Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.96
Liaison Stephanie Corbett
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Case Western Reserve University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.75 / 4.00 Stephanie Corbett
Director
Energy & Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Published Plans That Address Sustainability 

Strategic Plan

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Sustainability is referenced and called out in several sections of the strategic plan such as using the campus as a living lab, local food research, the Climate Action Plan and several centers of academic excellence that focus on sustainability in the business and engineering schools.

A copy of the strategic plan:
CWRU_2013-18_strategicplan_12-30-13.pdf

The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
https://case.edu/provost/priorities/

Sustainability Plan 

Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Climate Action Plan 

Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the climate action plan:
CWRU Climate Action Plan.pdf

The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
https://case.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/climate-action-plan

Other Published Plans 

Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
Yes

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
The master plan was updated in 2016 for the first time in a decade and integrated the University's Climate Action Plan goals, evaluated ways to maximize green space and addressed space management, energy efficiency and resiliency. http://case.edu/masterplan/ A new University energy strategy plan will be published in 2018.

Measurable Sustainability Objectives 

Curriculum

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The CAP calls for the formation and action by an interdisciplinary faculty sustainability curriculum committee. The University's strategic plan calls for continued investment in the Fowler Center of Sustainable Value and the Great Lakes Energy Institute, centers of academic excellence on campus.

Research 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Campus Engagement 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The CAP calls for the creation of the Office for Sustainability and to create a behavior change campaign and educational programs the engage the broad campus community in sustainability initiatives.

Public Engagement 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The CAP calls for the University to champion community climate and sustainability goals, one such example is the University's participation in Sustainable Cleveland 2019, a 10-year public-private partnership to redefine the City of Cleveland's economic development around sustainability.

Air & Climate 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The CAP outlines specific projects and initiatives and a timeline for carbon neutrality (2050 goal) and the Master Plan reinforces these priorities.

Buildings 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The CAP and Master Plan both address seeking US GBC's LEED Silver certification for new construction and major renovations.

Energy 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The CAP calls for the University to reduce energy intensity as compared to baseline by 25% before 2025. Energy intensity is also addressed in the Master Plan which calls for the creation of new strategic energy plan which is currently underway.

Food & Dining 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Climate Action Plan lists a number of GHG reduction strategies, one of which is waste reduction. One of the action items in this category reads, "The university's food service will increase its waste-reduction activities and the visibility of these efforts." CWRU works closely with its dining vendors to work toward this goal.

Grounds 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2016 Master Plan calls for campus green space to be maintained or increased despite potential for some new construction.

Purchasing 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Climate Action Plan calls for the University to purchase Energy Star certified products whenever possible as well as other local goods and service such as food.

Transportation 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Master Plan calls for a Campus Bike Plan to be developed. The outcome of this Plan is to increase the volume of campus users that elect to use bikes as their primary transportation method by making it more convenient & safer.

Waste 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Climate Action Plan lists a number of GHG reduction strategies, one of which is waste reduction. In this section of the Plan, CWRU is planning to invest $50,000 over 10 years into various recycling & compost projects to reduce waste-related emissions by an estimated 200 tons of carbon.

Water 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
However, water bottle filling stations are being installed on attrition all over campus. When sidewalks and parking lots are replaced, when possible pervious concrete or pavers are utilized to keep stormwater infiltrating on site. Additionally snow-melt systems are installed on attrition or in new building projects to reduce the amount of salt that has to be spread to improve the quality of the water the leaves campus.

Diversity & Affordability 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
See http://www.case.edu/diversity/about/index.html

Investment & Finance 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
This is new strategy being implemented by the Board of Trustees investment committee.

Wellbeing & Work 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Other Impact Areas 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Optional Fields 

Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
No

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter ---
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) ---
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter ---
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) ---
UN Global Compact Yes
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) ---

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
The Fowler Center for Sustainable Value help the University steward our Un Global Compact commitment and educate widely on the UN sustainable development goals.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://case.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/climate-action-plan

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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