ASU Sustainability Practices Annual Review FY 2017

Sustainability Operations

Arizona State University

Fiscal Year 2017 Review

Seventh in Sierra Magazine Cool Schools rankings Fourth in the nation, fifth globally benchmark rating through AASHE STARS

Arizona State University focuses on sustainability as one of its core values. The university is a leader in sustainability operations and practices among its peers across the country and continues to find innovative ways to serve as a living laboratory – one at the leading edge of impact and higher education.

This annual review summarizes ASU’s continued efforts in the fiscal year 2017, from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, to achieve its sustainability goals: climate neutrality, zero solid and water waste, active engagement and principled practice.

Climate Neutrality ASU is committed to becoming a climate-neutral institution by 2025 for greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from building energy sources, and completely climate neutral, including the elimination of emissions related to travel and other sources, by 2035.

FY 2017 Emissions

Since its FY 2007 baseline, ASU has continued to reduce gross and net GHG emissions in pursuit of its climate-neutrality goal.

MTCDE

Gross Emissions

283,430

Carbon Offsets1

(16,778)

Net Emissions

266,652

ASU Gross and Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions FY 2007 – FY 2017

GHG Emissions (MTCDE in thousands)

450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

FY 2007

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

Total Gross Emissions MTCDE

FY 2012

FY 2013

FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016 FY 2017

Total Net Emissions MTCDE

ASU sells most of the renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with its on-campus solar projects to help third parties meet their renewable-energy goals and to help finance the construction of these projects. However, to meet its sustainability goals, ASU purchases an approximately equivalent number of RECs from various renewable-energy sources. “Carbon offsets” here refers to the 16,778 MTCDE of avoided emissions associated with those RECs and 299 MTCDE offsets from composting.

1

1

Red Rock site near Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona

Climate Neutrality Gross emissions decreased by 24,044 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCDE), or 7.8 percent, compared to FY 2016.

In January 2017, ASU began receiving solar electricity associated with the ASU/APS Red Rock solar transaction. Combined with ASU’s existing renewable energy portfolio, ASU used 73,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy in FY 2017, which is enough electricity to power approximately 5,900 Arizona homes annually.

Since its FY 2007 baseline year, ASU has increased its community population by 28 percent and its building space by 33 percent.

Despite this growth, ASU has continued to make progress towards its climate-neutrality goal during the same time period by reducing net emissions by 31 percent.

Net emissions reduction

9.4%

In FY 2017, ASU’s emissions decreased by 9.4 percent per on-campus student and 8.0 percent per gross square foot over FY 2016.

per on-campus student since FY 2016

ASU Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Building Space 25

25

20

20

15

15

10

10

5

5

0

Gross Square Footage (in millions)

Net GHG (MTCDE)/1,000 GSF

FY 2007 – FY 2017

0 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 Net GHG / 1000 GSF

Total Building Space GSF

2

Climate Neutrality ASU On-campus Students and Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions per On-campus Students (FTE) 90,000

7

80,000

6

70,000 5

60,000

4

50,000

3

40,000 30,000

2

20,000 1

10,000 0

0 FY 2007

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

FY 2012

Net GHG per Student

FY 2013

FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

On-campus Students

*Related to previous paragraph.

Through June 30, 2017, the project investments through the Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund (SIRF), totaled $19.3 million. Most projects repay the fund within three-to-five years from the time of their approvals. The FY 2017 return on investment was $1.5 million.

A Zero Waste department team member participates in Student Sustainability Club Earth Day Festival

3

A working group of students, faculty and staff on the ASU West campus started work on ASU’s Resilience Commitment. ASU President Michael M. Crow signed the Second Nature Climate Commitment in 2017, which recommitted ASU to its climate-neutrality goals and set a new goal to complete a vulnerability assessment and resilience plan. As part of a Second Nature grant through the Kresge Foundation, the group collaborated with institutions in Los Angeles, California and Portland, Oregon and developed templates for other institutions.

FY 2017

On-campus Students

Net GHG (MTCDE) per On-campus Student

FY 2007 – FY 2017

Zero Waste Water and Wastewater The university’s water-waste goal includes a 50-percent water-use reduction and the elimination of wastewater by 2020.

ASU improved the methodology for compiling its water use and wastewater inventory in FY 2017. However, those improvements have not yet been applied retroactively through FY 2007. Actual water use in previous years is likely underestimated.

Using currently available data, it appears water use has increased by 14.6 percent and wastewater generated has increased by 1.3 percent since FY 2007.

Conversely, water use and wastewater generated per on-campus student have declined by 10.2 percent and 21.5 percent since FY 2007, respectively.

Wastewater generated per on-campus student declined

21.5% since FY 2007

New initiatives and programs are being explored to expedite progress toward the water goals, including ongoing plumbing retrofits and a proposed on-site water reclamation facility.

