Green Initiatives

Environmental Safe Chemicals

The ORU Safety and Security Committee oversees the inventory and proper disposal of hazardous chemicals. Chemical waste is picked up every three months by EnviroSolve. Questions regarding hazardous materials should be directed to the head of security, Jerry Isaacs 918.495.7749.

Facility Services (Jed Cravalho) has investigated options for less expensive products that are also environmentally safe. Our sales consultant at AmSan/Eve, Inc. researched and found a better deal on paper products that were Green Seal Certified. Although we are not completely "green," we are making headway and the Aerobics Center, Mabee Center and ORU. Housekeeping have changed over to a Green Seal Certified Paper Towel product. This product is 100% recycled content and exceeds EPA guidelines. (For more information on Green Seal Certified go to http://www.eveinc.com/GreenSealAd-3R3.pdf The goal is to head in the same direction with toilet tissue when the costs become affordable.

In the A.C. we have gone to a universal cleaning agent and all purpose cleaner. Alpha a RTD (ready-to-dispense) cleaner is concentrated and just needs water added. The hook-up kit allows us to dispense quickly, accurately and is self measuring. This system helps prevent spills and accidental concentrate exposure. It also allowed us to use one product and eliminated an additional glass cleaner, mopping solution and disinfectant.

Lois Ablin of the Chemistry Department is involved with green chemistry initiatives. She has changed the chemistry lab experiments to microscale so that smaller volumes of reagents are used. A financial saving of at least $500 has been realized and less chemical waste is generated.


Programs to Improve Energy Efficiency

Main Campus, 2008

  • IT Dept. has begun switching to Virtual Servers. With special software (VM ware) the servers are segmented from larger servers. This reduces the energy use to about 20% of what it had been as used by 60-70 separate servers.
  • New roof is being completed on the Aerobic Center and replacement is getting started on the Power Plant roof. Roofs will be replaced with better insulating and reflecting materials at the Hammel Student Center and the Mabee Center.
  • Security is using bicycle patrols. This saves on fuel and also gives more personal contact with the students.
  • The lighting system in Christ Chapel has been computerized so that lights do not remain on unnecessarily. More lights on campus will be regulated automatically in the future.
  • The ground floor of the Prayer Tower is being replaced because of leaks. The new roof will be a green roof with soil and grass on top.
  •  Use of solar panels is being studied. Currently there appears to be a 10 year pay back. Remote applications in use around baseball field.
  • Oil in University vehicles has been changed to synthetic varieties as directed by Biodegradable Oil Business.

Main Campus, Ongoing

  • Light fixtures have been changed to handle more efficient bulbs. Currently, changes to the lighting in the dorms is being studied.

Main Campus, 2005-present

  • Following hail damage, many of the roofs have been replaced with a reflective, energy efficient material (TPO). The insulating and reflecting qualities will produce an energy savings of 25-30%. Such roofs will be put on Towers Dorms and the Mabee Center next, completing the project.

Main Campus, 1996

  • Carrier Corp. upgraded the air conditioning system to higher efficiency units at a savings of $6-8 million. A new upgrade will be due in the near future.

Cityplex Towers

  • Roofs are being replaced on the lower buildings, and the high tower will have its roof replaced in the future. These are all the white TPO membrane roofs that reflect sunlight and keep the building cooler. Also R25 insulation is being installed. The heating and air conditioning system is being fitted with variable speed fans and rebuilt to allow shutting off sectors not in use. These changes will permit more efficient operation and use less energy.
  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs are being used.

Recycling

  • Cardboard is collected across campus and taken by a vendor for recycling. (last year 34.45 tons were recycled). Some funds are realized from this effort.
  • Office Paper is picked up by National Waste for recycling. This paper is collected by Housekeeping personnel in the large rolling receptacles.
  • Abitibi services the metal bin located in the parking lot between the student dormitories. Paper is collected from classrooms in the GC and LRC buildings in designated boxes and taken to this bin. Student groups bring paper from the dorms to this bin as well.
  • The Mabee Center and the Aerobic Center have started programs to collect plastic bottles. These have to be taken to a recycling center. A separate, small-scale plastic bottle recycling operation is being managed by Steve Herr in the GC basement.
  • 500 old mattresses are replaced every year from the dorms. These are donated to relief agencies.
  • Steel and scrap metal are collected in a bin outside of Receiving. These items are sold for recycling. Although any University employee may bring metal scrap to this bin, there is some concern that the community could use the facility as a dump.
  • Electronic Maintenance arranged for a vendor to haul off 53 large containers (approximatelty 1 m 3 each) of old computers, monitors, and peripherals. The electronic waste recycler performs this operation at no cost to the University.
  • Because ink jet printers have a short life span, use cartridges rapidly so that more waste is generated and are a very inefficient use of ORU funds, IT has is working to reduce the number of ink jet printers on campus. Existing ink jet printers will be analyzed to see whether the computer in question can be connected to an existing networked Canon laser jet printer or copier. The Canon machines will eventually be used for document scanning/ imaging for storage. New purchase requests will also be evaluated.
  • Lois Ablin is involved with green chemistry initiatives. She has changed the chemistry lab experiments to microscale so that smaller volumes of reagents are used. A financial saving of at least $500 has been realized and less chemical waste is generated.
  • Chemical Waste is picked up every three months by EnviroSolve. Security should be contacted to arrange for the next pick up at 918.495.7750.
  • Additional small-scale efforts to collect batteries for recycling (at Engineering Office and at Electronic Maintenance) as well as a collection service for used printer toner cartridges. Office Depot accepts the cartridges and gives a $3 credit toward purchases. So far about 20 cartridges have been recycled and 15 reams of paper have been redeemed from the credits.

Waste Reduction

Sodexo reviewed the initiatives that are being considered or are in place at the Sodexho cafeteria:

  • Containers have been ordered for collecting recyclable materials such as used napkins and other paper produces. Containers for recyclables will also be placed in the smaller food outlets.
  • Cardboard and cooking oil continue to be recycled.
  • Large large amounts of cardboard can be accepted but Housekeeping should be notified at 918.495.6695 or 918.495.6986.
  • Sodexo is studying the option to make the cafeteria “tray-less” so that students would have the option to take food items without using a tray if they choose.
  • Sodexo also reported that he is attempting to contact Conrad Farms of Bixby regarding using local produce in the cafeteria. He also is interested in getting a campus composting operation going.

Other universities have focused on purchasing local farm produce for use in cafeterias. There are some liability issues regarding food quality (e.g., e-coli scares). However, an organized program connecting local farms and public schools has been developed as the Oklahoma Farm to School program. A website lists cooperating farms in the state. Other universities have also established campus gardens for students to participate in growing fresh vegetables as well as composting operations that utilize cafeteria wastes. In the spring of 2007, the ORU Environmental Stewardship Club asked whether some land could be set aside for student gardens. The response was favorable; however, it was felt that the program should be postponed until after the Fred Creek remodeling project is complete. One challenge to overcome is the need to maintain campus gardens over the summer when few students are on campus.