Green Partners is a program of UB's Environmental Task Force (ETF). It's goal is to reduce UB's "environmental footprint" by getting more university offices, departments, units, and organizations involved in green campus activities.

The University at Buffalo is the size of a small city and we have numerous environmental impacts associated with the energy, water, and other resources we use, the products we purchase and discard, transportation on campus and to and from campus, and our management of the campus property itself. As we consider the environmental challenges facing society, it is clear that UB can and should serve as a community leader by setting an example in the area of environmental stewardship. Green Partners recognizes that UB is a diverse community and that environmental excellence can only be achieved if there is broad participation from all corners of our campus community.

We are now embarking on the first phase of Green Partners. Our goal is to identify 30 Green Partners by Earth Day 2004 (April 22). Each Partner - any office, department, unit, or organization -- will commit to one or more environmental actions, activities, projects or programs designed to reduce its own environmental impact or that of the broader university. ETF members are now reaching out to campus groups to encourage participation and to suggest actions well suited to various campus units and organizations.

The ETF is sponsoring a Thursday, April 22, Earth Day lunch to recognize and honor our first Green Partners. The free lunch will be from 12 noon - 1:30 p.m. in room 210 of the Student Union (North Campus). The accomplishments and commitments of these Green Partners will then be widely publicized to encourage other units and organizations on campus to join the program.

Why become a Green Partner?

	Help UB maintain its status as a national leader in the green campus movement.
	Reduce your environmental impact.
	Receive recognition on campus websites, publications, and by campus leadership!
	It's the right thing to do, and your kids will thank you!

For more information about how to get involved, contact the UB Green Office at 716-829-3535 and ask for Erin Cala or Walter Simpson.

Together we can make a difference!

UB Green Partners - Earth Day 2004

School of Architecture and Planning
The School of Architecture and Planning will participate in the Green Partners program by co-sponsoring with the UB Green Office one or more green design speakers during the 2004-2005 school year and by working with UB Facilities Planning and Design to incorporate green design principles into the renovation of Hayes and Crosby halls.

Art Department
The Department of Art will participate in Green Partners by producing a student/faculty exhibit related to the theme of "Thinking Green - Reducing Our Environmental Footprint." The multimedia exhibit will coincide with Earth Day 2005.

Center for the Arts Administration
CFA business office will participate in Green Partners by switching to Envirographic 100 recycled paper for all general photocopying and printing. The CFA Facilities Office, working in conjunction with the custodial services will site and install additional recycling stations to encourage increased recycling of waste paper and beverage containers. In addition, the CFA Facilities Office will monitor the materials deposited in the CFA large debris dumpster, diverting recyclable material to the appropriate containers when possible, and educating depositors (waste generators) about appropriate disposal techniques. A satellite storage area has been established for computer equipment destined for disposal, thus keeping it out of the general waste stream.

Chemistry Department
In order to reduce the large amounts of energy waste associated with needless running of fume hood ventilation exhaust systems, the Chemistry Department successfully worked with University Facilities to reduce the operating schedule of teaching lab fume hoods in the Natural Science Building so that it mirrors the actual lab class schedule. The department also conducted an energy awareness program for hood users in research labs, encouraging them not to needlessly override fume hood controls designed to operate hood exhausts at half speed when the hoods are not actively in use during evenings and weekends. Additionally, as a Green Partner, Chemistry has switched to Envirographic 100 paper for copying and printing needs.

Chilled Water Plant
The Chilled Water Plant Green Partner project involves a new program that recycles empty plastic and metal 55 gallon drums. In the past, over 100 drums per year were hauled away for a fee, with no recycling. They are now cleaned and stored until picked up by a recycling center which either reuses them or grinds them up for recycling.

Computing and Information Technology (CIT)
CIT has been a major supporter of the University's green campus campaign long before we established the Green Partner program, leading the campus effort to use Envirographic 100 recycled paper as well as active in the areas of recycling and energy conservation. CIT's Green Partner commitment involves working with the UB Green Office and the NYSERDA Energy Smart Offices Program to use new software to implement power management features on hundreds of computer monitors in UB computer labs as well as developing an education program to inform students how to do the same with their own computers. These green computing efforts will permit monitors to shut off, automatically, without harm to the computer or data, after a user-selected period of inactivity. The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program estimates that this software saves about $13 each year, for each computer. UB has over 20,000 computers on campus. CIT will also increase its use of Envirographic 100 paper.

