Office of Sustainability | Annual Report | 2020

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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Annual Sustainability Report 2019/20

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CARDBOARD GREEN BUILDING

RECYCLE

WATER

SURPLUS

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TRANSPORTATION

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FOOD & GARDEN

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PURCHASING

ENERGY

LANDSCAPING

FOOD SURPLUS

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REUSE

METAL METAL

CONFIDENTIAL SHREDDING

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ENGAGEMENT

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FOOD WASTE

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Year in Review The Fall of 2019 held a lot of promise for strategic and cross-campus engagement. On-campus recycling went through its largest transformation since the campus first started the collection in the mid-90’s. The Office of Sustainability launched a campus-wide Climate Action Carbon & Resilience Plan to work through future actions on mitigating greenhouse gasses and planning for adaptation to climate change. The entire team was working towards its goals and making transformation.

Then came March 13th, 2020...and the entire campus shut down.

Before the pandemic took hold though, the campus launched a brand-new recycling collection system.

Multiple departments worked with the Office of Sustainability to review the campus recycling capacity and financial costs. Faced with plastic bag contamination fees, the data collected and different perspectives helped evaluate options. Many concepts were fully vetted and reviewed by leadership. To keep recycling and maintain all safety measures, the campus turned to a new system to handle recycling. All on-campus outside dumpsters were removed. Instead, collection held back at the docks of the main campus. Two new staff collected the materials, brought them to a new compactor at the University Services and Research Building, and emptied the plastic bags there. Even with the new hires and equipment, this new system helps UWM save over $135,000 per year.

the impact of climate change on UWM’s community, infrastructure, and environment. Work on the plan continued online during the pandemic. The goal is to see a completely endorsed plan by the end of 2021.

Also in November of 2019, UW-Milwaukee attained its second STARS Gold. Notable accomplishments include sustainability across UWM Schools and Colleges as well as extensively throughout research. UWM is also noted for its green building in recent years as well as sustainable groundskeeping.

Just as new operations and climate planning were underway, the pandemic hit. From the onset, the Office of Sustainability team quickly pivoted. University Housing “move-out” looked a lot different, but none the less, the Office collected unwanted items that came from the expedited clean out. The immediate switch to online learning meant a dire need for computers, especially laptops. Surplus set forth, along with Campus Technology Support and the Dean of Student’s Office, to get deeply discounted machines into student’s hands. A greater shift happened in the campus gardens. All garden spaces were redirected to grow food for the UWM Food Center and Pantry. With campus restrictions and the rising need for food assistance, the gardens supplied fresh produce all season long.

It’s been a year to remember. We learned we can all adjust, even from the best laid plans. As an Office advocating Per UWM’s Climate Commitment, the Office of change, we too must redirect our energies. We must Sustainability launched its Climate Action Plan. After meet the need where it’s at. Responsibilities and budgets two years of planning, many departments were brought required modification. Yet the mission carried on, always together in November of 2019 to review UWM’s strengths better for the things we learned along the way. and vulnerabilities as they relate to climate change. With resiliency at the helm, several work groups evaluated

Kate M. Nelson Chief Sustainability Officer

Annual Summary Revenue

$49,575 Surplus Revenue

$44,495

Carbon Offsets Revenue

$5,080

Avoided Cost

$3,901,644 Surplus Avoided Cost

$382,238

Waste & Recycling Avoided Cost

$66,735

Energy Avoided Cost

$3,452,671

Avoided Emissions

32,529 MTCO2e* Surplus Avoided Emissions

296 MTCO2e

Waste & Recycling Avoided Emissions

2,052 MTCO2e

Energy Avoided Emissions

30,181MTCO2e

* MTCO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The unit “CO2e” represents an amount of a greenhouse gas (GHG) whose atmospheric impact has been standardized to that of one unit mass of carbon dioxide (CO2), based on the global warming potential (GWP) of the gas. UWM avoided the emissions equivalent of 3,917 homes’ energy use for one year or 3.6 million gallons of gasoline consumed.

Energy

ENERGY

In FY20, the Office of Sustainability led and partnered on initiatives to reduce energy consumed on campus, explore avenues for innovative funding of energy efficiency projects, and vet several large-scale renewable energy projects for further savings. Of particular note, the Office of Sustainability partnered with the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and Milwaukee Area Technical College to explore renewable tariff options with our electricity provider, We Energies. While avenues for implementing the two We Energies tariffs did not result in UWM projects, UWM continues this partnership to explore cost-effective means of sourcing renewable energy.

energy use in unoccupied or partially-occupied buildings.

Yearly Summary notes: Energy Avoided Cost and Avoided Emissions are calculated using only buildings that participated in Performance Contracting. Through Making Our Mark - Leading With Distinction energy conservation measures since 2010, UWM has avoided an emissions equivalent of 58,811 homes energy use for one year.

Sample Universit y

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Retrocommissioning work continues at Lapham Hall and additional investment in future energy efficiency has been made possible in recent years by selling UWM carbon credits through Second Nature. Carbon credits are generated from energy savings that came about through extensive conservation (Performance Contracting) efforts completed in 2010-2014.

