Campus Sustainability Committee Home Page

This wiki site has been set up to communicate Fairfield University's progress on meeting the goals of its Campus Sustainability Action Plan, originally developed in 2015, and to provide ongoing information produced by and in coordination with the Committee.

Campus Sustainability Committee Meetings

October 14, 2020
- Agenda
- Minutes
November 11, 2020
- Agenda
- Minutes
December 9, 2020
- Agenda
- Minutes
January 27, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
February 10, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
March 9, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
April 14, 2021 - Rescheduled
- Agenda
- Minutes
May 20, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
September 8, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes

October 13, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
November 10, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
December 8, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
February 16, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
March 23, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
April 13, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
September 7, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
October 12, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
November 9, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
December 6, 2022
- Agenda
- Minutes
February 15, 2023
- Agenda
- Minutes
March 22, 2032
- Agenda
- Minutes
April 12, 2023
- Agenda
- Minutes

Campus Research and Teaching - Map of Outdoor Locations

Campus Sustainability Plan

The complete text of the 2015 plan can be found here:

Progress Toward Campus Sustainability Plan Goals

Key:

Point Person - either first or primary point person specified in Campus Sustainability Action Plan Report
Key indicator and Data Source - type of data to be included for tracking purposes and where the data will be stored
Performance - for completed items to track any impact the item has on sustainability goals or campus life

Below includes summary of goals, strategies, point person, cost, impact on goal, and status outlined in the Campus Sustainability Action Plan - Spring 2015

