Bloomington, IN - A survey conducted from May through June 2013 by the University of Arizona Office of Sustainability and published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)* finds that more collegiate athletic teams are adopting green and sustainable practices in operation of their sports facilities.
The goal of the survey was to identify sustainability initiatives implemented in college varsity, campus recreation, and club sports programs in the United States and Canada. Additionally, researchers were trying to determine which campus groups were primarily responsible for implementing green initiatives.
Of the 1,200 respondents contacted by email, 175 completed the survey representing 148 colleges and universities, athletic conferences, and community colleges in the U.S. and Canada.
According to the survey, the top ten initiatives that have been implemented (in descending order) are the following:
- Installation of recycle bins in public areas
- Recycling programs in office areas
- Recycling programs in non-public areas of the facility
- Installation of bike racks and infrastructures to promote bicycle commuting
- Upgraded lighting systems with more advanced controls
- Selection of Green Cleaning products
- Energy audits
- Installation of recycling signage in public areas
- Upgrading to water-efficient fixtures
- Training of custodial staff on Green Cleaning practices and products
"While Green Cleaning-related initiatives are on the top ten list, we definitely would like to see those ranking even higher," says Stephen Ashkin, President of The Ashkin Group, and a board member of the Green Sports Alliance. "One of my goals with the Alliance is to have more sports venues-collegiate, professional, as well as community-use Green Cleaning products and methods."
As to who is most responsible for implementing the green and sustainable initiatives, the survey found it was primarily campus facility and sustainability departments followed by recreation and sports departments and athletics departments.
"While this is encouraging, we still have a ways to go," adds Ashkin. "However, because today's college students are so green- and sustainable-focused, I believe things will move along pretty fast in the next few years."
*NRDC is an environmental action group with 1.4 million members, among them lawyers, scientists and other professionals.
###
* Need-to-Know is an impartial news service produced by The Ashkin Group to provide building and cleaning professionals with news on sustainable issues that might impact their industries.
About Stephen Ashkin and The Ashkin Group
Stephen P. Ashkin is president of The Ashkin Group, a consulting firm specializing in Greening the cleaning industry, and CEO of Sustainability Dashboard Tools, which offers a cloud-based dashboardthat allows organizations to measure, report and improve their sustainability efforts. He is also
Ashkin has worked in the cleaning industry since 1981 and has held senior management positions in leading consumer and commercial product companies. He began his work on Green Cleaning in 1990 and today is thought of as the "father of Green cleaning". For more information, visitwww.AshkinGroup.com.
Related Stories
Architects | Nov 9, 2021
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects announces renaming
Founded by Cesar Pelli with partners Fred Clarke and Diana Balmori in 1977, the firm began its legacy as Cesar Pelli & Associates at its first office in New Haven, Connecticut.
Movers+Shapers | Nov 7, 2021
Passage of $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill expected to spur stronger construction activity
AEC firms see federal investment as historic
Architects | Nov 2, 2021
What rugby can teach us about designing the workspace of the future
Two veteran workplace designers offer a sports-based analogy for designing agile spaces to meet the needs of an evolving workforce.
Adaptive Reuse | Nov 1, 2021
CallisonRTKL explores converting decommissioned cruise ships for housing
The rapid increase in cruise ship decommissioning during the last 18 months has created a unique opportunity to innovate and adapt these large ships.
Sustainability | Oct 28, 2021
Reducing embodied carbon in construction, with sustainability leader Sarah King
Sustainability leader Sarah King explains how developers and contractors can use the new EC3 software tool to reduce embodied carbon in their buildings.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Oct 26, 2021
14 projects recognized by DOE for high-performance building envelope design
The inaugural class of DOE’s Better Buildings Building Envelope Campaign includes a medical office building that uses hybrid vacuum-insulated glass and a net-zero concrete-and-timber community center.
AEC Tech | Oct 25, 2021
Token Future: Will NFTs revolutionize the design industry?
How could non-fungible tokens (NFTs) change the way we value design? Woods Bagot architect Jet Geaghan weighs risk vs. reward in six compelling outcomes.
Giants 400 | Oct 22, 2021
2021 Retail Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. retail building sector
Gensler, CallisonRTKL, Kimley-Horn, and Whiting-Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest retail sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Oct 22, 2021
2021 Industrial Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. industrial buildings sector
Ware Malcomb, Clayco, Jacobs, and Stantec top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest industrial buildings sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
| Oct 22, 2021
The Next Chapter For 147-Year-Old Shepley Bulfinch
Boston-based architecture, planning, and interior design firm Shepley Bulfinch recently named Angela Watson, FAIA, as its President and CEO. Watson sat down with BD+C's John Caulfield to discuss her strategic plan, which emphasizes perspective and collaboration.
