Green Libraries on Green Campuses

“If it’s not fun, it’s not sustainable”

Outline

• Background/Terminology• Selected examples:– University Initiatives– Laurier Initiatives– Library Initiatives

• Your questions/ideas• First question: why go green?

Why go Green?• Preserve environment• Save money• Promote health• Raise awareness• Improve learning • Enhance image• Impress donors• Aid recruitment• Instill pride• Model behaviour• Create hope

Challenges

• Costs: time, money, staff• Long-term goals vs short-term budget• What is green?• Understanding and awareness• Political will and buy-in• Resistance to change• Competing interests• Sustaining interest• Impact = opportunities

Background

• Green vs Sustainable• Main principles:– Reduce– Reuse– Recycle

University Initiatives

• Standards: LEED: 12 Ontario campuses• STARS assessment• Green Pledge (Ontario)• Talloires Declaration (International)• Campus Climate Challenge (supports student

initiatives)• Courses, work study for students• Faculty research

Energy savings

• Major reductions: University of Buffalo• OCAD student centre• Sharing power: Queen’s• Energy audits by students• Monitoring use in real time• “Change a light, change the world”: Ithaca• Energy from exercise machines: Oregon State

Transportation savings

• Bus passes for students, staff and faculty• Parking cashout• Car pools/van pools • Biodiesel: Guelph, Montana• Emergency ride programs • Bicycle support • Class scheduling

Reducing/Reusing/Recycling

• Model dorm room: Tulane University• Swap Shop: University of Toronto• From the campus to the community: Queen’s• Ewaste recycling– 16 tons diverted at Carleton in 2008– Battery drop-offs, recycling

• Recyclemania competition

Other Ideas

• One Book, One Campus: Chandler Gilbert Community College

• Learning garden: UBC Okanagan• Green roofs: 14 Ontario universities• Green pledges• Interactive campus map of green initiatives

Incentives

• Grants for students, faculty, staff• Course credit/Work study• Savings back to units: Florida• Prizes for success stories• Discounts for food and drink containers• Residence challenges

Sustainability at Laurier

• Sustainability policy (April 2009)• Sustainability Office and Committee• Aiming for Silver LEED standard at Brantford• Taking part in STARS assessment

Laurier Initiatives

• Composting program • Laurier Farm Market• Green seal cleaning products• U-Pass for buses • Ecotainers from Food Services• Reusable cups at Terrace• Bike network

Libraries and Sustainability

• Major consumers• Models of resource sharing • Collections: green books• Partners in teaching– Green resource guides

• Hubs of activity– Green displays and signage– Green speakers and events

Library Initiatives

• Green Libraries Directory (LEED ratings)• Green Library Blogs• Green Conferences• Sustainability Librarian: U of Nevada• Eco-Librarian course• Research: Rochester• Kill-a-Watt project: UBC

Laurier Library Initiatives

• Book bags• Textbook drive• Date due slips• Computer monitors• Electronic books and journals• New bottle-free cooler

Library Buildings

• LEED ratings• Think local– Climate– Landscape– Materials– Vendors– Architects

• User focus

Lighting

• Energy demand• Natural daylighting: Duke• Productivity: Herschong• Occupancy sensors• High efficiency lights• Student research project: Ithaca

Computers/Electronic equipment

• EPEAT rating system • Power management, not screensavers• Energy efficient blade servers (Primo)• Turn off monitors/computers• Laptops for energy savings• Small monitors for energy savings• “Ecoprint,” “Ecofont”• Reusing/Recycling computers, cartridges

Paper Saving at Gerstein

• Double-sided printing• Partnering with Sustainability Office• Marketing:– “Two sides are better than one”– “Paper cuts don’t have to hurt”

• Paper reuse stand– “Leave a sheet, take a sheet”

• Savings into recycled paper

Paper Saving Ideas

• Do you really need a paper copy?• Use 2nd side• Reduce margins (Penn State)• Reduce images (“Printwhatyoulike”)• Encourage downloading– Store in RefWorks– “Print free day”: Bank Street College

• Electronic signage

Other Ideas for Libraries

• Sustainability in Strategic Plan• Stop junk mail • Survey staff/users: Indiana U Library• Fair trade coffee • Book jackets into gift bags • Film slides into curtains• Library desk from recycled books

Looking Ahead

• Power of One• Connections: The Library & the University– Eco-champions– Library green teams: Dalhousie

• Selected Annotated Resources• Questions/Comments/Ideas for moving

forward?