As businesses large and small are becoming more and more motivated to build a culture of sustainability, we find that U.S. colleges and universities are emerging as leaders in developing fully integrated business strategies around sustainability. From resource reduction goals to environmental task forces, universities are attempting to tackle sustainability from all angles. Here are some of the ways higher education institutes are leading the way.
“Green” Building
One of the most common initiatives among higher education institutes is a focus on LEED-certification for new construction projects. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system that is used to assess the sustainability achievements of a building project. (USGBC.org) Companies can choose to embark on LEED certification to take advantage of a variety of incentives. Since 2002, LEED certifications at universities increased rapidly and reached its peak in 2012 with 429 total project submitted that year. (Source: Sightlines, Inc.) Harvard University has achieved more LEED-certified buildings than any other education institute in the world with 115. (Source: The Harvard Gazette) Today, LEED certifications are predominantly standard across college campuses for new construction projects, with most institutions requiring LEED Silver certifications or higher. By applying for LEED certification, you can ensure that your construction project is following industry best practices for “green” building which will ensure you are operating efficiently and sustainably, saving your business operations costs now, and in the future.
Eco-friendly Procurement
In today’s current education sector, the majority of higher educational institutes have made sustainability a focus in their short-term and long-term business planning. This includes things such as establishing procedures and standards for procuring more environmentally-preferred products – from building materials and classroom supplies to food and landscaping materials. According to the National Association of Educational Procurement “Green Procurement” Survey that is conducted annually, about 74% of educational institutes surveyed have some formal sustainability plan in place and 40% of those institutes have a formal green procurement policy in place. (Source: NAEPnet.org) Sourcing more sustainable products could help you ready the amount of waste your company produces and help you realize cost savings over time. In addition, sourcing products locally not only helps you reduce transportation costs but also helps reduce your total carbon footprint.
Sustainability Education
Universities specialize in research and education so naturally, their commitment to sustainability extends beyond building construction and into the classroom. In the U.S. alone, there are over 170 degree programs dedicated to sustainability. Universities dedicate many resources to sustainability education which in turn, affects how they manage their campuses. And like the old saying goes, you must practice what you preach. Universities are just as concerned about cultivating a culture of sustainability rather than simply teaching about it. So what can other businesses learn from universities when establishing a sustainability plan? As with any company initiative, gaining buy-in from employees, management, suppliers and even customers can be met with challenges. Defending initial investment costs, proving ROI and proposing new culture changes can hinder any sustainability initiative from getting off the ground. But through education, stakeholders can begin to visualize the benefits of creating a culture of efficiency and conservation that will not only benefit the business, but the environment as well.
