Report of the Sustainabiity Committee March 2022

March 2022

Augustana’s Sustainability Committee met to review progress toward the goal of lessening this community’s environmental footprint. As part of its goal to facilitate campus-wide conversation on sustainability issues, and to challenge all members of the Augustana community to be mindful of their impact on the environment, the committee asked me to share the following with you:

Recently addressed items:

All campus lighting upgraded to LED.

Stormwater mitigation efforts continue, including the addition of swales in landscaping.

Three prairie restorations completed.

Increased composting of food waste.

A Green Initiatives fund has been established, allowing alumni and friends of the college to provide direct financial support for sustainability projects.

Lindberg Center completed to LEED Silver standards.

Meghan Carr wrapping up her sustainability internship.

As we look ahead, here are areas we expect to see either full or substantial implementation in the months ahead:

Upgrade Bergendoff heating/cooling to high-efficiency HVAC system.

Thermal imaging drones will focus on Bergendoff, Centennial and Denkmann to gauge heat/cooling loss.

Work on Sorensen façade and windows to address heating loss.

Upgrade HVAC at Knowlton Center to higher-efficiency system.

Introduction of lower-impact liquid deicers to replace damaging salt and sand.

Paperless work order system across facilities.

Upgrade Carver HVAC in former pool zone.

Purchase more e-vehicles (supported by the new Green Initiatives donor-choice fund).

 Electronic waste recycling.

Demo newly designed electric lawn mowers as manufacturers bring them to market.

Expanding butterfly gardens and adding more no-mow acreage.

Solar panels added to the Peter J. Lindberg, M.D., Center for Health and Human Performance.

If you have an idea or questions you’d like to share with the committee, please let us know. You can
send an email to Kai Swanson.

Bob Lanzerotti, sustainability coordinator

Committee members: Dr. Michael Reisner, Dr. Olivia Melton, Dr. José Boquin, Dr. Adam Kaul, Megan Anderson ’22, Jack Hughes ’24, Kirk Anderson, Chris Beyer, Kai Swanson