Goal	Strategies to Meet Goal	Point Person	Cost	Impact on Goal	2015 Status	2020 Status	Key Indicator	Data Source	Performance
Campus Operations
Water Coolers	Water Cooler Promotions	Jim Fitzpatrick	$500	High	In Progress	Sep-20
Water Coolers	Install additional water coolers	Curt Krushinsky	Medium	High	Ongoing	On Going
Purchasing Policies	Audit and Review of University Purchasing Policies	Jim Fitzpatrick/Peter Perez	Low	High	Completion 08/30/2016	Completed
University Vehicles	Audit and Review of existing University vehicles	Peter Perez	Low	High	Completion 8/30/2016	Completed
	Draft and propose policy for purchasing energy efficient vehicles	Peter Perez	Low	High	Completion 8/30/2016	Completed
	Draft and propose vehicle idling policy	Frank Ficko	Low	High	Completion 8/30/2016	Completed
Cleaning Products	Cleaning product audit	David Frassinelli	Low	High	Completion 8/30/2016	Completed
Cleaning Products	Collect and publicize links to vendor sustainability policies	Jim Fitzpatrick	Low	Low	Completion 8/30/2016	Sep-20
Energy
Reduction in Energy Consumption by 5% by FY 2012; by 20% by FY 2020	Heat Recovery in facilities (new construction and renovations)	David Frassinelli	Medium	Medium	Ongoing	On Going
	Replace fixtures with LED Lighting	David Frassinelli	Medium	Medium	60% complete	80% Wattage Reduction	4yr Report	Facilities
	Existing Building Commissioning (automatic lighting)	David Frassinelli	Medium	Medium	10% complete	20% Complete
	New HVAC equipment (Does not include Townhouses - complete)	David Frassinelli	High	Medium	Ongoing	On Going
	Envelope Upgrades to improve heat loss	David Frassinelli	High	Medium	Ongoing	On Going
	BMS Upgrades	David Frassinelli	High	Medium	Ongoing	On Going
	Continue doing night setbacks and increase setback range from 3 to 5 degrees	David Frassinelli	Low	Medium	50% complete	70% Complete
	Plug Load Reductions	David Frassinelli / LEAF	Low	Low	Timeframe 1-2 Years	Not Proceeding	IT Report	IT
	Task Lighting/Light bulb restriction	LEAF	Low	Medium	0% complete	Students Switching
	Shutting off lights: Develop PR program to encourage shutting lights	David Frassinelli	Low	Low	Timeframe 1-2 Years	Completed
	Encourage and educate students towards bringing energy efficient electronics	LEAF	Low	Low	In Progress	In Progress
	Make greater use of new ultrasonic technology occupancy sensors	David Frassinelli	Medium	Medium	Ongoing	On Going
Reduction in Mobile Fuel Usage by 20% by 2025	Install two electric charging stations	David Frassinelli	Medium	Low	1 Year	Completed
Reduction in Mobile Fuel Usage by 20% by 2025	Continue to replace traditional fleet vehicles to hybrid or other alternative technology	David Frassinelli	Medium	Medium	Ongoing	Not Proceeding
Cut Carbon Emissions (achieving goals 1 and 2 above)	See strategies listed above
Building Design and Construction
New Facilities - LEED Silver Sustainability Standard	Energy efficient and sustainable design standards shall be utilized on all new projects	Curt Krushinsky	Medium	High	In Progress	On Going
Renovating and Retrofitting existing Buildings	Energy efficient and sustainable design standards shall be utilized on all renovations	Curt Krushinsky	Low	Medium	In Progress	On Going
Upgrade Building HCAS Systems	Existing HVAC systems shall be replaced with more energy efficient models	Curt Krushinsky	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
Sustainable Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment	Develop set of guiding principles and policies regarding the specification and purchase of items	Curt Krushinsky	Low	High	In Progress	LEED Item # 2
Communicate Economic and Social Benefits	Communicate benefits of sustainable design	Curt Krushinsky	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
Educational Benefits	Incorporate green elements that allows ongoing educational benefits	Curt Krushinsky	Low	High	In Progress	Pending
Promote Awareness of Energy Consumption	Provide live and online opportunities for students to see consumption levels	Curt Krushinsky	Medium	High	Partially Complete	Completed
Waste Management
Track Solid Waste Stream	Establish reporting rate for Single Stream Program's progress	Joe Bouchard	Low	N/A	< 1 Year	Completed
	Implement tracking and reporting on wastewater volume		Low	Medium	< 1 Year			Sewer Bill
	Establish reporting on biological, chemical, and hazardous waste generation	Joe Bouchard	Low	Medium	< 1 Year	Completed	Lab Pak
Increase Diversion Rate to 35% by 2015	Evaluate reinstating Curbside recycling	Joe Bouchard	Low	Medium	1 Year	Not Proceeding
	Mandatory education programs	Peter Crowley	Low	Medium	1-2 Years	Completed
	Custodial - increased signage, more developed resources	Candido Rosario				Completed
Hazardous Waste and reduction	5-10 years of sources and amounts of hazardous waste	Joe Bouchard	Low	Medium	1 Year	On Going
	Work with high users to identify methods to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste generation	Joe Bouchard	Low	Medium	1-2 Years	Completed
	Implement methods to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste generation	Joe Bouchard	Unknown	High	3-5 Years	On Going
Land and Water Management
Improve Campus Awareness and Importance of Outdoor Space Use	Calculate % of campus devoted to different land use	Curt Krushinsky	Medium	High	In Progress	On Going
	Identify areas that are used for classroom activities and faculty/student research	Curt Krushinsky	Low	High	1-2 Years	On Going
	Add educational signage that highlights activities/management strategies	Curt Krushinsky	Low	High	1-2 Years	LEED Item # 2
	Develop admission/outreach material to highlight campus features related to sustainability	Admissions/CSC	Low	High	1-2 Years
Improve Outdoor Water Management	Assess irrigation water use with an eye towards reducing use	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	In Progress
	Assess current vegetated buffers around water bodies in relation to storm water run-off	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going	Hopkins Pond
	Implement plan to add buffers where needed and practical	David Frassinelli	Low	Medium	Short Term	On Going	Hopkins Pond
Reduce Indoor Water Consumption by 30% (by 2025)	Install low pressure shower heads in residence halls	David Frassinelli	Low	Medium	In Progress	In Progress
	Assess low flush toilets in all existing bathrooms	David Frassinelli	Low	Medium	In Progress	Duplicate
	Purchase water efficient washing machines when replacement is due	David Frassinelli	Low	Medium	In Progress	In Progress
Reduce Sewage Effluent by 30%	Meet water conservation strategies outlined in Goal 2	David Frassinelli			In Progress	In Progress
