What We're Doing
10 Steps
Toward a Sustainable Campus
A quick look at 10 examples of sustainability efforts on campus
![Lincoln Hall/Slide Mountain [Photo by Jean Dixon]](../images/Lincoln_SlideMtn-JDixo_opt.jpg)
1
American College and University Presidents’
Climate Commitment
This commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been signed by over 600 university and college presidents including University of Nevada, Reno President Milton Glick.
2
Reducing Surface Water Runoff
Jessie Henning, a graduate student in the Environmental Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program recently started work on a program that will measure the effects of campus buildings, parking lots and sidewalks on the natural water cycle. The Ohio native is studying how the disruptions in that cycle as a result of campus buildings or parking lots contribute to flooding of the Truckee River.
3
Reducing our impact with Composting
A student-led effort to reduce our garbage production and return valuable nutrients to the soils of the University’s farmland.
4
Re-greening an old building
Forward-thinking Reno architect Ray Hellman designed Fleischmann Planetarium as a ‘green’ building over 45 years ago. The historic building’s unique shape is dictated largely by an ingenious passive solar thermal system; the roofline traces the path of the sun across a wall of large rotating black and white louvers that collect heat as part of a complex ventilation system. Recent efforts have been made to reemphasize the building’s renewable energy features; the results of these efforts are new working exhibits of clean power including a small wind turbine and an array of photovoltaic (solar electric) panels just outside the main entrance. When completed, the combined output will be about 1.5 kWh, roughly 20 percent of the building’s current electricity usage.
5
Local Products
Senator Harry Reid visits the new greenhouse complex at the University’s Valley Road facility where vegetables are grown for University use.
Campus Dining has added more locally grown and produced products to the menu and is pursuing
further additions.
![Bike Rack near the Knowledge Center [Photo by Jean Dixon]](../images/Bike_rack-JD_opt.jpg)
6
Creating a Bicycle-Friendly Campus
Registered bikes on campus increased 3.5 times between 2004 and 2009; 60% growth in the last year alone.
Currently there are over 100 bike racks, 48 bike lockers, and 3 air pump stations on campus; 6 lockers and 1 pump station will be added fall 2009. The bike program also offers bicyclists five free parking passes for use throughout the year.
7
Reducing Our Carbon Footprint with
Public Transit
The Wolf Pass Program offers students, faculty and staff a discounted bus pass allowing them unlimited access to all of the city buses for a significantly reduced fee.
Wolf Pass artwork courtesy of RTC
8
More Recycling, Greater Impact
Started in 1997, the Recycling Program has seen significant growth in the past three years. Student employees are an important part of the program.
9
Powering Down
Put your computer into hibernate mode or shut it off at night. For every computer shut off at night and on the weekends, you are saving 770 kWh per year! Every 100 computers that are shut off on campus, is equivalent to removing one vehicle from the roads every year!
![Marguerite Wattis Petersen Athletic Academic Center [Photo by Jean Dixon]](../images/Athletics_academic_opt.jpg)
10
Putting the SILVER in Silver and Blue
Marguerite Wattis Petersen
Athletic Academic Center
The University of Nevada, Reno has received Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for the Marguerite Wattis Petersen Athletic Academic Center (pictured right). The 8,300-square-foot center is the first LEED accredited building constructed on the University campus.