Environment and Society Institute (ESI)
ESI commits to working with the UB Green Office to develop educational programming on renewable energy for the anticipated Norton Hall photovoltaic (PV) installation. This educational project may take the form of a special team-taught interdisciplinary topics course for seniors or first year graduate students who would learn about renewable energy and PV and then develop ideas and resources for maximizing the pedagogic potential of UB's first PV system. This might include displays, interactive kiosks, web-based learning, printed materials, other course proposals, workshops and conference proposals, and plans for community education as well as campus-based eco-literacy. Students and faculty from engineering, architecture, planning, environmental studies, media studies, and other disciplines could be involved. ESI will also promote the use of 100% post-consumer content recycled paper (Envirographic 100) by ESI member departments.

Environment Health and Safety (EH&S)
As a Green Partner, EH&S will recommit to promoting chemical waste minimization and proper disposal procedures in UB research laboratories and Facilities Operations shops and storage areas. In particular, EH&S will be visiting every campus laboratory that generates chemical waste and reviewing their chemical waste disposal practices. As part of this process, EH&S will be instructing principal investigators and lab staff on prohibitions against drain disposal and on chemical waste minimization strategies. Laboratories will be strongly encouraged to reduce their inventories of chemical stocks which are abandoned, old, or in poor condition so that they do not pose an environmental release hazard. Labs will also be informed of ordering strategies that can reduce the amount of hazardous chemical waste as an end product. EH&S efforts will be focused on educating campus personnel on methods to protect the environment and reduce chemical waste generation on a per lab basis on a long-term basis. EH&S will also be performing walkthrough surveys of Facilities shops and storage locations to identify materials that are no longer used and facilitate their proper disposal.

Faculty Student Association (FSA)
FSA Campus Dining and Shops is a committed Green Partner at the University. FSA is committed to recycling at its stores, offices, IT department, and all its dining facilities. The Richmond Dining Center (located in the Ellicott Complex) accommodates the student vegetarian and vegan population and now offers a selection of organic foods. Campus Dining and Shops will continue to work with the University to minimize their impact on the environment. Additionally, FSA is exploring the possibility of energy-efficient vending machines in its next vending contract.

Graduate Student Employees Union
GSEU Green Partner commitments include: providing a link to the UB Green website from the Buffalo GSEU website, electing a GSEU-UB Green liaison, making available UB Green materials at meetings and/or on GSEU bulletin boards, promoting campus environmental projects and events via the GSEU listserv, using recycled paper for Buffalo GSEU printing and copying, and advocating for environmentally sound policies at the statewide GSEU Decision Making Body meetings.

Grounds Department
Grounds has supported UB's green campus program in the past through a number of initiatives including establishing the North Campus natural regeneration areas and by experimenting with integrated pest management (IPM) techniques and chemical-free weed and pest control for campus lawns and trees. The Grounds Department is now working with an outside vendor on a new test of IPM methods. A 5,000 square foot section of turf grass near the Center for Tomorrow will be enhanced through special composting treatments combined with mowing and turf care techniques to produce improved plant health and enhanced visual impact. The test will be carefully monitored and data will be collected so that, if successful, the test site conditions can be replicated in other spaces.

Interdisciplinary Degree Programs- Environmental Studies Program
IDP's Environmental Studies Program will participate in the Green Partners program by sponsoring a series of campus nature walks in the fall of 2004. These walks will be free of charge and open to the UB community and will serve to increase the appreciation of natural spaces on UB North Campus. In partnership with the UB Green Office, these walks will be heavily marketed toward members of the Freshman class in an effort to garner their interest in environmental issues from the start of their UB career. Four walks will take place weekly over a period of a month. IDP's Environmental Studies Program has also committed to help promote the UB Green Library to their environmental studies students and professors.

School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SMBS)
The IT unit in SMBS will implement a comprehensive green computing program which includes: use of 100% recycled paper in all computer labs and printing stations (except for special applications); double-sided printing whenever possible; turning off all equipment during non-business hours and using "sleep modes" whenever computers are not in active use; and attempt to push IT equipment suppliers to progressively engineer recycling into their products (in conjunction with all other UB IT units and possibly in the SUNY system). Additionally, the med school's histology lab will soon be using a chemical recycling system, which will allow recovery and reuse of much of the stock chemicals.