ASU Total Water Use and On-campus Students (FTE) FY 2007 – FY 2017 90,000

1,200

70,000 60,000

800

50,000 600 40,000 30,000

400

On-Campus Students

Water Use (Gallons in millions)

80,000 1,000

20,000 200 10,000 0

FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 Total Water Gallons

0

On-campus Students

ASU Wastewater and On-campus Students (FTE)

1,000

90,000

900

80,000

800

70,000

700

60,000

600

50,000

500

40,000

400

30,000

300 200

20,000

100

10,000

0

FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 Total Wastewater Gallons

On-campus Students

On-Campus Students

Wastewater (Gallons in millions)

FY 2007 – FY 2017

0

4

Zero Waste Solid Waste ASU continued to make significant progress in landfill-waste reduction. In FY 2017, ASU diverted 40.5 percent of total waste from the landfill.

ASU also has seen an 18.4-percent aversion rate – or reduction in the total waste stream – since its FY 2007 baseline.

ASU staff participate in a blue bag sorting event.

ASU Waste Diversion Rate and On-campus Students (FTE)

40.5%

45%

90,000

40%

80,000

35%

70,000

30%

60,000

25%

50,000

20%

40,000

15%

30,000

10%

20,000

5%

10,000

0%

0 FY 2007

Waste

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

FY 2012

Total Diversion Rate

diverted

FY 2013

FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

On-campus Students

from landfills

ASU Waste Composition

in FY 2017

FY 2007 – FY 2017 12,000 10,000

Tons

8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 FY 2007

5

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

Landfill

FY 2012

FY 2013

Diverted

FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

On-Campus Students

Diversion Rate

FY 2007 – FY 2017

Zero Waste Notable Zero Waste achievements University Sustainability Practices and the Zero Waste department collaborated with the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, City of Tempe, DTEnvironmental and NatureWorks to conduct compostable plastics research in an in-vessel compost machine to develop a better understanding of alternative composting methods and of compostable food service ware.

Researchers found the analyzed compost was healthy and the service ware did eventually break down.

With a diversion rate of 93.5 percent, ASU placed Second in the Green Sports Alliance Pac-12 Zero Waste Bowl.

ASU recycled 20.3 tons of electronic waste including electronic media like discs, laptops, monitors and tablets. E-waste recycling increased by 742 percent from FY 2016.

742%

increase in recycled e-waste since FY 2016

The Zero Waste department partnered with Residential Life, Goodwill of Central Arizona, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, United Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food bank, Tempe Dollars for Scholars and The Centers for Habilitation to collect clothing, food, furniture and other reusable or recyclable items during the annual Ditch the Dumpster residence hall move-out collection drive. Partners collected a record amount of donations and recyclables – 64 tons. Each pound of material donated or recycled helped to raise a total of $5,148 benefiting the Tempe Dollars for Scholars program.

In FY 2017, 528 tons of food waste generated from dining halls, campus events and athletics venues were diverted, up 26 percent from 418.9 tons in FY 2016.

One-point-three tons of food waste went to local food banks and community kitchens and 526.7 tons were composted.

In FY 2017, Grounds Services collected more than 550 tons of green and wood waste to be composted.

#2

PAC-12 Zero Waste Bowl

ASU PAC-12 Zero Waste Bowl game vs. Washington State

6

Active Engagement Active Engagement educates and encourages students, faculty and staff to adopt sustainable behaviors in their daily campus actions and beyond.

In FY 2017, University Sustainability Practices, in partnership with various university stakeholders, engaged more than 17,000 students, faculty and staff through 85 sustainability-related events.

Food System and Beyond, a collaborative event between multiple on-campus and community partners, engaged and educated more than 500 attendees about sustainable food systems.

Earth Fest, a partnership event between USP and Changemaker Central @ ASU, engaged more than 4,000 attendees during both academic and extracurricular sustainability programs offered throughout the university.

University Sustainability Practices conducts an annual survey to evaluate student, faculty, and staff sustainability literacy and the university’s culture of sustainability.

The FY 2017 survey found 25 percent of students scored over 75 percent correct on sustainability literacy questions, with a goal to achieve 90 percent literacy in the future.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents stated they have a moderate or higher interest in sustainability. Forty-eight percent of respondents answered “most of the time” or higher for participating in sustainability-aligned behaviors, with a goal to acheive 75 percent or higher in the future.

Engagement Events and Attendees All campuses FY 2014 – FY 2016 45,000 40,000

100

35,000

80

30,000 25,000

60

20,000

40

Attendees

Number of Events

120

15,000 10,000

20

5,000

0

0

FY 2014

FY 2015

Number of Events

FY 2016

FY 2017

Attendees

Students use in-room residence hall recycle bins.

7

Active Engagement ASU’s Polytechnic Campus Community Garden hosted three corporate workdays in partnership with Stryker and Swire Coca Cola to assist with growing and harvesting organic vegetables. Gardeners logged more than 2,142 volunteer hours and participants donated 234 pounds of produce from the garden to a local food bank.

ASU Polytechnic Preparatory Academy students volunteered 456 hours in the garden.

Volunteers from ASU partner Swire Coca-Cola participated in a garden workday at the ASU Polytechnic Community Garden.

The ASU Cycling Club and Parking and Transit Services organized the Sun Devil Criterium. The one-day event featured approximately 15 bicycling races for different audiences, engaged 407 race entries and about 500 spectators. The Sun Devil Criterium was the largest single-day USA Cycling-sanctioned event for three years running.