Reduce Fertilizer input to and export from campus	Assess current buffers around water bodies in relation to fertilizer capture	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	Completed
	Assess current fertilizer application practices near water bodies	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	Duplicate
	Assess current fertilizer application practices near natural areas	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
	Consider an increase in the proportion of slow release fertilizer to reduce fertilizer runoff	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	In Progress	Using Slow Release
	Increase in organic application to reduce fertilizer runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emission	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress
	Consider modifying timing of fertilizer application to comply with best practices	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
	Consider designating some areas outside of high use core areas as reduced fertilizer areas	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	Completed
Reduce Pesticide Use on Campus	Assess current pesticide application near water and create no pesticide zones	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	Completed
	Assess current pesticide application near natural areas and create no pesticide zones	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
	Consider the use of organic pesticide application	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
	Consider designating some areas outside of high use core areas as reduced pesticide areas	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
Reduce Impact of Ice and Snow management Practices	Assess current vegetated buffers around water in relation to salt and sand capture	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going	Salt Only
Reduce Impact of Ice and Snow management Practices	Consider use of some alternative ice treatment materials	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress
Reduce Impact of Invasive Species	Develop list of invasive organisms with management priority	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress
	Define areas of campus according to invasive species removal practice	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going	IPM Programs
	Identify priority areas of management	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress
	Develop a plan for replant native plants following removal	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	On Going
Enhance Biodiversity with Native Planting	Assess current plant choice practices and increase planting of native species	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress	Completed
Enhance Biodiversity with Native Planting	Use planting of native ornamentals to reclaim marginal areas of lawn	David Frassinelli	Low	High	In Progress
Increase Breadth of Campus Composting Activities	Consider composting or other alternative methods of dealing with food waste	David Frassinelli/Jim Fitzpatrick	High	High	Unknown	Completed	Barone	Blue Earth	Weekly
Increase Breadth of Campus Composting Activities	Assess need of the current leaf composting operation	David Frassinelli	Low	Medium	1-2 Years	Completed
Academic Initiatives
Develop Quantitative and Qualitative Metrics	Develop quantitative metrics for assessing academic programs related to sustainability	Environment Program Director	Low	High	In Progress	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
	Develop qualitative metrics for assessing academic programs related to sustainability	Environment Program Directory	Low	High	In Progress	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
	Seek internal and external support to develop and implement the use of metrics above	Environment Program Director	Low	High	1-2 Years	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
Implement Use of Quantitative and Qualitative Metrics	Gather baseline information on the quantitative metrics	Environment Program Director	Low	High	1-2 Years	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
	Develop and implement systems for updating quantitative metrics on an annual basis	Environment Program Director	Low	High	3-5 Years	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
	Gather baseline information on the qualitative metrics	Environment Program Director	Low	High	1-2 Years	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
	Develop and implement systems for updating qualitative metrics on an annual basis	Environment Program Director	Low	High	3-5 Years	Completed	Using CAS Modalities
Develop Metrics to Assess Research Programs	Develop metrics to assess research programs related to sustainability	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	In Progress
Develop Metrics to Assess Research Programs	Seek internal and external support to develop and utilize quantitative and qualitative metrics	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	1-2 Years
Implement use of Metrics to Assess Research	Gather information on quantitative metrics	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	1-2 Years
Implement use of Metrics to Assess Research	Develop and implement a system for updating quantitative metrics	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	3-5 Years
Analyze Academic and Research Related to Sustainability	Assess academic programs related to sustainability using the Metrics	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	Completed/Ongoing	Done Annually	CAS Reorts	Reports Submitted to CAS	Good
Assessment on Academic and Research	Support development and implementation to support academic and research on sustainability	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	In Progress
	Develop specific strategies to support and improve academic and research	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	1-2 Years
	Implement strategies to support and improve academic and research	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	1-2 Years
Secure Consistent Scheduling of Sustainability Courses	Offer foundational annual courses in the Environmental Studies program	Environment Program Director	Low	High	Ongoing	Completed	B		Excellent
Secure Consistent Scheduling of Sustainability Courses	Offer other key courses relevant to sustainability	Environment Program Director	Low	High	Ongoing	Completed			Good
Increase Courses Related to Sustainability	Develop one or more courses in PH Dept that examines environmental and sustainability issues	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	3-5 Years	Not Completed
