Sustainability Plan

U of M Sustainability Mission:

The University of Memphis serves as a model for practices supporting urban based ecologically-friendly sustainability that preserve the earth’s resources and promote a high quality of life for mankind. Behave today in a way that produces a equal or better environment for those who live in the future.

We will:

Goal One: Stewardship of the Built Environment

(design, space use, how we modify the natural environment and operate these structures)

• Progressive planning and smart growth
  • Metric: Master plan
• Green architecture and ecologically sensitive design
  • Metric: Adopt guidelines
  • Use sustainable building guidelines for construction and renovation
    • New Living Learning Complex meeting Leeds Silver standards
    • Terra House
    • Design and build a new enclosure and xeriscaping for the recycling area along DeSoto Street using sustainable design and construction practices.
• Efficient and reliable transportation systems
  • Promote shared riding
    • Developing University/Community Transportation plan
  • Reduce travel/transport distances
    • Purchase locally produced food and materials
    • Encourage telecommuting
  • Encourage non-fossil fuel transportation
    • Use of electric service vehicles on campus
    • Hybrid SUV for police services
    • Use of bicycles and electric carts to patrol campus rather than police cars

Goal Two: Stewardship of the Natural Environment

• Environmentally and biodiversity friendly infrastructure and waste management
  • Responsible recycling of waste materials
    • E-recycling event with Apple
• Maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity of plants and animals
  • Use native trees, turf and shrubs
    • Shift to native plants in campus landscaping
• Promotion of organic-regional agriculture
  • Purchase locally produced organic foods where savings
    • TIGUrS Urban Sustainability Garden
    • Graduate Assistantship coordinating urban gardens with neighborhoods
• Energy conservation and enhancement of renewable energy
  • Reduce electrical and Natural Gas consumption
    • Lights out, motion sensor lighting, computers off “Power Down” Program
    • Use Energy Star appliances
    • Solar panels, alternative energy sources
    • Summer and winter temperature controls
    • Echles Field Lighting Replacement
    • Motion Sensors
    • Carbon Sequestration Pilot Project
    • HVAC Energy Savings Projects
  • On-site production of clean energy
    • Use of cooking oil to power police vehicles
  • Purchase Green Power
    • We purchase XX amount
• Advanced water conservation and efficiency
  • Recycle runoff water
• Elimination to the extent possible of human exposure to toxic and biologically active substances
  • Integrated pest management
    • Landscape and Housing Services are selecting environmentally sensitive products

Goal Three:  Build a campus culture of sustainability

• Communicate and market sustainable practices
  • University of Memphis projects, research, and accomplishments
  • Recycling awareness programs
  • Sustainability conferences, events, campaigns and workshops
    • Sustainable Technology Awareness Day
    • Biology Department Program,  “Institutionalizing Recycling Behavior at the U of M”
• Offer incentives and provide recognition of sustainability practices
  • Green Fee
• Sponsor sustainability competitions
• Integrate sustainable living information into student programs
  • Freshman orientation
  • Frosh Camp
  • Modular courses for resident hall RA’s
  • ACAD and honors sustainability courses
• Policies of sustainability

Goal Four:  Integrate Sustainability into the curriculum and research

• Integrate sustainability into the curriculum
  • Chair for Sustainable Real Estate, Fogelman College of Business and Economics
  • My Community, Our Earth: Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Project
• Establish sustainability focused courses and academic programs
  • Interdisciplinary undergraduate sustainability degree program in Arts and Sciences
  • Environmental policy program
  • Concentration and/or degree sustainability programs
• Promote sustainability research
  • Ecological Research Center
  • Center for Biofuel Energy and Sustainable Technologies
  • Sustainable Real Estate Chair of Excellence
  • Fuel Ethanol Production System
• Foster interdisciplinary research addressing community, regional, national and global sustainability issues
  • Partner with community and regional sustainability initiatives

Goal Five:   Engage with the community to advance sustainability

 Develop and execute a sustainability plan with surrounding neighborhoods and businesses

• • Urban Gardening Program in partnership with HARC
• Partner with other higher education institutions in advancing sustainability learning, research and practices
• Partner with Memphis community and region in sustainability initiatives
  • Partner with Shelby County Sustainability Initiative
  • Conference on Sustainable Real Estate, “Memphis: Global Hub City”
  • Growing Greener: A Prosperous Shift with Sustainable Planning and Economic Development Conference, April 30, 2010
  • University Neighborhood Partnership