ACUPCC Reporting System

Implementation Profile for The Ohio State University - Columbus Campus

Submitted on January 21, 2009; last updated on April 11, 2011

Institution Information

Basic Carnegie Classification RU/VH: Research Universities (very high research activity)
Control Public
Location Columbus, OH
Community Setting Large city
USDOE Climate Zone 5
Current President or Chancellor's Name E. Gordon Gee
Current President or Chancellor's Title President
Main Web Site http://osu.edu/
Sustainability Web Site http://sustainability.osu.edu

Implementation Structure

Implementation Liaison's Name Aparna Dial
Implementation Liaison's Title Director, Energy Services and Sustainability
Implementation Liaison's Department Facilities Operations and Development
Format of Structure Committee
Number of Individuals in Structure 10
Stakeholder Groups Represented Faculty, Students, Executive, Staff
Description In 2008, President Gee signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org), underscoring Ohio State's commitment to achieving greenhouse gas neutrality. The President's and Provost's Council on Sustainability (PPCS) was formed to oversee the development of a plan to meet this objective and to research and coordinate all sustainability initiatives on campus.

Tangible Actions

1. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.

Yes: http://www.busfin.ohio-state.edu/FileStore/PDFs/310_InterimGreenBuildandEnergy.pdf

2. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.

No: No information provided.

3. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.

No: No information provided.

4. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution.

Yes: The Ohio State University established the following strategies for transportation:

a. Use of the Campus Area Bus Service (CABS), a car sharing program and car/van pooling will continue to be an integral part of our transportation and parking strategy.

b. Focused communications target the benefits of walking, biking and use of public transportation.

c. Student fees include a bus pass for unlimited access to the local transit system. Amenities to encourage methods of transportation that are non-fuel supported such as use of public transit, walking and biking will be strong considerations in all physical planning decisions.

d. Idling Guidelines have been adopted by the university for all state vehicles and will continue to be endorsed and supported.

e. The university's onsite fueling station dispenses only soy biodiesel(B20) fuel which is used for all diesel powered vehicles, including the campus bus system.

f. The university's fleet currently includes alternative fuel vehicles. All requests for vehicle acquisitions are reviewed and flex fuel vehicles are strongly encouraged.

5. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution's electricity consumption from renewable sources.

No: No information provided.

6. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.

No: No information provided.

7. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.

Yes: The Ohio State University has participated in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition since 2007 and will continue to do so. There is a comprehensive and established campus waste minimization program.