Sustainability
What You Can Do

Faculty and Staff

  • Lunch Time Discussion Course

    Faculty and staff can participate in a free, weekly discussion course during the lunch hour. A different topic is explored each quarter, such as: voluntary simplicity, health, food and choices for sustainable living. Past participants say the diverse perspectives gave them a different way of looking at the issues. 

    The courses last from 4 to 7 weeks. The weekly readings take about 40 minutes. The Office for Sustainability buys the course book.  Courses are advertised in the weekly CampusNews email.

    Campus Sustainability Resources

    • Join the Seattle U Sustainability Facebook page to be notified of what’s happening at SU.
    • Sign up to receive the AASHE Bulletin, a weekly compilation of news, opportunities, resources, job postings and events related to sustainability in higher education.
    • Learn best practices from other schools via AASHE’s Resources. Topics include: academics, research, co-curricular education, student organizing, operations and planning. Create an account using your Seattle University email address to access the members-only resources. 
    • Search 800 case studies highlighting efforts to green the campus and the curriculum from colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. Go to Campus Ecology’s sustainability database.   

    Classroom

    • Use Canvas to assign, grade, and return student assignments and post syllabi
    • Accept only electronic versions of papers, tests, and assignments
    • Allow single-spacing, reduced margins, and double-sided printing for hard copy assignments
    • Print handouts or exams on double-sided, recycled content paper
    • Turn off the lights if the classroom has enough daylight for your needs. Turn off lights when you leave the room if it has manual switches.
    • Raise the blinds to let sunlight in when it’s cold outside and close the blinds to keep the sun out on hot days.

    Energy

    • Contact the Facilities Resource Center if you experience an energy issue, for example a room is too hot or cold:  296-6996, facilities@seattleu.edu
    • Do not use a space heater. 
    • If you are physically able, open doors manually.
    • Burn calories- take the stairs.
    • Turn off your computer, monitor, speakers, printer, copier and lights at night. 
    • Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

    Food

    Meetings and Events

    • Use the Green Event Planning Guide and Checklist. Sections provide information on food choices and catering, waste reduction, communication, transportation, and post-event considerations specific to Seattle University.

    Transportation


    Learn more about these commuting incentives at Transportation & Parking Services.

    • The university pays for a cab ride home in case of an emergency for employees who do not take their car to work.
    • Registered bikers get secure bike storage, shower and locker room in the Student Center, and a complementary parking card for five days of parking each month should they need to park on campus.
    • Registered walkers receive a complementary parking card for five days of parking each month should they need to park on campus.
    • Zipcar is a car-sharing company which rents cars by the hour. A car is reserved at a moment's notice or in advance through an online reservation.There are Zipcars parked in back of the Rianna apartments on 12th Ave. Rates average $10/hour and include gas, insurance, cleaning, maintenance, and 180 miles/day. Leave your car at home and use the Zipcar for business related trips with your supervisor's approval.
      $10 a month ORCA Transit Pass covers travel between four counties.
    • Car and vanpool preferred parking.

    Waste Reduction

    • Set your computer to print double-sided as the default. Easy how-to instructions .
    • Bring your own mug to any campus cafe and get a 20-cent discount on hot drinks and soda.
    • Use inter-office envelopes or reuse envelopes for campus mail.
    • Educate yourself on what materials are recyclable and compostable.
    • Stock the break room with reusable cups, plates, and silverware.
    • Buy office paper with at least 30% recycled-content.
    • Buy OfficeMax remanufactured toner cartridges.
    • Bring computers, electronics, broken equipment and much more from home to Seattle University's annual Recycling Event during Earth Week in April.

    Water

    • Drink filtered tap water instead of water from a 5-gallon jug.  Contact your building manager to explore your options (e.g. fridge water dispenser, countertop dispenser, bottle-less water cooler).
    • Buy the Seattle University Think Outside the Bottle water bottle and support the clean water for Haiti project. 
    • Contact the Facilities Resource Center if you see a water problem like a faucet is leaking or a toilet is constantly flushing:  296-6996, facilities@seattleu.edu.