Sustainable OIT
Students have hands-on learning opportunities in the OREC lab.  |
Oregon Tech's Sustainability Mission
Oregon Tech's
mission is to be the leader in sustainable technology
education and to excel in full sustainability integration in campus
operations, academics, and community involvement.
Full-time Staff Dedicated to Sustainability (More...) (More...)OIT
has two Sustainability Coordinators and an Energy Analyst who are
responsible for coordinating sustainability efforts on campus and
tracking progress using the Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability,
Tracking, and Rating System (STARS).
Climate Neutral by 2050 (More...) (More...)OIT
will be climate neutral by 2050 through a combination of energy
conservation, improved building design, purchase of carbon offsets, use
of a "small" geothermal powerplant, and construction of a "large"
geothermal power plant.
Multiple Sustainability Action Groups (More...) (More...)Groups
involved in sustainability include the Sustainability Committee made up
of faculty, students, administrators, and community members; the
student Sustainability Club; Engineers without Borders; student
Sustainability Internship program; and the Sustainability Office
(two paid students who promote sustainability on campus).
Programs Integrating Sustainable Technology (More...) (More...) Several
programs at Oregon Tech are intimately linked with training graduates in
sustainable technology, design, and practices: Manufacturing and
Mechanical Engineering Technology (life cycle analysis and lean
manufacturing), Renewable Energy Engineering (renewable energy and
resources), Civil Engineering (environmental design and LEED building
design), and Environmental Sciences (Watershed Sciences, Geographic
Information Systems, and Sustainable Technologies emphasis areas).
Native Plant Garden Featuring Xeriscaping (More...) (More...) A
native plant garden which features xeriscaping has been planted on the
Oregon Tech campus. This project, designed by Civil Engineering students and
maintained by the Sustainability Committee, is a test plot for the
introduction of native plant species into the Oregon Tech landscape and
will serve as a teaching garden for the community. Oregon Tech also has a
small on-campus wetland!
Encouraging Alternative Transportation (More...) (More...)OIT
encourages alternative transportation use for community members. Bus
passes are free for students, staff, and faculty. A pilot program for
spring 2009 tested the feasibility of reduced parking fees for
carpoolers. There are also several electric bikes in use on campus.
Sustainability Club at Earth Day 2008  |