About
At Bradley, we are looking for ways to B green — to reduce our impact on the environment, while also being good financial stewards. Our current efforts to B green include the construction of green buildings, initiatives to be more energy efficient, conversion of publications from paper to electronic, a comprehensive recycling program and several initiatives within our dining services area. We are continually looking for new and innovative ways to B green.
Dining Services Sustainability Information
LEED Certified Buildings
- Westlake Hall was certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold.
- Bradley’s Hayden-Clark Alumni Center was certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver.
Green Buildings
As part of the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance, historic Westlake Hall, home to the College of Education and Health Sciences, has been expanded and renovated. The building has been awarded LEED gold certification and is the first Bradley facility to obtain this standard. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Points are awarded on a 100-point scale. To achieve gold certification for this project, a minimum of 60 points were required. Learn more about LEED.
The Renaissance Campaign also included the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. That facility has recently obtained LEED SILVER certification—the first new building in Peoria to obtain LEED certification.
Bradley University is committed to design to at least LEED SILVER standards in major building construction and renovation projects.
Energy Efficiency
In 2008, the University completed the final phase of a four-year, $4 million campus lighting upgrade. The new fixtures use metal halide lamps that produce high light output, are compact, powerful and more energy efficient than fluorescent or incandescent lights.
Additional energy savings are being achieved through the installation of LED lighting throughout campus. And, occupancy sensors continue to be installed that turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied. These efforts can be substantially augmented via campus participation in good energy conservation practices. Please refer to the energy policy for guidance.
With the recent campus physical expansions, the aged and out-dated campus boilers needed to be replaced. The resulting investment to support the new boiler plant in the Main Street parking deck has resulted in significant efficiencies and reliability for campus service. That includes fans and pumps that have motors that run at a lower speed to match demand. This saves large amounts of energy—hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In recent years, the University has also centralized the main chiller plants on campus to optimize chilled water for air conditioning. Previously, individual air conditioning units in each building were used. Now, as many buildings as possible have been connected to the main chillers and can be cooled more efficiently through the use of digital controls that adjust the temperature in individual facilities to the level required. The end result is that far less energy is used to produce the same result.
Recycling Program
On average, 34 tons of aluminum, plastic, newspaper, and office paper are collected each quarter on campus. A “Green Team” of students retrieves the material from over 50 locations and delivers it to a central campus container. Students, faculty and staff are all part of the “Green Team” when we make an effort to recycle.
Single stream recycling (aluminum, plastic, cardboard and paper)
| Year | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr | Ave Qtr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | rpt. n/a | 6.14 tons | 5.78 tons | 2.02 tons | 4.35 tons |
| 2010 | 1.32 tons | 4.44 tons | 2.99 tons | 3.82 tons | 3.14 tons |
| 2011 | 4.37 tons | 4.79 tons | 24.22 tons | 23.01 tons | 14.10 tons |
| 2012 | 25.64 tons | 25.51 tons | 29.09 tons | 28.97 tons | 27.30 tons |
| 2013 | 27.59 tons | 28.51 tons | 29.75 tons | 27.46 tons | 28.33 tons |
| 2014 | 29.90 tons | 29.39 tons | 33.87 tons | 35.35 tons | 32.13 tons |
| 2015 | 37.46 tons | 39.10 tons | 36.93 tons | 34.01 tons | 36.88 tons |
| 2015 | 37.46 tons | 39.10 tons | 36.93 tons | 34.01 tons | 36.88 tons |
| 2016 | 34.01 tons | 33.80 tons | 35.10 tons | 32.76 tons | 33.92 tons |
| 2017 | 33.64 tons | 34.07 tons | 32.57 tons | 33.61 tons | 33.47 tons |
| 2018 | 33.88 tons | 33.73 tons | 34.23 tons | 34.00 tons | 34.00 tons |
| 2019 | 32.2 tons | 36.23 tons | 43.20 tons | 37.76 tons | 37.35 tons |
| 2020 | unavailable | unavailable | 39.47 tons | 38.73 tons | unavailable |
| 2021 | 38.0 tons | 14.3 tons | 36.14 tons | 38.65 tons | 31.77 tons |
| 2022 | 37.5 tons | 37.9 tons | 38.7 tons |
Items Recycled
- Batteries
- Lamps/lights
- Ballasts/capacitors
- E-waste
Resources
- Bradley recycled 149 tons of material in 2019. The average quarterly recycling tonnage for 2019 was 37 tons. If you have recycling suggestions or observations please send them to [email protected].