	Develop one or more courses in RS Dept that examines environmental and sustainability issues	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	3-5 Years	Not Completed
	Develop one or more courses in VPA Dept that examines environmental and sustainability issues	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	3-5 Years	Not Completed
	Develop one or more courses in DSB that examines environmental and sustainability issues	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	Unknown	Not Completed
	Develop Freshman Cornerstone courses related to sustainability	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	1-2 Years	No Longer Relevant
Add Additional Sustainability Courses	Add Earth Science Courses	Steering Committee	Low	High	1-2 Years	Completed	PS 90; PS
	Field Testing and Analysis	Steering Committee	Low	High	In Progress	Not Completed
	GIS Courses	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	Unknown	Not Completed
	State and Local Environmental Policy	Steering Committee		Medium	Unknown	Not Completed - Low Priority
	Comparative Environmental Policy	Steering Committee		Medium	Unknown	Not Completed - Low Priority
	US Environmental History	Steering Committee		High	Unknown	Not Completed
Expand Faculty Positions related to Sustainability	Develop Case Statements	Environment Program Director		Medium	In Progress	Completed as necessary
	Hire FT Faculty member in Philosophy focusing on Sustainability		Low	High	Completed Fall '12	Tenured			Excellent
	Hire FT Faculty member in Religious Studies focusing on Sustainability		Low	High	Unknown	Not Completed
	Hire FT Faculty member in History focusing on Sustainability		Low	Medium	Unknown	Not Completed
	Hire FT Faculty member in DSB focusing on Sustainability		Low	Medium	Unknown	Not Completed
	Ensure that current faculty focused on sustainability are replaced only by other faculty similarly focused.		Low	High	Ongoing	Successful to date	Biology Hire- 2020
	Create one or more endowed chairs for faculty positions related to sustainability	Advancement	High	High	Ongoing	Not Completed
Expand Living and Learning Related to Sustainability	Create a Sophomore living and learning cluster or floor related to sustainability	Student Affairs	Low	High	Unknown	Not Completed
	Expand living and learning options for Juniors and Seniors related to sustainability	Student Affairs	Low	Medium	1-2 Years
	Expand service learning course opportunities related to sustainability	Office of Service Learning	Low	Medium	1-2 Years	Ongoing			Good
	Expand internship opportunities related to sustainability		Medium	High	1-2 Years
Increase All Awareness Related to Sustainability	Develop information about how sustainability fits into curriculum	Steering Committee	Low	High	1-2 Years	Completed	Website; Advsing Materials		Good
	Develop "Professional Development" opportunities to students interested in sustainability	Steering Committee	Low	High	1-2 Years	Ongoing			Good
	Update and expand Environment Studies Program website	Environment Program Director	Low	High	Ongoing	Ongong			Good
	Distribute information to University staff that helps advise students	Steering Committee	Low	High	In Progress	Ongoing			Good
	Develop material to assist admissions understand academic and research related to sustainability	Faculty Committee on Sustainability	Low	High	1-2 Years	Not Completed
Student Engagement
Education	Education through Resident Assistant/Resident Hall Association Members	Residence Life	Medium	High	Ongoing
	List of Student Engagement Opportunities for sustainability	FUSA/IRHA	Low	Medium	Ongoing
	Support students who would like to create civic engagement projects to promote innovative sustainability	Steering Committee	Medium	High	Ongoing
	Design and distribute campus promotional literature featuring sustainability	Facilities	Low	High	Ongoing
	Publications and Resources in Res Halls	Residence Life	Medium	Medium	Ongoing
Change Behavior	Inform new students who to bring to campus to help reduce their carbon footprints	Residence Life	Medium	High	Ongoing
	Training of important student leaders who are informed about sustainability on campus	Residence Life	Low	Medium	Ongoing
	Greening Orientation/Fall Welcome	Office of New Student Programs	Medium	High	Ongoing
	During open houses promote sustainability initiatives	Admissions	Medium	Medium	Ongoing
	Campus Residence Hall Competitions	Residence Life	Medium		Ongoing
	Promote initiatives that interdisciplinary/Departmental collaboration	Academic Departments	Medium	High	Ongoing
	Sustainability Reps in Residence Halls	Residence Life	Medium	Medium	Ongoing
Finance
Sustainability in Future Investments	Endowment Investment - Begin a sustainable investment initiative	VP Finance	Low	High	5-10 Years
Prospective Donors	Distribute information on Sustainability to Advancement for potential donors	Faculty Committee on Sustainability		High	Ongoing
Prospective Donors	New Funding ideas brought to Advancement		Low	High	5-10 Years
Student Projects	Students Sustainable Projects Grant Awards	Jim Fitzpatrick	Low	Medium	In Progress	Continuing
Administration
Foster Campus Ownership of Sustainability Process	Open meetings of the CSC	CSC	Low		Ongoing	Completed
	Public Meetings of the CSC	CSC Faculty Secretary	Low		Ongoing
	Keep student input integral to the structure and process of sustainability	FUSA/LEAF/Ophelia Rowe-Allen	Low	Medium	Ongoing
	Provide a Draft CSP for distribution	Jim Biardi	Low	High	Completed	Completed
	Submit CSP to Senior Staff and President	David Frassinelli	Low	High	Completed	Completed
Ensure the Campus Sustainability Plan Becomes a Living Document	Annual Campus Sustainability Report	CSC	Medium	High	In Progress	On Going
	Regular review of Campus Sustainability Plan and Goals	CSC	Low	Medium	1-2 Years	On Going
	Regular review of the Effectiveness of the CSC	CSC	Low	High	Every 3 years	On Going
Ensure Campus Sustainability Plan	Identify emergent initiatives from individuals/groups	CSC	Low	Medium	In Progress
	Assess policies for construction, purchasing, maintenance, and custodial services	David Frassinelli/Jim Fitzpatrick	Low	High	In Progress	Completed	Silver Checklist
	Formalize sustainability as one of several priorities in Campus Purchasing Policy	Jim Fitzpatrick	Low	Medium	In Progress
	Incorporate sustainability perspectives in campus strategic planning		Medium	High	3-5 Years
Ensure Progress Toward Campus Sustainability Plan Goals	Meet with senior administration to present CSP and suggest methods for sustainability	CSC	Medium	Medium	Spring 2016	Completed
	Periodic review of progress toward CSP Goals	CSP subsection	Low	High	1-2 Years
	Periodic evaluation of personnel and resource allocation to ensure efficiency	CPS subsection	Low	High	1-2 Years

Updated May 4, 2020