Assessment

The College recognizes the need for assessment indicators that will measure our progress toward achieving sustainability goals. These indicators will aid in benchmarking our progress relative to other colleges.

The assessment indicators include periodic, ongoing measurements and/or surveys of:

Energy Use

• fundamental commissioning to insure that the building systems are operating in the way they were designed to operate
• energy use per capita
• proportion of energy use from renewable sources
• percent purchase of green power from KU or similar utility
• percent reduction in carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide emissions
• fleet EPA fuel economy rating

Indoor Air Quality /Thermal Comfort /Lighting

• employee/student survey of satisfaction
• tracking heating and cooling data
• tracking ventilation effectiveness
• monitoring levels of environmental tobacco smoke and carbon dioxide levels

Waste Reduction and Recycling

• percentage of gross operational solid waste recycled
• amount of construction and demolition waste recycled or reused
• amount of hazardous materials shipped off site
• percent reduction of paper consumption
• percent increase in the use of recycled materials, locally manufactured environmentally responsible materials, certified wood and re-used materials
• implementation and success of construction waste management plan

Water Use

• per capita water use
• amount/distribution of gray water use
• implementation/impact of water conservation measures
• compliance with water standards
• success of storm water management

Food

• amount of locally-grown organic food used
• amount of food waste per capita
• amount of food waste composted, sold to local farmers

Grounds

• reduction in site disturbance
• reduction of soil erosion from college land
• reduction in percent of campus covered by impermeable surfaces
• increase in native plant landscaping
• reduction of number parking spaces

Transportation

• success of programs that encourage walking, bicycling, car-pooling, and mass transit
• use of bike rentals (“yellow bike” program)
• implementation of alternative transportation to satellite campuses