Sustainability Initiatives Sustainable Foods: Nourishing Students in a Way that Also Feeds the Future. Locally Sourced, Fairly Traded, and Organic Products Cage Free Eggs! We now purchase 100% Cage-Free Eggs in Lawrence Dining Hall, whether shelled or liquid. Fair Trade Coffee! Java City in Sykes, The Diner, and "Starbucks" in The Library now sell fairly traded coffee--Benefits of these programs for coffee farmers mean community development, health, education, and environmental stewardship. Local products! $.64 out of EVERY $1 spent on products and services last year went to Local Companies. 68% of that local spending went through Sysco of Eastern Maryland which depends on Local Farmers to provide us with Fresh Food from animal-based products to vegetable produce. Even our Pepsi partners distribute from a local bottling plant, which helps to sustain the local economy. Click Here to see a list of many of the Local Companies we support at Dining Services of West Chester University. Green Buildings: Providing Healthy Indoor Environments. Build it green, Keep it green. Environmentally Responsible solutions

• Renewable Energy!We are lucky to be a part of West Chester University's push for Geothermal Energy on campus. In the Fiscal Year 2009-2010, West Chester University had 23% of their total energy usage come from Renewable Energy Sources, with a 33% projection for next year. 
  
   

• Waste Oil Recycling! In 2009, With our Partner, Waste Oil Recyclers, Inc., we were able to recycle over 3,000 gallons of Waste Oil, resulting in CO2 savings equivalent to planting over 7,000 trees!
• Food Management Software! We have implemented this technology to help us keep track of student consumption, so that we can more accurately forecast the amount of food to prepare. This helps us to serve students with the foods they love the most, while ever reducing the amount of food that gets wasted.
• We are Trayless! Removing Trays in our Dining Hall reduces water usage, and helps individuals to choose only the amount of food that they really can eat. Remember, you can always go back up for more!
• Click Here to link to more information about our waste reductions.  

• Automatic Lights! Wherever possible, we install automatic lights to reduce energy when rooms are not in use!
• Energy Efficient Equipment!
  • Our new dishwasher will reduce our yearly water usage by over 400,000 gallons of water, and our energy usage by 25%.
  • By adopting the Ecolab Green Chemicals Program the automated dispensers reduce chemical usage and waste.
  • Our new Waste Disposal Unit (WDU) can reduce the volume of our food waste by 88%, and therefore the amount of plastic liners needed, while reducing our water usage by 66% over the previous WDU. This machine even recycles 95% of its own water use.
  • Our Floor Cleaning Methods involve Machines that significantly reduce the amount of water and chemicals needed to do the same job manually.
  • Ionators have enabled us to clean our dining rooms with Zero Chemical Usage, saving money, reducing pollution, and making a safer environment for employees and students.
  • Induction, convection, and pressure cooking technologies and methods are utilized to reduce food waste and energy consumption.

 

• Bulk Packaging! Wherever possible, we purchase products in bulk to reduce packaging production and waste.
• Re-useable To-Go Containers! Our To-Go program has been very popular, enabling busy students to take their meals to go, without carrying the guilt of wasteful disposable to-go containers.
• Discounts for Reuseables! At many locations we offer discounts for those students who remember to bring along their own mug or bag, reducing the amount of disposables produced and wasted.
• 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Copier Paper! We made the switch to the more-expensive, but easier-on-our-conscience 100% PCR Copier Paper to lead the University by example. Many University Departments on Campus have not yet made the switch to 100% PCR paper.

 

Transportation: Moving in a More Sustainable Direction
Hybrid Vehicles, Bio-Based Fuels, Zero Emissions at Tailpipe 

What is Sustainable?
Ecological Preservation

Why is Sustainability important?

What are the benefits?