System Procedure 5.17.1 Environmental Sustainability Practices

System Procedures
 Chapter 5 - Administration

for Board Policy 5.17

Part 1. Purpose
To establish targets, metrics, and communication requirements for colleges and universities to monitor, report, and make progress toward resilience and sustainability in campus operations.

Part 2. Authority
Policy 5.17 Commitment to Environmental Sustainability directs college and university presidents to develop, implement, and promote campus-based initiatives in support of principles of environmental sustainability.

Part 3. Definitions

Sustainability
Sustainable campuses are those that reduce emissions and minimize energy consumption, water consumption, fuel consumption, and solid waste generation while fulfilling their academic mission.

Resilience
The ability of a system and its component parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner, including the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions.

B3 SB 2030 Energy Standard
The Buildings, Benchmarks, and Beyond (B3) Sustainable Building 2030 (SB 2030) Energy Standard is an energy and carbon conservation program designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with Minnesota’s commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings. The SB 2030 Energy Standard is grounded in Minnesota Statute. That statute articulates the requirement for quantitative, performance-based measurement using B3 Benchmarking.

B3 Benchmarking
In 2001, Minnesota passed legislation mandating all public buildings to benchmark utility data. B3 Benchmarking is the tool used to fulfill both this mandate and the SB 2030 Energy Standard requirement for project-specific performance measurement.

B3 Guidelines
B3 Guidelines are a functional tool of the B3 program and may be used on a voluntary basis but are required on all major, and some minor, construction projects that receive general obligation bond funding. B3 Guidelines are applied to the design of new buildings or renovations to meet sustainability goals. By using the B3 Guidelines, projects are automatically applying the SB 2030 Energy Standard.

Resilience
The ability of a system and its component parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner, including the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions.

Sustainability
Sustainable campuses are those that fulfill their academic mission without undermining the planet and future generations’ ability to thrive.

Sustainable procurement
A purchasing decision that considers environmental, social, and economic factors.

Part 4. General Responsibilities
Each college and university president shall appoint a representative for all energy-and sustainability-related issues and shall maintain records regarding carbon emissions, energy and water conservation and efficiency, and solid waste. The representative shall also monitor and communicate programs, initiatives, and curriculum related to the following areas. The targets for each carbon, energy, water, and waste closely follow the Minnesota Department of Administration’s Cabinet Level Agency goals.

  1. Carbon Emissions
    1. Target: The 亚洲无码 goal is to reduce building-related carbon dioxide equivalent emissions to a level at least 50 percent below 2009 levels by 2030, and to a level at least 80 percent below 2009 levels by 2050.
    2. Metric: Representatives shall enter utility billing data into B3 Benchmarking on a monthly basis; the tool will automatically calculate Scope 1 stationary and Scope 2 indirect emissions. Emissions will be reported in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e).
    3. Reporting frequency: 亚洲无码 will run annual reports of MTCO2e for the previous fiscal year by October 31 of each year. Institutions that have internal or external carbon neutrality commitments (e.g., climate action plans or signed Second Nature Climate Leadership commitments) in place are encouraged to submit their progress reports to 亚洲无码 to supplement B3 Benchmarking reports.
  2. Energy Conservation and Efficiency
    1. Target: The 亚洲无码 goal is to reduce building energy consumption per square foot by 30 percent below 2017 consumption by 2030.
    2. Metric: Representatives shall enter utility billing data into B3 Benchmarking on a monthly basis. Energy use will be reported as Energy Use Intensity, or EUI (kBtu per square foot per year).
    3. Reporting frequency. 亚洲无码 will run annual reports of EUI for the previous fiscal year by October 31 of each year.
  3. Water Conservation and Efficiency
    1. Target: The 亚洲无码 goal is to reduce building water consumption per square foot by 15 percent below 2017 consumption by 2030.
    2. Metric: Representatives shall enter utility billing data into B3 Benchmarking on a monthly basis. Water use will be reported as Water Use Intensity, or WUI (gallons per square foot per year).
    3. Reporting frequency. 亚洲无码 will run reports of annual water consumption for the previous fiscal year by October 31 of each calendar year.
  4. Solid Waste
    1. Target: The 亚洲无码 goal is to achieve a 75 percent municipal solid waste diversion rate through both recycling and composting by 2030.
    2. Metric: Representatives shall enter data for landfilled, recycled, composted, and otherwise diverted waste into B3 Benchmarking at least once per year. Waste will be reported as percent diverted relative to total waste generated.
    3. Reporting frequency: 亚洲无码 will run reports for solid waste diverted for the previous fiscal year by October 31 of each year.
  5. Transportation
    1. Target: Implement programs and initiatives that promote lower carbon-intensive transportation options such as carpooling, biking, walking, and use of public transportation systems both for regular commuting as well as for campus-related activities. Prioritize fuel efficient and fuel alternative fleet purchases following the State of Minnesota vehicle purchasing hierarchy.  See Related Documents. 
    2. Metric: Representatives shall report the number of fuel efficient and fuel alternative fleet vehicles owned as well as number and type of electric vehicle charging stations available for fleet or public use.
    3. Reporting frequency: As requested, but no more than once annually.
  6. Procurement, Food, and Dining
    1. Target: Where applicable, utilize Minnesota's enterprise-wide contracts that prioritize sustainable procurement following guideance and operating instructions in Board Policy 5.14 Contracts, Procurements, and Supplier Diversity.  See Related Documents sections.  Implement programs, initiatives and/or curriculum addressing sustainable food offerings and implement other food service-based initiatives. 
    2. Reporting frequency: As requested, but no more than once annually.
  7. Pollution Prevention, Conservation, and Protection of the Natural Environment
    1. Target: Implement programs, education, staff training and initiatives addressing green infrastructure, such as Low Impact Development for stormwater management, Smart Salting ice and snow removal strategies, and design and manage landscapes to protect pollinators using native trees and plants.  Implement programs and projects that include lower greenhouse gas emitting equipment, use LED bulbs, and select low chemical-emitting finishes, interior furnishings, and cleaning products.  
    2. Reporting frequency: As requested, but no more than once annually.

These targets do not preclude B3 Guidelines or SB 2030 requirements related to new construction and renovation projects receiving general obligation bond funding from the State of Minnesota.

亚洲无码 will assign a Facilities Unit representative to monitor and collect all college and university metrics and reports and prepare them for presentation to the Board of Trustees on a regular basis.

Related Documents:

To view any of the following related statutes, go to the . You can conduct a search from this site by typing in the statute number.

  • Minn. Stat. § 16B.325 Sustainable Building Guidelines
  • Minn. Stat. §§ 16C.137 and 16C.135 outlines state vehicle purchasing hierarchy

Procedure History:

Date of Adoption: 07/21/22
Date of Implementation: 07/21/22
Date of Last Review: 06/25/26

Date and Subject of Amendments:

06/25/26 – full review and continuity with State targets and timelines. New definitions were added for Resilience, Sustainability, and Sustainable procurement.

No additional HISTORY

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