- Bradley has deployed and continues to add HalseyTaylor water dispensers that filter the water and also count container refills. The latest additions are in the Cullom-Davis Library and Bradley Hall. There are now 78 units producing more than 1.8 million refills to date.
- The University recycles yard waste which amounts to approximately 68 tons of landscape waste and is turned into compost annually. For 2011 that amount increased to 83 tons! Again this year, yard waste will be processed into compost and mulch.
- The Hayden-Clark Alumni Center has been awarded a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification and Westlake Hall has received LEED Gold certification, the first Bradley buildings to receive these designations.
- The Alumni Quad has a section (Lydia’s Grove) that provides a sustainability feature in the form of a storm water infiltration garden. The area expands upon an existing basin and abstracts the sinuous form of a riparian corridor moving across the plains—this area adjacent to the bridge in the alumni quad, services to collect and treat the storm water runoff generated within the project area.
Bradley’s founder, Lydia Moss-Bradley, wanted the University to be an institution that would teach … “its students the means of living an independent, industrious and useful life by the aid of a practical knowledge of the useful arts and sciences.” Further, Bradley’s mission statement states, in part…. “Bradley University is committed to nurturing the multifaceted development of students to enable them to become leaders, innovators, and productive members of society.” Bradley believes that one of the most pressing issues facing students today is global environmental change. To be true to our mission, it is imperative that we teach our students about environmental change, human interactions with the earth, and how to be good stewards of this earth by leading useful, productive lives.
This belief, coupled with student enthusiasm and the support of President Glasser, is what led to the creation of Bradley’s Sustainability Committee in 2009. The group was charged with researching environmental sustainability, assessing Bradley’s current practices, and identifying additional opportunities to expand the University’s sustainability efforts. Several existing campus initiatives were already in place such as limited recycling, significant energy reduction, and purchasing Energy Star appliances and products.
In 2010, these efforts expanded and this policy is further evidence of a growing commitment that will become pervasive. This policy formalizes and strengthens Bradley’s commitment to sustainability. It identifies focus areas and goals to further minimize Bradley’s impact on the environment and create a more sustainable campus.
Policy
Bradley University is committed to sustainability and to serving as a positive example through sustainable operations and education. The University will pursue its mission to become more sustainable by focusing on three areas: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Conserving Resources, and Educating our Community. Bradley University has tentatively identified goals in each of these areas to achieve tangible results that will reduce its impact on the environment.
Focus Areas and Goals
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gases are the gases in the atmosphere that reduce heat loss and are essential to maintaining the earth’s temperature. An increase in greenhouse gases (i.e. carbon dioxide), creates an imbalance which can, among other impacts, increase the temperature of the earth. The scientific community agrees that increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are causing unprecedented changes to our environment. Many of these changes are harming the environment and its inhabitants.
Since human activity is a major source of this carbon imbalance, it is up to humans to be good stewards of the environment and to find ways to minimize carbon emissions. Bradley University is committed to doing its part to reduce carbon emissions toward the ultimate goal of approaching carbon neutrality. An initial greenhouse gas inventory will be conducted to determine the current emissions of the University. The information gathered in the initial inventory will be used to set reduction targets for future years, and a follow-up inventory will be done at regular intervals to track progress. The majority of Bradley’s carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions are generated from energy use and transportation, as well as being significantly influenced by buildings.
Energy use:
Bradley purchases all of its electricity. There is no on-campus generation. Natural gas is also purchased. Given this, the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use is to use less energy per square foot. To accomplish this, Bradley is addressing the efficiency of new construction and renovations as well as the efficiency of existing buildings and equipment, and will consider the introduction of renewable sources when efficient and effective.
Goal: Reduce the purchased energy consumption by at least 2% each fiscal year measured as Btu per square foot per degree day to achieve a 20% reduction by 2018 using 2008 as the base year.
Transportation:
Bradley’s transportation emissions are categorized as either direct or indirect. Direct emissions are the result of University fleet transportation. Indirect emissions result from students, faculty and staff commuting and program transportation. Program transportation includes curricular and co-curricular programs such as study abroad, athletics, speech team, etc. The University fleet currently includes approximately 70 vehicles.
