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About Us |
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Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations. As part of its commitment to positive transformation in the world, Emory has identified sustainability as a top priority of the University.
The vision calls on the Office of Sustainability to help restore our global ecosystem, foster healthy living, and reduce the University's impact on the local environment. Progress will be assessed using the environmental, economic, and social "triple bottom line" of sustainability.
When applying the triple bottom line of sustainability, the decisions and choices made by Emory must pass a new set of filters: What is the social impact of this decision? The environmental impact? The economic impact? What will be the local impact? The global impact? The impact to future generations?
Sustainability Initiatives at Emory include:
Building green:
Emory has a well-established program in green building -- currently having one of the largest inventories by square footage of LEED-certified green buildings among campuses in America -- and the longest running faculty development program in sustainability in the country. This commitment to green building will help Emory achieve its goal of 25 percent reduced energy use by 2015 from our 2005 levels.
Integrating sustainability into the curriculum:
Emory boasts the longest-running faculty development programs in sustainability in the country. Named the Piedmont Project after the ecosystem in which the campus is located, the program has trained more than 130 faculty participants from every school and division within the University - from medicine to journalism. Emory faculty now train faculty from other schools across the country about how to create programs on their campuses.
Promoting commute options:
In 2006, Emory introduced the Cliff shuttle, a 100 percent alternatively-fueled system, powering half its fleet on biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil from the school's cafeterias and hospital. Renewing a strong commitment to alternative transportation, the administration launched Emory Moves, an initiative to change its culture by encouraging employees to switch from driving cars to walking, biking, carpooling, and taking the bus. Emory hopes to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles coming to campus by 25% by 2015.
Protecting green space:
In 2004, Emory's trustees adopted a Land Use Classification plan that identifies areas appropriate for development and set aside 54 percent of the campus as protected green space. Emory instituted a no-net-loss-of-forest-canopy policy that guarantees that, every time a tree is removed, enough trees will be planted to maintain the same forest canopy.
Conserving water:
Emory's comprehensive water management plan encourages incorporating water-saving technology into our green buildings, including underground rainwater cisterns to collect rainwater for use in irrigation. For example, large heat wheels pull moisture from the air while efficiently ventilating buildings. The condensation from the heat wheels on Emory's Children's Pediatric Center and the Whitehead Biomedical Research Buildings alone amount to 4 million of gallons of water a year that help cool the buildings.
Recycling waste:
Emory currently recycles 59 percent of its waste stream with a goal to recycle 65 percent by 2015. Recycling at Emory goes far beyond paper, cans, and plastic. The facilities group finds new uses for 95 percent of our electronic waste and plans to match that mark by 2015 with construction and road debris, animal bedding, and food waste.
Providing local and sustainably-grown food:
Emory's sustainable food initiative reduces petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the distance from farm to table, and in turn, promotes health and wellness. Emory's sustainability vision statement sets an ambitious goal of 75 percent local or sustainably-grown food in Emory hospitals and cafeterias by 2015. Sustainably grown food includes the attributes of organic farming but also includes worker safety and fair wage protections. Emory has hired a farm liaison to work with local producers and distributors to help remove hurdles to local food supply and encourage increased production.
Emory's vision is to develop a model for healthy living on campus that can translate to communities around the globe. As a catalyst for sustainability in our the immediate community, for the region, and beyond. Emory's sustainability initiatives on campus hope to set an example for an ethical and moral approach to creating a healthy and productive place to live, learn, and work.
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