LMU is a pioneer in environmental responsibility through the uses of recycled water for its landscape, development of the first university-wide recycling program, and use of low-water consuming toilets and washers.  In 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a Green Power Purchasing Award for Onsite Generation to LMU. The prestigious award recognizes organizations that are significantly advancing the development of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. LMU has the largest solar electric rooftop system of any university in the world, and the largest system in Southern California.

Due to an innovative partnership between LMU, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the Southern California Gas Company, and solar electric company PowerLight, the 723-kilowatt hours peak solar rooftop system was installed on two of the university’s largest buildings – University Hall and the Von der Ahe Library. The solar roof system is expected to generate 868,000 kWh annually, providing 26% of total energy used at the university. Additional benefits include thermal insulation and protection of the roof from weather and UV radiation, resulting in decreased heating and cooling energy costs and extended roof life. The evaluation panel for the Green Power Purchasing Award for Onsite Generation includes EPA and DOE experts, together with other experts from other federal agencies.

Above: One of 32 computerized, weather-responsive sprinkler
controllers that monitors LMU's water use. 

RECYCLING

Office of Environmental Control & Waste/Recycling

The Department of Operations & Maintenance has been conducting Recycling activities since 1991. The University was one of the first institutions in the state to recycle 100% of all green waste generated on-site. The Recycling Program is one of the few programs among educational institutions to heavily engage in the secondary processing of recovered materials. The true partnership of University Staff and Student Workers has yielded tremendous results in terms of waste prevention and resource recovery.

In 1991 the University disposed of 594 cubic yards of refuse every week. By late 1992 the University was able to reduce this volume to 317 cubic yards disposed of per week. This was accomplished by collecting newspaper, white paper, cans, glass, and limited plastics, as well as aggressively removing corrugated cardboard from the University's waste stream. In Spring of 1994, recycling had expanded the range of collected material to include all grades of paper, plastic, and scrap metal. This was followed by a further reduction of refuse to 283 cubic yards leaving LMU for area landfills each week. Because all issues of waste management fall under the Office of Environmental Control, real fiscal saving accompanied each reduction of waste disposal service. The rebates from the sale of recovered material are used to fund the Institution's Recycling Program, and after a large decrease in waste disposal expenditures in 1992 the program has been able to hold the waste bill at a relatively constant level even within the context of skyrocketing disposal fees caused by California's rapidly diminishing landfills dumping space. At Loyola Marymount University recycling has not represented just an additional expenditure but an institutional asset. The Jesuit/Marymount philosophy has allowed us to greatly help the Urban Eco-system while complimenting our bottom-line.

Over 300 tons of rebate-producing commodities were recovered in Fiscal Year 1994-95. This is only possible by utilizing the equipment and material support of the Department of Operations & Maintenance. Our in-house contingent of skilled craftsmen have even fabricated special items to help recycling operate very efficiently on campus. This formula has allowed us to measure the success of recycling on a scale measured in the hundreds of tons.

Corrugated Cardboard 77.49 tons .....................Newspaper 73.45 tons

Scrap Metal 29.84 tons.......................................Paper 47.79 tons

Aluminum 1.47 tons ............................................Scrap Wood 41.13 tons

H.D.P.E. Plastic 1.17 tons...................................Glass 39.45 tons

P.E.T. Plastic 2.88 tons ......................................Green Waste 214.15 tons