In addition, UWM saw energy savings due to the COVID pandemic. Digital building setbacks aided in regulating

C2P2

secondnature.org/marksofdistinction

% Change in Energy per Gross Square Foot Since FY2005 5.0% % Change from FY05 Base

0.0% -5.0% -10.0% -15.0% % Change from FY05

-20.0% -25.0%

% Change (Weather-Adjusted) from FY05

-30.0% -35.0%

05

06 07 08 09 10 11

12 13

Fiscal Year

14 15

16 17 18 19 20

Energy Annual Summary Carbon Credit Revenue FY20

$5,080 $38,705

Carbon Credit Revenue (FY17-FY20) Energy Total Avoided Cost

$3,452,671

FY20

Electricity Avoided Cost FY20 Thermal Avoided Cost FY20 Avoided Cost from Corrected Bills FY20

$2,390,383 $1,012,459 $49,829

Energy Total Avoided Cost (FY10-FY20)

$29,172,069

Electricity Avoided Cost (FY10-FY19) Thermal Avoided Cost (FY10-FY19)

$18,155,610 $11,016,459

Energy Total Avoided Cost (FY10-FY20 net-debt service)

Energy Avoided Emissions FY20 Energy Avoided Emissions (FY10-20)

$12,832,606

30,181 MTCO2e 249,841 MTCO2e

Electricity Avoided Emissions (FY10-19) Thermal Avoided Emissions (FY10-FY19)

% Renewable Electricity Purchased & Generated at UWM FY20

123,486 MTCO2e 126,355 MTCO2e

7.9%

Surplus

SURPLUS

Surplus strives to reduce waste, offset costs, capture value, and ensure regulatory compliance in the processing and management of old and unwanted items. Utilizing a single stream model, Surplus transfers this responsibility from departments to trained and capable staff equipped to ethically and efficiently manage item disposition.

E-WASTE E-WASTE METAL METAL

E-WASTE E-WASTE E-WASTE METAL METAL

METAL

Facebook Marketplace buy/sell group, shopUWMsurplus.

With online sales intereset, due to the pandemic, Surplus was able to reach a new audience and increase visibility even as COVID-19 continued to impact the community.

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In FY20 Surplus processed 18 tons of electronic waste and 63 tons of metal scrap, rehomed over 14 tons of usable material, and sold 187 items on public auction.

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Our greatest challenge of the year, as for everyone, was COVID-19 and the resulting operational disruptions it caused. As campus closed, Surplus was able to conduct an emergency computer sale in partnership with Campus Techology Services. This moved over a hundred workstations to students in order to ensure access to online coursework.

Low-cost Surplus computers sold to students to aid remote learning requirements imposed by COVID-19

Once operations were able to restart, Surplus conducted a soft roll-out of revised in-person sales. An integral element of the new sales structure was the introduction of our

Surplus Items Returned Campus & Sold Items Revenueto Sold Items Revenue & #toof Surplus Items Returned Campus $50,000.00

2500

$40,000.00

2000

$30,000.00

1500 $20,000.00

1000

$10,000.00

500 0

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY17

FY18

FY19

FY20

Fiscal Year Items Returned to Campus

Items Sold Revenue

$-

Sold Items Revenue

# of Items Returned to Campus

3000

Surplus Annual Summary Surplus Sales Revenue

$44,495

Surplus Total Avoided Cost

$382,238

Value of items returned to campus Items returned to campus avoided waste fees E-Waste Avoided Cost

$371,751 $1,516 $2,222

Metal Salvage Avoided Cost

$6,749

Surplus Items Returned to Campus

2,022

E-Waste Total Avoided Cost

$2,222 Payments from Scrap - Hauling Fees

$294

Avoided waste fees

$1,928

Metal Salvage Revenue

$4,478

Metal Salvage Total Avoided Cost

$6,749 Avoided waste fees

$6,749

296 MTCO2e

Avoided Emissions Metal Recycling Avoided Emissions E-Waste Avoided Emissions

253 MTCO2e 43 MTCO2e

Waste & Recycling The team came off a successful FY19 by getting waste baselines, vendor contracts, and transparent invoicing in place. Having this information was crucial when our hauling vendor informed us that UWM needed to move to bagless recycling by January 2020 or be charged up to $265K in additional annual fees. A workgroup was quickly formed that included 6 campus departments with consultation from another 10 internal and external partners. After a summer of compiling data and strategic planning, it was determined to internalize recycling hauling. The new operation had to come together in 4 months and mid academic year to avoid fees. Two new staff were hired, equipment was ordered and put in place, custodial staff were retrained, and the program launched in January of 2020. The program was in operation for 2.5 months before campus began to shut down due to COVID-19. While we had a short period to collect data, the data we did have gave us much to work with. Most notably the amount of cardboard generated on campus, accurate volumes of recycling, and the reality of campus recycling contamination. This information gave us direction for implementing new programs and procedures around collection and educating the campus community.