News Services and Creative Services
The offices of News Services and Creative Services at UB have been using Envirographic 100 since it became available. By relying nearly exclusively on email delivery of news releases and by going to online Reporters every other week, the office of News Services has reduced by at least 95 per cent its use of paper during the past two years, as well as dramatically reducing its consumption of envelopes and postage. Both offices routinely recycle toner cartridges and have already taken advantage of UB SWAP. Both offices are now making a commitment to green computing by working with staff to ensure that monitors go into "sleep" mode when not in use, to determine how often backups need to occur so that computers that are not in use can be shut down as often as possible, and to take other green computing measures to conserve energy.

School of Nursing
For its Green Partner commitment, the School of Nursing is increasing its efforts in the area of recycled paper use and recycling. Nursing will purchase exclusively 100% post consumer process chlorine free recycled paper (Envirographic 100) for all standard size School copying and printing and seek to secure recycled paper for non-standard size copying and printing. Wherever possible Nursing will use recycled paper in other, non-copying printing applications including School letterhead. In the area of recycling, Nursing will seek to maximize paper and beverage container recycling by securing and locating appropriate recycling receptacles and by actively encouraging the cooperation and participation of our faculty, staff and students. Note that Kimball Hall has already achieved a laudable 47% recycling rate.

Parking and Transportation
The Green Partner commitment of Parking and Transportation Services includes switching to Envirographic 100 paper for copying and printing. The office is also committed to recycling. During the football season electric go-carts are used instead of gas vehicles. Ticket-writing staff are encouraged to roll down windows instead of using air conditioners.

Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences
The Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences will implement various paper reduction strategies, e.g. no copying of entire books, minimizing the number of pages on exams and syllabuses, use of smaller font sizes, two sided copying, use of e-mail for departmental announcements, etc. Additionally, the Department will begin using Envirographic 100 paper exclusively and implement green computing practices with the help of the Medical School IT unit so that all department computers are in power saving modes during operating periods and shut down completely at night

Procurement Services
Procurement Services has made numerous environmental contributions to UB including providing critical support for UB's wind energy purchases. Recent new commitments include convening a green purchasing committee to address the requirements of Governor's Executive Order 111. Procurement Services created the new SWAP website which enables UB staff and faculty to redistribute and exchange equipment and supplies on campus - thus promoting reuse and reducing purchasing and scrapping of materials. Additionally, Procurement Services has been working with Staples and has successfully encouraged the office supply company to carry Envirographic 100 recycled paper at attractive prices.

Professional Staff Senate
The Professional Staff Senate commits to switching to Envirographic 100 paper whenever possible and to providing a link from the PSS website to the UB Green site. Additionally, twice a year at general membership meetings, the PSS leadership will encourage members to improve their green commitment by practicing green computing in their own offices (turning off computers at night; enabling power management features so computers save energy when not actively in use), turning off lights and other power equipment when not in use, encouraging their departments to use E-100 paper, and joining the Green Partners program.

School of Public Health and Health Professions
For its Green Partner commitment, the School of Public Health and Health Professions will serve as an example to its departments, play a lead role in educating its faculty, staff and students to become more environmentally responsible, and provide the tools necessary to be successful. The School will encourage its departments to join UB's recycling/energy saving efforts and to make this a school-wide initiative. The School will use exclusively 100% post consumer process chlorine free paper for all standard size copying and printing in our office and encourage faculty, staff, and students to make a conscientious effort to turn off monitors, printers and copiers when not in use and to make it a habit to turn off lights when leaving offices. Additionally, the School will secure appropriate recycling bins, locate them conveniently, and encourage the cooperation and participation of our faculty, staff and students.

Student Life
Student Life will participate in the Green Partner program by promoting green computing practices in the Student Union and Harriman Hall, by optimizing recycling bin locations in both buildings, and by providing recycling bins for special events. Additionally, Student Life will make sure that campus environmental programs and policies, UB Green, and Environmental Task Force are brought to the attention all students participating in freshman orientation and UB 101 classes.

Student Wellness Team
Wellness Education Services is participating in the Green Partners program by sponsoring a student workshop for Earth Day 2004. Wellness Education Services, Counseling Services and Health Services commit to green computing - computers off, power savers employed, less printing, etc. This summer, staff will convene to brainstorm and explore other conservation opportunities. All three offices already use Envirographic 100 paper.

