Sustainability & Operations . . .

Sustainability Committee

Winthrop's sustainability committee is composed of faculty and staff from various departments as well as a CSL student representative. The committee is chaired by the Sustainability Coordinator and works throughout the year developing various sustainable programs and initiatives.  In the past year, the committee developed at Sustainability Policy that was approved in May 2012.   Below are the members of the sustainability committee:

• Chris Johnson, Sustainability Coordinator
• Marsha Bollinger, Interdisciplinary Studies / Faculty
• Mitzi Stewart, Environmental Health and Safety
• Tim Hill, Set-up/Recycling Facilities Management
• Cynthia Cassens, Residence Life
• Laura Foster, Career and Civic Engagement
• Craig Sauvigne, Computing & Information Technology
• Pam Varraso, Administrative Specialist, Student Affairs
• Pam Yurkovic, Dining Services
• Chris Hodgdon, Central Receiving
• Chris Rousseau, Facilities Management
• Pam Purser, Asst. Director of Grounds/Custodial Services
• DeeAnna Brooks, Events, Office of the President
• Linda Campfield, Procurement/ Purchasing
• Monica Bennett, University Relations
• Leslie Moma, Admissions / Student
• Stephen Wood, Resident Learning Coordinator
• Julianne Schrader, Assistant Director Residence Life
• CSL Student Representative (Currently vacant)

Facilities & Sustainable Buildings

Sun shades are used to lessen heat gain on Southern elevation of building.  Use of low cut off light fixtures prevents light pollution in the night sky.

Designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the Lois Rhame West Center was constructed with and operates using leading-edge environmentally conscious features.  With its leading-edge environmentally conscious features, the West Center, which opened in September 2007, is both the largest and the most energy-efficient building on Winthrop’s main campus.  The design also provides health benefits to the entire Winthrop community including bicycle racks, shower facilities, and lockers for our bicycle commuters. 

As a state agency, Winthrop University must comply with Sustainable Construction Act of 2007 Section 48-52-800.  This legistlation requires the application of green building or comparable standards to measures of energy efficiency and energy conservation to state-funded facility projects.  Specifically, Section 48-52-830.    (A)(1)    All major facility projects in this State, as defined in Section 48-52-810(10)(a)(i), must be designed, constructed, and at least certified as receiving two globes using the Green Globes Rating System or receiving the LEED Silver standard. All major facility projects in this State, as defined in Section 48-52-810(10)(a)(ii) or (iii), must be analyzed using a life cycle cost analysis comparing the cost and benefits of designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating the facility at the LEED Silver standard or two globes standard, or better, with certification; normal industry and regulatory standards as applicable; or some standard between the two that causes the project to be designed and constructed in a manner that achieves the lowest thirty-year life cycle cost.

Winthrop University Sustainability Policy

Sustainability is generally defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.  As a signatory of the Talloires Declaration and an institutional member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Winthrop University is committed to sustainability and to serving as a positive example through sustainable practices.  

This policy will guide the University in incorporating sustainability into decision making, simultaneously advancing economic vitality, ecological integrity, and social welfare.   To reach this end, Winthrop University will:

• Create mechanisms for input and advice on implementation of this sustainability policy;
• Establish measurable sustainability goals within the university community;
• Communicate and promote awareness of sustainability goals;
• Foster an understanding of the University’s impact on sustainability at local, regional, and global scales;
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations to develop and promote sustainable practices;
• Where practical, exceed all applicable sustainability standards and regulations;
• Report results of this policy on an ongoing basis and celebrate accomplishments.

Winthrop University Sustainable Procurement Policy

The purpose of the Winthrop University Sustainable Procurement Policy is to support the statewide Green Purchasing Initiative per the SC Senate Bill 1497 by purchasing products that minimize the harmful effects of their use and final disposition upon the environment. Winthrop University recognizes that the purchasing decisions of our employees can make a difference in favor of environmental quality. We prefer the purchase of environmentally preferable products whenever they perform satisfactorily and are available at a reasonable price.

Facilities & Green Cleaning

In 2004,  the university undertook a comprehensive inventory of the chemicals used on campus and evaluated their potential environmental impact.  This inventory revealed that many cleaners on campus were chlorine based.   In addition, there were five different general purpose cleaners and seven different glass cleaners used on campus.  We realized that it was important to change to cleaning chemicals that were not only safer to the people using them but also to those people living or working in the spaces where these chemicals are used. 

Green cleaners exhibit the following characteristics per GS-37 Standard:

• Low or no VOCs
• Packaging must be recyclable
• No more than .5% total phosphorus by weight
• Biodegradable
• Non Toxic to Aquatic Life
• Non Toxic to humans – oral, inhalation or dermal
• Sold in highly concentrated form only
• Dye free
• Ingredients added as fragrances must be identified on the MSDS sheet
• No ingredients may be carcinogenic or a reproductive toxin
• Shall not be a skin sensitizer

Facilities & Other Sustainable Initiatives

• Developed and implemented No Idling Policy.

• Implemented various water saving practices including but not limited to: low flow toilets campus wide, low flow shower heads, low flow faucet aerators, etc.
• Purchased low emission lawn and garden equipment.
• Developed five year tree plan for identification of trees and long range replacement.  
• Eliminated incandescent lights used on campus.