2020 Sustainability Master Plan
Sustainable Operations launched a Sustainability Master Plan in April 2020. Based on lessons learned from the previous plan and best practices gleaned from peers and the private sector, the updated plan was developed to address the following key issues.
Categories
Energy
E-1 – Cut carbon emissions in half
Reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 50% by FY25, with FY11 as the baseline year. This will be done through a combination of production/distribution efforts, demand reduction strategies and behavior changes.
E-2 – No net gain
Cap total energy consumption at FY11 levels in order to show no net gain in total energy consumption despite an increase in total campus gross square feet. Acknowledging that Purdue must continue to provide best-in-class facilities to maintain our position as a top public university in the country, we are working hard to make sure those new facilities are as energy-efficient as is practical, and we are improving the efficiency of existing buildings. Both of these efforts can help avoid large expenditures for energy production and distribution infrastructure.
E-3 – Pursue 500 kW of renewable energy
Pursue 500 kilowatts of renewable energy capacity on campus by FY25. Renewable energy is the backbone of a low-carbon economy, which is our future. We will seek creative financing partnerships to bring renewables to campus in a meaningful way, directly feeding into our electricity grid so renewable energy generated on campus stays on campus and powers our learning and research.
Water
W-1 – Reduce water consumption by 30%
Reduce potable water consumption inside buildings and for irrigation by 30% by FY25 on a gallon per square foot basis, with FY11 as the baseline year. Water is a critical resource not only for daily life, but also for the smooth functioning of campus operations. A smart approach to critical resource management is to focus on the best use and eliminating waste. Off-the-shelf products and current best practices allow us to adopt this practice in a way that is both practical and achievable.
W-2 – Develop Strategy to Eliminate the CSO
Develop a strategy to eliminate the university combined sewer overflow (CSO) system on campus, a relic from a time when polluted waterways were the norm. Using smart, green infrastructure interventions and more robust below-grade systems, we will develop a long-term strategy to undo all combination stormwater and sewage systems.
Materials & Waste
M-1 – Recycle half of our waste
Achieve an annual campus waste recycling rate of 50% by FY25 as a regional leadership goal. Recycling success hinges largely on regular communication, clear signage and consistent infrastructure. We believe that a focus on these three elements will push us past the tipping point where we are recycling more than we are sending to the landfill.
M-2 – Recycle 75% or more of our construction waste
Require all construction projects with a project cost greater than $5,000,000 to recycle at least 75% of their waste by FY25. Construction and demolition debris are a significant contributor to landfills in our region. However, if construction waste management best practices are utilized, projects regularly exceed 75%. Our LEED-certified buildings on campus averaged an 85% recycling rate.
M-3 – Recycle/Reuse all of our institutional e-waste
Recycle, reuse or refurbish 100% of institutional e-waste by FY25. On a national level, Purdue was one of the first universities to recycle 100% of its institutional e-waste. We will continue this program with a close eye on operational efficiencies that arise in the e-waste recycling market.
Buildings
B-1 – LEED Silver certification for large projects
All projects with a total cost greater than $10,000,000 will achieve LEED Silver certification or better. LEED certification has been widely adopted in the design and construction industry for the past decade, and it offers the most comprehensive approach to delivering a high-performance building. Currently, Purdue has a number of LEED-certified facilities.
B-2 – High-performance for small projects
Develop and require prescriptive high-performance criteria for projects with a total cost of less than $10,000,000. Just as we set high expectations for all students, expectations are also high for all projects, regardless of their size. We will develop a menu of performance criteria for various project types that ensures the entire building portfolio is performing at a high level.
Grounds
G-1 – Plant one tree per day
Plant a total of 3,738 trees by FY25. This total number of trees was determined by doubling 1,869, which represents the year Purdue was founded. Trees are a critical element to creating vibrant, open spaces and healthy ecosystems. We looked to our past when developing the 1869 Tree Planting Master Plan by incorporating species native to our ecoregion and species that have evolved over centuries to thrive in our region of the state.
G-2 – Sustainable landscapes for all of Purdue
Deliver an update to the Sustainable Landscape Plan by FY22 to incorporate current best practices and leadership opportunities. The goal is to have 100% of grounds in alignment with the updated plan by FY25 as we continue to test and roll out innovative, sustainable approaches to open space maintenance.
G-3 – Double bike infrastructure on campus
Increase bicycle infrastructure by 100% by FY25, with FY14 as the baseline year. We will continue to prioritize pedestrians and bicyclists as we transform Purdue from a car-centric campus to a people-centric campus. Bicycle riding provides multiple scales of positive impact from basic health benefits to the reduction of air pollution for the entire community. We will strive to make it the default choice by continuously improving our infrastructure.