DePaul University :: Facility Operations











	Commitment Statement What DePaul is Doing Green...... List of Current and Past Projects & Practices The Do's and Don'ts of Recycling Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Assessment

Current and Past Projects & Practices:

While a number of these entries can be found in the text under “What DePaul is Doing Green” this somewhat randomly generated list is intended to provide a more all-inclusive or comprehensive snapshot of the many things that DePaul has actively engaged in as past or current projects or practices related to sustainability efforts. This list will be updated on a regular basis as we continue our efforts to make DePaul an even more eco-friendly place to learn, live and work.

DePaul is committed to designing all of its future new construction projects to be LEED certified. Design features may include but not be limited to some of the following:
- Introducing native vegetation that require no irrigation, following xeriscaping techniques (e.g., using grass clippings as mulch, purchasing organic materials to supplement soil and prevent pests, and properly designing plant areas)
- Implementing a storm water management plan to reduce runoff
- Installing a partial green roof with highly reflective surfaces to reduce heat island effect
- Limiting exterior lighting and controlling interior lights with time clocks and occupancy sensors
- Specifying and installing energy-efficient heat and cooling plant equipment
- Using dual flush toilets and low flow showers, sinks and urinals
- Incorporating recycled products and locally harvested and manufactured building materials with construction waste recycled; and specifying Forest Stewardship Council certified wood
- Specifying low-emitting materials
- Specifying and installing building automation systems that will help to improve efficiencies of operation and therefore save on energy expended
- Implementing green housekeeping program and chemical resource management plan
DePaul has engaged in numerous existing building retro-commissioning projects at both Loop and Lincoln Park Campuses, with many projects partially funded via incentive funding providing by Commonwealth Edison. DePaul is committed to continuing retro-commissioning activities.

DePaul is engaging in several efforts to support alternative forms of transportation, such as:

Purchasing hybrid vehicles for the Public Safety car fleet
Participating in the Chicago Transit Authority’s U-Pass program, which provides a financial incentive to students to use public transportation
Studying and monitoring student, faculty and staff transportation and parking habits
Contracting with the “I-Go” program to place several hybrid program vehicles on campus for students, faculty, staff and local community members to part take of. We are considering adding several more of these cars in the coming year.
Installing secure bike corrals on campus, as well as additional bike racks…and promoting biking to, from, and around campus
Establishing and continuing the bike intern position to promote biking to and around campus
Renting bikes on campus now to those who do not own one

DePaul is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Challenge and has completed in excess of $6 million in energy related projects in the new millennium, focusing mainly on lighting and hvac system retrofits.
DePaul has recently installed solar lighting at two locations on Lincoln Park Campus. Solar arrays and collectors are powering a significant number of exterior security light fixtures. DePaul is committed to additional solar installations in the future.
DePaul Center building and will be considering other existing building locations in the future.
Currently finished several mechanical equipment upgrades- with new equipment in place that uses less energy and reduces carbon footprint. Achieved this with rebate funding for Commonwealth Edison.
DePaul has installed numerous water bottle refill stations at key locations across Loop and LPC in an effort to reduce the number of plastic water bottles in the waste stream.
DePaul has installed water saver shower heads at all residence halls, significantly decreasing the amount of fresh water consumed on campus. We have also revised (reduced) campus landscape watering schedules to reduce fresh water consumption.
DePaul has revised all materials used in its landscape maintenance operation to organic product that is free of toxic pesticides.
DePaul has modified the cleaning product schedule for all existing buildings with the goal of eliminating all volatile and toxic product. All bulk chemicals are now environmentally friendly or “green”.
DePaul has revised its paint and carpet specifications toward using low VOC products on an on-going basis.
DePaul has established numerous battery and cell phone recycling collection points on campus to assist the university community in the proper disposal/recycling of these products.
DePaul’s operations and maintenance programs are developed and performed in a manner that assures optimum efficiency of all primary plant equipment, particularly heating plant equipment- as part of an effort to help reduce carbon emissions.
DePaul has been recycling using its waste and recycling services partner for in excess of 20 years now. An average month diverts 30% to 40% of our overall waste stream to recycling. We engage in a separate process, via our same vendor partner, for book recycling with DePaul’s libraries. Books are boxed and stored for a period of time and then picked up via special pick up by our vendor and taken to the recycling center for processing.
DePaul supplements the in-plant sorting with the placement of recycling containers across the campus that help to improve quantities of materials recycled while helping to educate the campus community. $50,000 was recently spent to add even more containers across all buildings.
DePaul has already registered the new academic building and art gallery projects with the USGBC for LEED rating.
In the 2010/2011 fiscal year DePaul changed its Sheffield parking structure lighting to high efficiency LED throughout in order to reduce overall electrical consumption as well as CO2 emmissions.
2010/2011 routine capital projects at both campuses will include additional building automation system upgrades to promote operational efficiencies, as well as other energy saving projects such as furthering the installation of variable frequency drives and energy efficient heat and cooling plant components.
DePaul is purchasing five percent of its electrical energy requirement from renewable resources for the five three years.
DePaul purchases bathroom paper products and copier paper made of recycled product, and utilizes recyclable materials whenever possible during renovation projects.
With the renovation of 8 floors at 14 East Jackson we included a number of energy saving components, such as motion activated light switching in offices, classrooms and other areas, energy saving light fixtures and lamps, CFL’s at all specialty lighting locations, and the installation of VFD’s on new ventilation systems.
DePaul purchases chilled water for 14 East Jackson from a central generating plant in the Loop. There is great benefit to purchasing central plant services- especially when the primary operating equipment is all high efficiency.
DePaul’s food service provider is active in sustainable practices throughout the entire food operation.
DePaul has replaced all washers and dryers in its student residential facilities with high efficiency Energy Star rated equipment.
Recently completed an agreement with our Energy Consultant to fund the purchase of CFL’s for distribution to low income grammar school students as part of an educational program that we now support. CFL’s distributed after the students learn how to help “heal” the planet through sustainable efforts.
DePaul’s food service operation engages in numerous sustainability activities to include: trayless Tuesday’s; refillable coffee mug Monday’s; changing from disposable to china and silverware service at eat in facilities; purchasing additional quantities of locally grown produce; utilizing additional recycled products; donating leftover food to local food pantries; and increasing vegetarian and vegan offerings. There is much more being done and more on the way.
DePaul’s Housing Services Department engages the residential community on a regular basis toward educating students on the merits of recycling and energy conservation. Housing Services has also developed a number of sustainable programs in its operation to include donating used furniture to shelters and other not for profit operations.