- Reduce emissions generated from the University fleet through use of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles and efficient use.
- Expand opportunities for safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle transportation on and around campus.
- Develop opportunities to reduce and/or offset emissions from program transportation and study selected opportunities to reduce campus use of vehicles.
Buildings:
Since 2008 the University has committed to consider LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) design in all major campus projects. The two most recent projects are scheduled to be completed with LEED silver and gold descriptions for the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center and Westlake Hall respectively. Henceforth, projects will be designed to consider at least an LEED silver equivalency.
Conserving Resources
Conserving resources through decreased use and more efficient use is a key component of reducing Bradley’s impact on the environment and becoming a sustainable campus.
Purchasing
Bradley’s purchasing choices reflect its commitment to sustainability and impact the broader economy. Bradley already purchases some products that are more environmentally friendly and plans to expand its programs.
Goal:
- Include environmental responsibility as a consideration when purchasing goods and services.
- Increase purchase of products containing recycled content.
- Expand purchase of local and organic food products.
- Continue to purchase Energy Star appliances and products when such a rating exists.
Solid Waste
Bradley’s recycling program began in the 1990’s as a student initiative, but has dramatically increased recently during the last year. The focus now is to continue the growth, increase student participation, and branch into other areas to reduce the amount of solid waste generated on campus.
Goal:
- Continue to expand the recycling program and increase the percent recycled (out of total solid waste) each year.
Stormwater Management and Water Use
Goal:
- To design campus improvements to better utilize storm water runoff and to provide greater efficiencies in water utilization.
Educating the Community
Operating in a sustainable manner is essential to reducing Bradley’s impact on the environment and provides a powerful example to the community. However, to truly affect global environmental change Bradley must impart a sense of responsibility to the community (students, faculty, staff and surrounding community) to live in a more sustainable manner.
Students, Faculty and Staff
Students, faculty and staff should make sustainability a part of their daily lives whether on or off campus. The University can facilitate this transition by making information on sustainability available in a variety of forms both in and out of the classroom.
Goal:
- Expose all Bradley University students, faculty and staff to the principles of sustainability through special programs, speakers, events and enhancement to the campus sustainability “B-Green” website.
Implementation Plan
This policy will be implemented through the Sustainability Committee reporting to the Vice President for Business Affairs. Each year appropriate university personnel and students will identify specific strategies or sub-goals to achieve the goals outlined in this policy. The success and progress of the strategies or sub-goals will be noted on the University’s “B-Green” site and accounted for at the end of each fiscal year. This accountability information will also be compiled into a report and made available on the campus sustainability website.
As tentatively approved by the University’s Cabinet 2/11 subject to ongoing review.
Bradley University implements this energy policy that is fiscally, environmentally, and socially responsible. This policy will aggressively reduce our energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. In doing so, we will reduce our energy costs and reduce air emissions, including greenhouse gases, adopt effective conservation and renewal programs to control operating costs, promote environmental sustainability, and preserve our physical assets in a sound fiscal manner.
Bradley’s purpose for this policy is to reduce energy consumption through the process of raising campus awareness and stimulating participation of the entire campus population. Our goal is to reduce energy consumption and cost by eliminating waste and increasing energy efficiency in buildings, electrical equipment used in offices and labs, and campus transportation systems and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation and transportation.
