Ohio University made its first step toward becoming more sustainable, but still has a long way to go, according to the university’s first annual sustainability report.
In the report, nine of the 35 benchmarks used to measure progress showed some or significant progress in the past year and nine showed minimal progress. The remaining 17 showed insignificant progress.
These benchmarks only offer a small picture of the progress the university is making toward meeting its goals, said Annie Laurie Cadmus, director of sustainability, in a conference call.
Most of OU’s progress has been made to develop a sustainability-focused major for undergraduates, according to the report.
The report outlines goals, which are dependent on the completion of currently planned projects that also slows progress in other areas, according to the report.
However, OU has devoted its resources to advance in composting and renewable energy.
OU received two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants over the summer that were used to finish installing 2,000 square feet of solar panels and to expand composting facilities, including the Lausche Heating Plant.
The solar array, placed on top of the heating plant, will produce 107-kilo watts annually.
“It’s a really exciting addition to the campus,” Cadmus said.
OU saved money on the project because of the current drop in solar panel prices, Cadmus added.
The panels cost $281,000 and required a minimum of 26 percent matching funds from OU, Cadmus said.
“(The solar power is) still a relatively small amount but it does represent good progress,” said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities.
Beyond investing in renewable energy, OU now has the largest on-campus “in-vessel” composting system of any university in the nation, Cadmus said.
In-vessel composting places organic materials in a large enclosed chamber with a carefully controlled environment to convert organic material to compost in short periods of time, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
The facility will allow the university to recycle 100 percent of its food and landscape waste in 2013, up from the 60 percent OU current recycles, Cadmus said.
The facility upgrade cost $1,088,571 with at least a 26 percent matching grant from the university, Cadmus said.
OU’s money came as university and maintenance reserves under the control of Facilities, Wyatt said.
“The composting will be a really great opportunity for the university,” Cadmus said. “OU is really trying to become a leader in sustainability.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