Changemaker Central @ ASU, in partnership with Borderlands Foodbank, distributed rescued produce during Produce on Wheels Without Waste (P.O.W.W.O.W) on the Tempe campus in FY 2017. This partnership provides healthy affordable food to ASU and the surrounding community, while diverting food waste from the landfill. During FY 2017, ASU and Borderlands have: Connected 8,644 people to fresh produce.

Diverted 135,695+ pounds of food from landfill.

Engaged 283+ student volunteers in food desert/waste/insecurity educational awareness.

Generated $88,337.66+ of community stimulus.

Hosted 12 P.O.W.W.O.W.s across three ASU locations.

Supplemented 206,183 meals.

• • • • • •

206,183 meals supplemented

ASU staff at P.O.W.W.O.W. event on Tempe campus 8

Active Engagement Three-hundred-fourteen volunteers harvested 4 tons of Seville oranges on the Tempe campus. Grounds Services partnered with Sun Orchard Juicery and Aramark to harvest and juice the oranges and serve the juice on campus.

Three-hundred-forty-five volunteers pollinated, bagged and harvested 1,500 pounds of dates from the ASU Polytechnic campus to support the ASU Arboretum.

ASU boasts 21 sustainability-focused student organizations spanning all campuses, including the Barrett Sustainability Club, Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives, E.A.R.T.H. club, Greenlight Solutions and Generation Zero (Zero Waste partners).

The Zero Waste department offered eight ambassador opportunities to engage student organizations with waste-diversion work. One-hundred-seven Zero Waste Ambassadors volunteered 199 hours and engaged 2,599 students, staff and visitors about the role every individual can take to achieve zero waste at ASU. The Green Devil Network graduated 38 faculty and staff members to promote a culture of sustainability at ASU. Seventeen staff and faculty graduated from the Distinguished Green Devil’s program by choosing to expand their sustainability leadership and learning over FY 2017.

21

sustainability-focused student organizations

In November 2016, University Sustainability Practices launched Seeds of Sustainability, an online sustainability literacy program designed to educate and engage all ASU students, staff and faculty with sustainability both on and off campus. Between December 2016 to June 30, 2017, 929 people registered for the training and 537 people completed it to earn their seedling certificate.

Principled Practice Principled Practice involves the incorporation of sustainability into functional processes and goals throughout university departments. In ASU daily operations, this means “walking the talk.”

Parking and Transit Services partnered with the University Architect and made improvements to increase the number of bicycles parked at free campus bicycle valets.

Bicycles Registered

Bicycles Valet Parked

All campuses FY 2015 – FY 2017

Tempe campus FY 2014 – FY 2017

9

Number of bicycles valet parked

Number of registrations

10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

Principled Practice The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and Parking and Transit Services partnered to install two automatic bike counters to better study cycling on the ASU Tempe campus.

ASU used more paper in FY 2017 than in FY 2016, but this may be mostly or wholly attributable to improved reporting systems. ASU has reduced the use of zero-percent recycled paper by 1,081,385 pounds, or 98 percent since FY 2007.

The Fire Marshal’s Office moved to an entirely paper-free reporting process in FY 2017 and provided 1,363 reports electronically to on-campus stakeholders, which minimized paper waste.

ASU Paper Use FY 2007 – FY 2017 1,400

Pounds (in thousands)

1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 FY 2007

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

0% Recycled

FY 2011

FY 2012

10% Recycled

FY 2013

FY 2014

30% Recycled

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

100% Recycled

ASU Paper Use FY 2007 – FY 2017

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 FY 2007

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

0% Recycled

FY 2011

10% Recycled

FY 2012

FY 2013

30% Recycled

FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

100% Recycled

10

Principled Practice Thirty-six offices, 21 classrooms and 20 events received certificates through the ASU Sustainability Certification program. The ASU Women’s Basketball team was the first team to complete the newly launched Sustainability Certification for Sports in Spring 2017.

The Zero Waste department expanded the Blue Bag Collection Program in FY 2017 to the ASU Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic and West campuses, collecting an average of 12 bags a month from the three campuses, or 144 bags a year. The Blue Bag program collects hard-to-recycle items such as coffee pods, snack wrappers and writing utensils. Blue Bag collections supplement the university’s commingled recycling blue bin program and foster a robust waste diversion culture.

ASU President Michael M. Crow recognized the partnership efforts of the Zero Waste department, the Memorial Union, New Student and Family Programs and Sun Devil Dining with the President’s Award for Sustainability for making all New Student Orientations zero waste in FY 2017.

Farm stand hosting produce from the Poly Community Garden.

Visit cfo.asu.edu/sustainability for more information.

Arizona State University Sustainability Operations P.O. Box 877505 Tempe, AZ 85287-7505 ©2018 Arizona Board of Regents for Arizona State University.

Data in this document reflect reporting through June 30, 2017.

Photography by: Deanna Dent, Andy DeLisle, FJ Gaylor, Charlie Leight, Anya Magnuson, Emmanuel Padilla and Alyssa Pakes.