U of Minnesota Sustainability Director Talk

Amy Short - Sustainability Director - U of Minnesota June, 2012 - photo - N. Carlson

Amy Short gave a brown bag talk to U of MN DEHS employees on activities related to sustainability at the University of Minnesota over her four year tenure.  She sees the U of MN campus as a lab where we can focus on sustainability in research, outreach and our building operations.   Her office does not have a budget to make these things happen but they can help coordinate activities and use persuasion to pursue initiatives.

Comparing sustainability goals between institution requires some creativity as Minnesota Buildings are compliant with the B3 guidelines where other institutions would comply with LEED.

The University has an ambitious goal of reducing our carbon foot print 50% by 2050.  We have been working on getting some easy wins.  The University has reduced energy consumption and we are decomissioning buildings to reduce building energy use.  We have constructed over 2 million square feet of buildings compliant with LEED or B3 guidelines. 

The big energy consumers at the U of MN are electricity  at roughly 50% and heating via steam at 30%.   The U of MN is working on a combined steam and electric power plant. Initial funding for this project was provided by the legislature.

Some recent successes include the installation of 162 energy efficient clothes washer in housing saving an estimated 3.5 million gallons of water per year.  Purchasing 73 Hybrid vehicles for fleet services with a total of 3 hybrid buses coming on line this summer.  RFID logging system to encourage and reward bicycle use.  They have partnered with LRT to install Solar Panels on the University Office Plaza Building.  Sustainability has been incorporated into the University's Beautiful U day.