5,510: Environmental Policy

Last Revised: March 2006

The University is committed to instituting environmentally responsible procedures in all campus activities and in conducting its affairs in a manner that safeguards the environmental health and safety of students, faculty, staff and the local community. To build and maintain an environmentally aware campus, the University has identified specific areas for environmental focus.

1. Curriculum - Faculty are encouraged to take steps to incorporate environmental content throughout existing curriculum, increasing environment-related course offerings and research, and to seek more resources to dedicate to environmental research. Faculty are encouraged to utilize environmental practices in the classroom.
2. Natural Features - The University strives to protect, restore and enhance natural features, biological diversity, and ecological processes on campus.
3. Energy - The University strives to minimize energy consumption in accordance with the State of Nevada Energy Plan, reduce emissions and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources.
4. Water consumption - The University strives to minimize the use of water both in its buildings as well as in future landscape design and in maintenance of current landscaping. The University tries to use the best available technology to minimize the use of water, encourage the use of reclaimed water, and prevent the wasting of water.
5. Transportation - The University strives to reduce vehicle emissions and to minimize energy consumption and the use of fossil fuel for transportation. The University encourages the use of alternative fuels, alternative transportation, acquisition of fuel-efficient and low emissions vehicles and incorporate strategies in campus master planning to enable efficient transportation systems.
6. Hazardous Materials - The University strives to limit and monitor the use of hazardous materials on campus grounds, in cleaning and in laboratories. Every effort is made to minimize the generation of hazardous waste. Hazardous waste that is generated will be treated, collected and disposed of properly.
7. Solid Waste - The University strives to minimize solid waste production and to make reasonable accommodations to divert solid waste to appropriate recycling or composting programs.
8. Buildings - The University strives to minimize the ecological impact of the demolition, construction, renovation, maintenance and operation of campus buildings. A University priority is to incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) in the design of new buildings, in accordance with the University of Nevada, Reno Sustainable Building Policy. 
9. Life Cycle Cost Analysis - Nevada Revised Statutes 338.190 sets the requirements for Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) that must be performed prior to construction or renovation. The University uses LCCA to strive to achieve the highest quality, most cost-effective means for construction.
10. Indoor Environmental Quality - The University strives to promote healthy indoor environments and to support the selection and use of materials and products that minimize off gassing of chemicals and other pollutants.
11. Purchasing - The University strives to minimize the ecological impact of the products purchased in support of campus operations and to seek fiscally viable alternatives for any products that are environmentally detrimental. In general, the University strives to purchase products that include post-consumer recycled content, products that are durable, products that are amenable to repair and products that can be recycled after they are no longer useful.