Energy Management Initiatives
- Metering
The campus will operate and maintain a utility metering program to provide timely and accurate information regarding campus energy consumption. Responsible energy use relies on factual measures of consumption. Increases or decreases in energy use require careful attention to consumption baseline data and subsequent changes. - Personal Responsibility
It is the responsibility of each student, faculty, and staff member to minimize energy
consumption on the campus wherever possible, including lowering thermostat settings in the winter; raising thermostat settings in the summer; and turning off lights, computer monitors, printers, copiers, and other electrical equipment when not in use. Students, faculty, and staff members should dress for the weather, e.g., wear warmer clothes and sweaters in the winter, thus increasing personal comfort without need for additional fuel/electricity. - Education and Awareness
The campus will implement a coordinated strategy to educate faculty, staff, and students’ about campus energy issues; and update them frequently about progress toward campus and unit conservation goals. Awareness and education will be directed from the sustainability committee and administration. - Computers and IT Equipment
Printers, monitors, projectors, copy machines, and other office equipment should be turned off when not in use. Shutdown of computers entails multiple considerations determined by the nature of the activity in buildings. - Purchasing
Campus units should purchase energy-efficient equipment to the greatest extent possible. Increase purchasing of products containing recycled products, Energy Star ratings for appliances and products if available, and increase purchasing of local and organic food products. - Transportation
Bradley encourages pedestrian and bicycle modes of transportation to get around campus. Additional bicycle racks are strategically placed around campus. In addition, Bradley has launched a free nighttime shuttle service for students, faculty and staff. The Safety Cruiser is a six passenger van that operates from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. nightly in the campus area patrolled by the Bradley Police. The safety cruiser supplements the walking escort patrol offered for many years. - Reporting of Conspicuous Energy Waste
Faculty, staff and students should report cases of obvious or excessive energy waste to Facilities via contacting Central Communication. - Standards for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation
Energy standards for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in both new construction and modifications to existing facilities shall be the latest versions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1, “Energy Efficient Design of New Buildings Except Low Rise Residential,” and ASHRAE Standard 62, “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.”
Operational Procedures For Energy Management
- Space Temperatures
General space temperatures during occupied hours in the winter heating season should fall between 68-72 degrees F. Where it is technically and programmatically feasible, temperatures during unoccupied periods should be maintained at 60 degrees F or above. Exceptions are special requirements areas such as animal rooms and research facilities with documented need for constant or warmer temperatures.
General space temperatures during occupied hours in the air conditioning season should fall between 72-76 degrees F. Where it is technically and programmatically feasible, unoccupied temperatures should be maintained at 80 degrees F. The same special area exceptions apply as in the heating policy above. - Space Heaters
Space heaters should not be used in campus facilities, other than temporary outages when the primary building heat is not operational. Space heaters use an inordinate amount of energy and can present an electrical and fire hazard. Persons whose workspace cannot be heated to within the winter heating season guidelines above should call Central Communications for system analysis and repair. - Operating Hours of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment
Because most campus electricity is used by motor-driven mechanical systems, reduction in their hours of operation is paramount to achieving rapid and effective reduction of consumption. Deans, directors, department heads, and administrators will encourage cooperation in their college/department/unit in responsibly reducing hours of HVAC operation within the limits dictated by true program needs. To the greatest extent possible, building HVAC systems should be operated only between building opening and closing times.
Fume hood operation should be minimized to the greatest extent allowable, within appropriate safety guidelines. Because fume hood operation entails the heating and/or cooling of large amounts of outdoor air via main fan systems, it is one of the single largest determinants of building energy use. - Window Air Conditioning Units
Window air conditioning units should be operated only during hours the space is occupied. If acceptable space temperatures (see item A above) cannot be achieved without extensive running time of the unit, contact Central Communications. Central Communications is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. - Lighting
Office and general lighting in buildings should be off during unoccupied hours, unless, required for security or personal safety in acknowledged risk areas. Task lighting and natural light from windows and skylights are strongly encouraged, and should be employed before general room lighting is activated. Decorative lighting is discouraged and should be kept to a minimum. Exterior lighting should be employed only for personal safety and security. - Water
Water consumption should be minimized wherever and whenever possible. Water should not be left running and unattended. City water (potable water) shall not be used for direct cooling of equipment. Such “once-through” water cooling systems, generally installed years ago for specialized apparatus, are prohibited because they run large amounts of potable water to drain, commonly twenty-four hours a day. Bottle fill stations have been installed in various locations on campus to encourage the use of reusable containers and decrease the use of plastic disposable water bottles. - Holiday Periods and Summer Session
During periods when normal campus operations are suspended (e.g., December holiday break), substantial shutdown of normal heating and air conditioning will occur. During the winter heating season, space temperatures as low as 60 degrees F are possible. During the summer cooling season, space temperatures as high as 80 degrees F are possible. Only specific, documented temperature requirements in research areas may supersede the above unoccupied limits.
Future Energy Planning For Campus Improvements
- Energy and related impacts will be a decision factor in planning for and managing campus growth, remodeling, and development.
- Since 2008 the University has committed to consider LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in all major campus projects.
