Declarations and Commitments
Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
President John Dunn signed the ACUPCC on July 17, 2009, committing WMU to complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, create a plan for future climate neutrality, immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and integrate sustainability into the curriculum.
President Dunn is now a member of the national steering committee for the ACUPCC. In this role he is responsible for guiding, setting policy, and plotting direction for the Presidents' Climate Commitment together with over 20 other college and university leaders.
Talloires Declaration
President John Dunn signed the Talloirres Declaration on January 1, 2008, stating that WMU, as an institution of higher learning, will be a leader in developing, creating, supporting and maintaining sustainability.
The Talloires Declaration is a "ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. It has been signed by over 400 university leaders in over 50 countries."
Construction
Facility Life Cycle Design Guidelines
WMU designs facilities to minimize environmental impact and requires Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for all major projects. Recent LEED projects include Sangren Hall, Western View Apartments, Brown Hall, and several others.
Storm Water Management Policy
Changes to WMU's infrastructure and landscape often affect the water table below campus. This policy is applicable to all projects on University property that disturb one acre or more and is designed to offset any changes made to the existing storm water runoff of the storm sewer system.