The Campus Environmental Audit: The Future
  • Where do we go from here?
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    The Future

    Environmental audits are the beginning of a planning process. They are the first step to understanding how the University effects the environment and how to minimize environmental impacts. Now the audit is complete, Penn has a chance to set practical environmental goals based on an in-depth understanding of University's operations. There is a strategic window of opportunity for the University to continue and intensify environmental efforts and ensure that performance is scrutinized and strengthened.

     As part of international movements to improve environmental management of business and set environmental standards,(1) a model has been developed to outline steps toward continuous environmental improvement(figure 21). The first step in this model

    is to establish management commitment to improvement of environmental performance. To date the University of Pennsylvania has refused to issue a statement of commitment to environmental issues and performance.(2) This step is crucial to defining an University's objectives, lays a framework for performance evaluation, and encourages the University employees to minimize environmental impact. At Dartmouth University the Committee on Environmental Policies for College Operations(CEPCO), developed the following statement on the University and the environment:
     
     

    "Dartmouth College is committed to developing and maintaining a sustainable and environmentally responsible mode of operation, within the context of its educational mission, fiscal constraints, and responsibilities to students, staff, alumni, and the local community. Dartmouth's commitment to environmental responsibility is intended both to educate the Dartmouth community about environmental issues and to minimize the College's adverse impacts on the environment.(3)" Once a commitment has been articulated, the model calls for an initial review of environmental operations. This report serves as this review. It defines for the first time the University's environmental system and its impact on the environment.

    However, measurement of performance and benchmarking can only occur with future audits. Steps three through six present a method of conducting future audits. First, goals and plans need to be established and articulated. Once the plan is developed and then implemented, progress should be measured and compared to past performance. Finally, improvements should be made that will redefine and refine the University of Pennsylvania's efforts.

    The circle of continuous improvement is suggested to be completed with a maximum time frame of 3 years.(4) In order to best support the audit, the administration should:
     
     

  • Define the organizational structure and responsibilities
  • Publish and publicize policies and successes
  • Rank priorities for action and set goals to be accomplished by the next audit
  • Appoint a University Environmental Officer to coordinate regular audits, communicate results, and implement recommendations.
  • Maintain an ongoing education and outreach program for students, faculty, and University administration
  • Maintain a central database of information to act as clearinghouse for information and past data
  • Link auditing and environmental operation improvement to a course or student employment
  • Work with interested students and faculty
  • Work with the Penn Environmental Group and Two Shades of Green(5),(6)
    •  Environmental auditing is an important part of the mission of the University of Pennsylvania. The founder of the University, Benjamin Franklin, said in Poor Richard's Almanac, "An Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure." The benefits of continuous environmental audits are that they:
  • Aid university administration in developing an effective environmental policy by pinpointing the most significant impacts and their causes
  • Reveal cost savings opportunities
  • Improve University efficiency
  • Promote good environmental citizenship
  •  Improve the University's image and community relationships

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    If you would like to help improve Penn's commitment to the environment and environmental efficiency or have any other comments please email then to Michael Isenberg. Student, Faculty, Administration and outside comments and interest are welcome. Thank you!

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    1This movement referred to is part of the International Standards Organization's ISO 14000 2According to Vince Mukadda of the Penn Environmental Group, Judith Rodin, President of the University declined to issue such a statement as requested on Earth Day, 1996. 3 CEEPCO, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Policies for College Operation, November, 1994, http://www.envstudies.brown.edu/environ/dartmouth/darcepco.html. 4Ruth Hilary, "The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme", Technical Communications Ltd., London, England, p. vi. 5 Campus Earth Summit, Blueprint for a Sustainable Future, January 1995, http://www.envstudies.brown.edu/environ/blueprnt/recommendations/four.html. 6 John Broomfield, Iso14000 Made Simple and Certain Action Planning Checklist, August 1995, http://stoller.com/isofiles/qmiinc.htm.