21.  Model stewardship and sustainability in all college operations to reduce Luther’s environmental impact and mitigate operational costs.

 Strategies:

• Hire a sustainability coordinator to oversee and coordinate college sustainability initiatives.
• Create a permanent campus sustainability council with broad campus representation.
• Significantly reduce material flows and associated energy by reducing consumption, switching to more sustainable alternatives and increasing recycling.
  • Increase purchase of local food in Dining Services to 35 percent of total food purchases.
  • Decrease solid waste by 25 percent.
  • Decrease water consumption by 15 percent.
  • Decrease paper consumption by 25 percent and shift to at least 50 percent post-consumer content.
• Develop a college purchasing policy that has a focus on sustainable alternatives.
• Adopt a college policy that all building projects incorporate LEED certification strategies.
• Monitor college use of toxic chemicals in all areas of campus with the goal of utilizing sustainable alternatives.

22.  Reduce Luther’s carbon footprint by 50 percent and develop a plan to achieve carbon neutrality. 

 Strategies:

• Audit campus operations and implement energy efficiency upgrades in the physical plant.
• Monitor all greenhouse gas emissions related to Luther operations.
• Implement a comprehensive and creative program of energy education to shift behavior of students, faculty and staff as a way to reduce energy demand and shift the campus culture toward sustainability.
• Invest in renewable energy strategies that provide cost savings and reduce Luther’s carbon footprint.
• Develop a strategy for the use of carbon offsets including offsetting all college air travel with legitimate offsets.
• Monitor and reduce emissions from student, faculty, and staff travel, including reducing emissions from fleet vehicles by 35%, utilizing alternatives (hybrids, electric, biodiesel, compressed natural gas), and changing behavior.