The recycling team quickly pivoted its focus in March

Donations from Move-Out 2020

RECYCLE

2020 to assist University Housing with getting residents out of the units. Donation stations were provided to help residents dispose of items they did not need or have space for with the rushed move-out. Over 3,800lbs of donations were collected and further donated. Staff continued their duties collecting campus recycling, moved donations from buildings, and assisted with moving boxes of resident items to USRB for storage. The rest of FY20 was challenging as staff were furloughed.

Our team worked together to ensure campus recycling needs were met. Vendor hauling schedules for waste, compost, and confidential shredding were reduced to avoid paying for under used services.

Work with students continued in FY20 through Service Learning. 18 Service Learners joined the fall 2019 Recycling Rover role. This group of students focused on completing 3 waste audits, participated in compost education at the annual Harvest Fest, and conducted research in Sandburg Hall. We had 8 Service Learners in spring 2020 and had to change our schedule due to COVID-19. Instead of in-person activities, the students helped survey the campus community on different styles of landfill and recycling signage. The goal of the research was to inform how to update recycling and landfill signs above disposal bins across campus.

Student Service Learner educating the campus on composting.

Separating bags from recycling

Recycling Annual Summary Waste & Recycling Total Avoided Cost Correcting Invoices Contamination Fees Avoided Right-sizing container pickups Plastic Bag Avoided Fees (Convert to Internal Pickups)

Avoided Landfill Waste

$66,735 $6,217 $1,044 $26,174 $33,300

1,728,870 lbs Recycling Compost Paper Shredding Waste Oil Cardboard Mixed Paper

1,472,060 lbs 130,648 lbs 48,842 lbs 23,534 lbs 19,237 lbs 34,549 lbs

30%

Diversion Rate

2,052 MTCO2e

Avoided Emissions Recycling Compost Paper Shredding Waste Oil Cardboard Mixed Paper

1,874 MTCO2e 35 MTCO2e 67 MTCO2e No data possible 22 MTCO2e 54 MTCO2e

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation looked a while lot different by the final quarter of FY20. Nearly all commuting ceased during that time due to the pandemic. Emissions from commuting were near zero during this time. The next annual report will reflect the impact. The Bike Hub Study was completed and endorsed by campus governance in December 2019.

This will direct further installments of bike access and parking to UWM.

UWM Bike Expo in 2019

Food

FOOD WASTE

FOOD & GARDEN

With campus closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Office of Sustainability shifted what are normally garden rental plots, to a centralized production garden for the UWM Food Center and Pantry.

Planting began in May of 2020 by the Office of Sustainability’s Nina Hartwig, campus garden intern and compost guru. The gardens provided potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, and kale to the Food Pantry during the summer.

“Many grocery stores have limits on canned foods (especially fruits and vegetables), and we aren’t allowed to exceed them. We’ve gotten creative, but having fresh produce from the campus gardens means that our patrons will have a consistent source of nutrition” - Quincy Kissack-Director of the UWM Food Center and Pantry Laura Stevens and Nina Hartwig packaging lettuce for the UWM Food Center and Pantry

Water & Stormwater UW-Milwaukee was highlighted by AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) in its 2020 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) for water-related innovative and high-impact initiatives.

Specifically, UWM received recognition for its partnership with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) to develop the first curricular program in the nation dedicated to

WATER

training students in professional water stewwardship planning according to the AWS Standard. The Office of Sustainability and Professor Jenny Kehl continue to develop this curriculum with the goal of partnering with local businesses to develop water stewardship action plans.

Graduate Students Erin Ganzke and Christopher Dwyer of the first UWM AWS class: not pictured Hannah Burby, Spencer Charczuk, Megan Weller, and Kate Markiewicz

Water & Storm Water Annual Summary Stormwater Avoided Cost (CY20) Stormwater Avoided Cost (CY13-CY20) Gallons Diverted by Green Infrastructure

$4,792 $29,1337 16.5M gal.

Service & Learning The Office of Sustainability amassed more than 1,700 participant hours in FY20 from service learners, volunteers, internships, events, Carbon & Resilience Planning sessions, and classes. Laura Stevens (Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator) and Nina Hartwig (Compost Intern) oversaw 36 service learners who focused on campus compost and recycling initiatives. The Office of Sustainability also partnered

ENGAGEMENT

with alumnus Danielle Bell of Native Roots LLC to direct interns Jacob Mikic and Emma Oldehoeft to document and clean out green infrastructure on campus. Lastly, roughly 590 campus staff, students, and faculty participated in events with campus partners throughout the year, including Harvest Fest, and a Bike Expo at Spaights Plaza.

Voluneteers sort waste and recycling at Sandburg Hall

Annual Summary Service Learners

Volunteers

# of service learners # of service learner hours

36 320

# of volunteers # of volunteer hours

0 0

* Volunteer opportunities for Move-Out and Spring Cleaning/Greening were unavailble due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Co-Teaching

# of students # of student hours

22 1024

Tours Given

# of tour participants # of tour participant hours

31 31

Internships

# of internships # of internship hours

2 140

# of Event Participants # of Event Participant hours

415 175

# of Participants # of Participant hours

37 74

Events

Climate Action Planning

1,764

Total Participant Hours Social Media Interactions

Reach Engagement

51,662 4,810