UB Environmental Network (UBEN)
The student-run UBEN is participating as a Green Partner by organizing the Student April 22 Earth Day event which features displays and exhibits on alternative energy including alternatively fueled vehicles, a wind turbine, a photovoltaic panel, and information about buying wind power for your home or apartment. UBEN also pledges to participate in the Environmental Task Force and to continue to offer videos, speakers and other educational programs to raise student environmental awareness on campus.

Undergraduate Student Association
The Undergraduate Student Association has already taken the first steps toward reducing its environmental impact by purchasing and using Enivrographic100 for all copying, promotional, and office paper uses. Green computing is also being practiced in the SA office. SA's Green Partners commitment involves taking the additional steps of purchasing more environmentally responsible office supplies and utilizing SA's technological resources to provide more electronic forms on the SA website, and cutting down on inter-office and inter-club paper waste. SA will also reach out to SA clubs and encourage these organizations to practice environmental stewardship.

University Facilities
University Facilities is now actively engaged in over twenty projects in support of campus energy conservation and environmental improvement. The issues range from simple directives to reduce or eliminate vehicle idling to complex initiatives which have made UB a leader in implementing Governor's Executive Order 111, "Green and Clean State Buildings and Vehicles." South Campus lighting and mechanical systems are about to be renovated through a $10 million energy conservation project. This project includes a 100 KW photovoltaic solar electric system for the roof of Norton Hall. This will be the largest PV system on any campus in New York State. A $500,000 NYSERDA grant has been secured to cover 60% of the cost. Facilities Planning & Design is making significant changes in its design philosophy and moving toward "green design" which emphasizes energy efficiency, daylighting, use of recycled materials, etc. The "UB High Performance Building Guidelines" will soon be published and used to accelerate our progress in this area. The Guidelines were developed in conjunction with other state agencies and are expected to have a statewide impact. Additionally, University Facilities' Central Stores has actively promoted the use of Envirographic 100 paper (which now represents 60% of paper sales). Over 80% of light duty Facilities vehicles acquired in 2003 were alternative fueled. Through a Facilities-run recycling program, the University recycled 44 tons of computer and electronic equipment in 2003, including over 1,100 CPU's and over 1,000 computer monitors.

University Libraries
The University Libraries has already made numerous contributions to UB's green campus effort. University Libraries has been a leader in the use of Envirographic 100 recycled paper. Central Technical Services, in particular, has demonstrated significant leadership in the area of recycling, developing its own recycling website (http://ublib.buffalo.edu/cts/recycling/) and handling its own recyclables from desk to loading dock. University Libraries' Green Partner commitment involves expanding these efforts to include energy conservation by adopting green computing practices and paying close attention to the operation of lights and other equipment, optimization of recycling in the libraries, and development of educational strategies to encourage reduced photocopying. Additionally, University Libraries will be a full partner in developing the educational programming associated with a 100 KW photovoltaic solar energy system to be located on the roof of Norton Hall. One anticipated outcome of this partnership is the development of a solar energy educational display for the Science and Engineering Library in Capen Hall overlooking the PV array.

University Residence Halls and Apartments (URH&A)
URH&A has committed a significant part of a professional staff position to working on recycling and conservation and participating in the University's Environmental Task Force. Student outreach programs have been implemented, or are planned, to achieve higher levels of student awareness and cooperation in programs related to environmental impact. Information regarding the environment, the UB Green Office, and activities of the Environmental Task Force is sent to Residence Hall staff and/or broadcast over the University Cable TV station. URH&A has acted on its commitment to energy conservation by purchasing 5,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs for student floor lamps, buying only Energy Star-compliant appliances including televisions, and participating in the NYSERDA-sponsored Energy Smart Offices Program to encourage residents to enable power management features on their computer monitors. URH&A is also experimenting with waterless urinals, using high density plastic bags for trash removal (which use 50% less plastic than traditional bags), converting ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant R-12 to ozone safe HFC 134, and specifying latex paint instead of oil base for paint projects.

WBFO
As a Green Partner, WBFO will create and broadcast a series of stories profiling the work and contribution of other campus Green Partners, to acknowledge their achievements and to inspire other campus offices, departments, and organizational units to get involved.