Sustainability Efforts at the KU Edwards Campus


The University of Kansas Edwards Campus strives to include sustainability efforts in education, campus life and campus operations. The KU Edwards Campus Sustainability Committee was started in 2016, and expanded in 2017, with the goals of becoming a green campus, educating students, staff and faculty about campus sustainability efforts, and incorporating sustainability into the Edwards Campus experience. The campus was recognized as a "Green Office" by the KU Center for Sustainability in 2018.

The campus currently offers recycling, including glass recycling, in offices, classrooms and common areas throughout the campus. The campus is also a member of the Green Business Network.

Other sustainable features at the KU Edwards Campus include:

  • Electric vehicle charging stations at the east end of the BEST parking lot
  • Water bottle refill stations on BEST first floor, and all levels of the Regents Center
  • LED lighting in Regents Center parking lot
  • LED lighting in Regents Center lab areas
  • Motion-activated light sensors for off-hours in BEST Building
  • Daylight harvesting system in BEST Building
  • Occupancy sensors in BEST Building classrooms for HVAC
  • A 95 percent efficient boiler system in the Regents Center
  • Recycling commercial batteries, fluorescent lamps, lighting ballasts
  • Annual observation of Earth Day, with volunteer opportunities for faculty and staff to get involved in campus beautification projects, such as landscaping and litter pickup.
  • Campus Sustainability Week

Accomplishments

 

Since beginning sustainability initiatives in Fall 2016, the KU Edwards Campus has:

  • Added 200 recycling bins to classrooms, offices and common areas
  • Updated signage for recycling and trash bins
  • Added Ripple Glass recycling bins in the main lobby of each campus building
  • Received grant funds for recycling bins and signage through Johnson County Dept. of Health and Environment’s Green Business Program. Funds were matched by KU Edwards Campus.
  • As a result of these recycling efforts, in 2017 the Edwards Campus:
    • Reduced waste sent to the landfill by 416 cubic yards. That’s more than 30 dump trucks!
    • Increased recycling by 156 cubic yards, a 100 percent increase from 2016
    • Increased the size of the campus’ central recycling collection bin 50 percent increase, from 4 to 6 cubic yards 
    • Replaced one day of trash pickup with one day of recycling pickup
  • Added to the Regents Center Lower Level
    • LED lighting in new lab and adjacent faculty suite
    • Water bottle refill station
    • 95% efficient boiler system—30 percent more efficient than our previous system
  • Received R5 Certification through Johnson County Dept. of Health and Environment. This certification recognizes community entities for their sustainability efforts. The five R’s are the criteria for the certification: Reinvest, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
  • Received a Green Office Award through KU’s Center for Sustainability, recognizing the entire Edwards Campus as a green office
    • Student Services recognized as a green office in 2016
    • Events and front desk team recognized as a green office in 2017
  • Joined the Green Business Network to grow relationships with other partners committed to sustainability
  • Installed LED lighting in the Regents Center parking lot

 

Statistics

Emissions reduction over time:

 

Cost reduction (electricity/natural gas)

 

What can I recycle?

The KU Edwards Campus has over 100 recycling bins available to use in classrooms and common areas, and glass recycling bins in the main lobby of each of the main buildings.

The following materials can be recycled on campus:

Plastic containers

  • Food & drink containers
  • Cups
  • Yogurt cups
  • Water bottles, including lids and caps
  • Deli containers

Metal cans

  • Aluminum cans
  • Tin or steel cans

Paper products

  • Office paper
  • Junk mail or catalogs
  • Cartons
  • Boxes

Please do not try to recycle the following:

Food-related waste

  • All food
  • Plastic wrappers
  • Resealable bags
  • Styrofoam containers
  • Frozen food trays
  • Food-soiled paper (such as pizza boxes)
  • Coffee or soda cups
  • Plastic utensils
  • Straws

Other items

  • Paper towels or napkins
  • Bubble wrap
  • Plastic shopping bags
  • Aluminum foil or pans
  • Styrofoam
  • Paper receipts
  • Whole coffee pods (some plastic pod containers may be recycled--check packaging)

 

Be a Sustainable Jayhawk

See the ways that you can be a sustainable Jayhawk by downloading our flyer below.

Download the Sustainable Jayhawk Flyer (PDF)