee for membership: $50
Macalester’s High Winds fund provided funds for the vehicles at this location.
PLANNING
67) Does your school have policies that support a pedestrian-friendly or bike-friendly campus (e.g., in the school's master plan, a policy prohibiting vehicles from the center of campus)?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ Y ] Yes. Please describe: bike racks at multiple places on campus, no roads for cars through main campus,
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ 8 %]
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[ U ] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe:
70) Total number of buildings: [# 41 ]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [# 1,355,016 ]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 1886 ]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# ]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: [# ]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [ 71 %]
Questions 76-87 are for informational purposes only; responses will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
OTHER AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Please mark an "X" next to each item that applies to your institution.
76) Outdoors club: [ X ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ ]
78) Participation in Recyclemania: [X ]
79) Student trustee position: [ X ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [X ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [X ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [ ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ X ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ X ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ X ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ ]
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