Lane Community College (The College) is committed to responsible stewardship of resources and to demonstrate leadership in sustainable business practices as sustainability is one of our seven core values. As part of this we strive towards:
- Integrating practices that support and improve the health of systems that sustain life
- Providing an interdisciplinary learning environment that builds understanding of sustainable ecological, social, and economic systems, concern for environmental justice, and the competence to act on such knowledge
- Equipping and encouraging all students and staff to participate actively in building a socially diverse, just, and sustainable society, while cultivating connections to local, regional, and global communities
In pursuance of the Second Nature Climate Commitment including Climate Neutrality and Resilience signed in 2015, the College is committed to being carbon neutral in 2050. This policy identifies the goals and objectives to honor our commitment to our local and global environment.
The College shall be a living laboratory for sustainability, contributing to the educational mission of the College, consistent with available funding and safe operational practices.
The College is committed to conserving natural and fiscal resources, and maintaining healthy and comfortable work/study conditions. This policy furthers those ends by delineating objectives to be met when creating new facilities or renovating existing ones.
This policy is organized around the mitigation strategies of the College’s Climate Action Plan, each identifying important sustainability principles.
A. Green Building Design
The College shall improve building performance by using the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or an equivalent sustainable building design 3rd party certification. Building design shall look to reduce energy use, water use and overall greenhouse gas emissions. Site Design will utilize sustainable practices to improve water quality, native planting, wildlife habitat, and natural ecosystems.
B. Campus Energy Conservation
In support of the climate neutrality goals outlined in the Second Nature Climate Commitment the College has a separate Energy Conservation Policy that addresses scope, performance and goals that relate to Energy.
C. Climate Resilience
Incorporate service delivery approaches that work to mitigate and adapt to current and future impacts of climate changes on campus and in the community. Along with sustainable practices, resiliency and climate adaptation considerations shall be applied to construction and remodeling projects to reduce future resource needs while also considering the long-term climate impacts the College and community may face.
D. Sustainable Procurement
The College shall consider the life cycle of the product being purchased to identify whether there is a better durable alternative at a lower lifetime social, environmental, human health and financial cost. The College shall look to reduce unnecessary purchasing as a primary goal, then prioritize the use of surplus property or multiple-use products, before looking at recyclable or compostable products.
E. Waste Reduction
The College shall prioritize waste reduction in the following order: reduce, reuse, and then recycle and compost (or other forms of organic recycling).
F. Sustainable Transportation
The College shall work internally and with community stakeholders to implement transportation programs that work to reduce the environmental impacts from commuting, fleet and business air travel.
G. Sustainable Facilities Operations
The College shall create and maintain documents for the sustainable operations and maintenance of facilities.
H. General Sustainability Performance Assessment
The College shall utilize nationally recognized metrics or a third party certification for assessment of broad aspects of campus sustainability performance.