Green efforts
Wayne State College embraces environmental sustainability by balancing the needs of the future with our daily stewardship of resources.
Recycling
Receptacles are available in each building for recyclable products. Facility Services staff transfer these recyclables to larger exterior collection bins for pick up by our waste collection vendor. A 2011 Nebraska Environmental Trust grant of $10,000 aided in the purchase of additional receptacles to make recycling even easier on campus. Waste Connections of Norfolk, Neb., provides a full-service recycling program for the approximately 40 tons of paper and cardboard and 60,000 bottles and cans that are collected annually. The campus also collects recyclable metal products and goods through the custodial, maintenance and surplus property departments. Approximately 25 tons of metal products, which includes brass, copper, aluminum, steel, and cast, are recycled through Alter Metal of Norfolk, Neb., each year. The college also has recycling procedures in place for used toner cartridges, batteries, and pallets.
Recycling efforts on campus help reduce trash in landfills, lower waste collection costs, and educate students and staff on the importance of recycling on a larger scale.
Fleet Management
The Facility Services Department maintains a fleet of vehicles to provide services to campus. In recent years, this fleet has transitioned from predominately pickups to a mix of pickups and John Deere Gator utility vehicles. In an effort to make our fleet even more environmentally friendly, we have replaced some of those vehicles with Global Electric Motors cars. These vehicles are 100% electric and require very little maintenance. As we continue to make changes within our department fleet, we expect to see even more reduction in operating costs and downtime due to maintenance issues.
Energy-Efficiency Projects
In design discussions for building renovations and new construction projects, Wayne State looks for ways to improve and create energy efficiencies. In 2012, the Hahn Administration building renovation included the installation of the college’s first geothermal heating and cooling system. This system consisted of 56 wells drilled in the adjacent lawn to tap into the ground’s latent heating and cooling properties. The new heating and cooling system, which utilizes the earth’s energy and storage capacity to efficiently condition the building, was paired with a new building automation system that further helps energy savings by automatically adjusting to usage and occupancy of the building, resulting in lower operational costs and improved building comfort. The system provides an estimated annual operational savings of $0.40 per square foot. With the success of the Hahn Administration building geothermal system, Wayne State installed similar systems at the new Center for Applied Technology building and at Memorial Stadium. Together these three systems are estimated to save more than $50,000 annually on heating and cooling operational costs while providing eco-friendly operation.
Other energy-saving measures include low water consumption plumbing fixtures, new windows, energy efficient LED lighting, and occupancy sensors. Fire and light safety upgrades include a new electrical system for the aged facility along with a new addressable fire alarm and sprinkler system with voiceover alarm capabilities.
Green Teams
Wayne State students and the City of Wayne have each created Green Teams to promote environmental sustainability in the community.