If you have been reading this column, we know you are already aware that the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine 42nd and Dewey campus is working to meet goals outlined in the Sustainability Master Plan (SMP).
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LIVEGREEN |
by Melanie Stewart |
As we move forward, it’s important to provide you with a report on the progress we have made in all areas. The next few articles that are written here will provide updates and explanations in all eight areas of focus.
Before we can do that, it’s important to note that several baselines in the SMP have been updated. I bring this up because we want to be 100 percent transparent about what is happening.
One of the goals of the SMP is to improve ongoing data tracking. The outcome of these improvements is more accurate data tracking and newly available data to inform progress toward meeting SMP goals. The baselines were changed because this new, more accurate data recently became available. Baseline changes were made in a unit of measure: the original water baseline showed that we used more than 206.1 million gallons of water per year. With improved data our new baseline is 225.1 million gallons per year, a 9.2 percent increase. The goal of reducing by 10 percent has not and will not change, but technically this makes the goal more difficult to achieve as the volume of water we need to “save” is larger.
New, more accurate data resulted in updates to five of the 2010 baselines: energy, emissions, water, materials, and recycling. Transportation and engagement baselines remained the same. The food services goal does not have a specific baseline.
We’ve already provided you with the first update on energy, water, and emissions.
You can read about these achievements in UNMC Today and Nebraska Medicine NOW, as well as the Omaha World-Herald. In addition, the chancellor’s video with Chad Doane discusses why sustainability is important for us to attain as a school, business, health care provider, and community leader, and how important it is that we meet these specific goals.
This is a fantastic accomplishment and something for everyone to be proud of. We will continue to strive to meet the secondary goals in these categories.
Dear Melanie,
On the first floor of Bennett Hall we have men's an women's bathrooms off the main hallway. In the women's there are toilets that flush automatically. This is supposed to save water. However, I have been in the stalls when the toilet's flushed multiple times because of my movement. A manual flush only flushes the amount needed. Just fyi. Melinda Murdock
Hi Melinda,
You are right, that is not a good use of water. Sounds like the sensitivity is set too high and this can be changed by Facilities. If you can get a room number and call this in to the helpdesk, 9-4050, that would be great! Sometimes these items can seem little, but they really add up so it's always appreciated when somebody brings them to our attention.
Thank you!
Melanie