The Environmental Policy Advisory Council (EPAC)

Purpose of the EPAC:

To advise the President, Provost and other senior administrators about strategies for enhancing the University's environmental performance in:

• Fostering environmentally sustainable development and mitigating the environmental impacts of our construction activities
• Improving environmental compliance in our operations
• Distinguishing our academic, operational and community outreach reputation by promoting environmental leadership initiatives.

To enable better integration of environmental principles into the University’s governance by ensuring coordination with administrative advisory committees and task forces.

Students may become involved in the EPAC by participating in one of the EPAC's three subcommittees: Compliance & Best Practices, Environmental Outreach, or Land Use & Sustainable Development

Compliance & Best Practices Subcommittee

Mission:   To examine initiatives that impact day to day operations at the University including “green” procurement, waste management, conserving resources, and minimizing air and water quality impacts that result from our everyday operations.
 
Current Initiatives:

1. Climate Change – Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions reductions; Biodiesel project; Fuel efficiency standards; compact flourescent lightbulb giveaways; Photovoltaic array demonstrations
2. Water Conservation -- Water use monitoring program; Residence hall education campaign

For more information on this subcommittee or if you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact the Office of Environmental Policy at (860) 486-5773.

Environmental Outreach Subcommittee

Mission:  To increase sustainability at UConn by measurably increasing awareness and action across the campus community; to enhance environmental literacy; and to improve the University’s reputation and community relations on environmental issues through involvement and communication.
 
Current Initiatives:

1. Recycling & Reuse -- Improve participation in the University recycling system through postering; Organize a campus-wide Sneaker Pile-It-Up to recycle old sneakers; Host an end-of-the-semester MoveOut campaign to collect unwanted food and clothing for local charities; Support an ink cartridge recycling program run by the Soil & Water Conservation society
2. Environmental Education & Literacy -- Organize a fall seminar series; Promote the development of interdisciplinary environmentally-related courses; Encourage enrollment in environmentally related plans of study
3. Environmental Leadership Awards -- Identify and recognize those individuals that have made a positive environmental contribute to the UConn community
4. Waste Paper Reduction -- Promote double-sided copying; Encourage the use of reusable drink containers rather than paper cups; Identify documents that can be converted to electronic format

For more information on this subcommittee or if you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact the Office of Environmental Policy at (860) 486-5773.

Land Use and Sustainable Development
Subcommittee                

Mission: To develop “green” building and low-impact design principles for our construction program, foster open space conservation, and encourage natural resource protection and habitat restoration.     
 
Current Initiatives:

1. Campus Bicycle Network Plan
2. Green Building/LEED Certification
3. Integrated Pest Management
4. Invasive Plant Species Management
5. Campus Trail Marking Project
6. Low-Impact Design Projects