Collaborative Efforts
Facilities and Real Estate Services coordinates with the City, students, and other Divisions and Departments at Penn to help the University commence and achieve their sustainable initiatives.
Facilities and Real Estate Services is launching a new initiative, Green Fund. Click here for more detail.
University Collaboration
Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee
The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) is a University-wide committee made up of faculty, students, and staff that was created in response to Dr. Gutmann signing the Presidents Climate Commitment. ESAC has been charged with the development of a Climate Action Plan for carbon reduction at Penn. The committee is chaired by the Vice President of the Facilities and Real Estate Services. Several staff members from FRES sit on this advisory committee and the six subcommittees. To learn more about the ESAC Committee, click here.
Academics
Facilities and Real Estate Services coordinates the Academic Sub-Committee of ESAC. Facilities also works with the Provost's Office, students, and faculty to encourage University-wide support of sustainable efforts. For more information, click here.
Transportation
Facilities works closely with the Division of Public Safety and the Division of Business Services to set campus-wide strategy for bike racks, parking, and traffic patterns on and around campus. Facilities further oversees the maintenance of pedestrian paths throughout campus. For more information about Penn's sustainable transportation programs, click here.
Light bulb exchange
Facilities sponsors the Penn Environmental Group’s light bulb exchange. Students encourage residents of the College Houses to switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in order to save energy. The CFL program promotes energy conservation on campus, is a simple and effective way to slow the rate of global climate change, and saves Penn money.
2008 Results
2,200 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs exchanged
131,000kWh of electricity savings2006 Results
1,900 Compact Fluorescent light bulbs exchanged
104,700kWh of electricity savings
GreenFest
Twice a year, Penn Environmental Group holds a festival on College Green to promote various sustainability practices. This is a way to teach the Penn community about how Penn is being sustainable and how each member of the Penn community can contribute and get involved in reducing Penn’s environmental impact. Facilities and Real Estate Services always has a table at this event to promote the activities happening in our department. We usually can be found handing out compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to encourage more energy efficient living. Promotional materials (and CFLs) are available.
GreenFest on College Green
Penn Moves
In 2008, the Division of Business Services partnered with the Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES), College Houses and Academic Services (CHAS), the Penn Environmental Group (PEG), and the Netter Center for Community Partnerships to launch PennMoves, an annual move-out re-use drive. At the end of every academic year, unwanted furniture and clothes are collected from students living on campus. These items are sorted and donated to local non-profit organizations. Rather than contributing to the City's waste stream, the donations benefit the local community.
Collaboration with the Community
Mayor Nutter’s Sustainability Advisory Board
Anne Papageorge, the Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate Services, has been appointed to Co-Chair the Sustainability Advisory Board of the City of Philadelphia. Anne works closely with the City’s Sustainability Director to develop and implement the City's sustainability plan, GreenWorks Philadelphia.
Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Dan Garafolo, Penn's Sustainability Coordinator, is also the Chair of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council. The Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to transform the Delaware Valley through sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design, construction and operation of the region’s buildings, landscapes, cities and communities, mindful of the legacy left for future generations.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation
Facilities and Real Estate Services maintains pedestrian paths throughout campus and works with the Division of Public Safety to ensure safe pedestrian and bicycle access. Penn has also been collaborating with different organizations in the City of Philadelphia around bike sharing and bike/pedestrian issues to promote a more sustainable City and to further engage the University with the Philadelphia community. Penn works closely with the University City District (UCD) and UCD’s sustainability efforts.
Contact: sustainability@upenn.edu