Sustainability Education - Richmond, VA

Richmond, VA

Population: 210,309 (2012)

Colleges and Universities: Virginia Commonwealth University,University of Richmond, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, VCU Medical Center, Virginia Union University, University of Richmond School of Law, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies, Fortis College-Richmond, E. Claiborne Robins School of Business, Empire Beauty School-Richmond, VCU School of Allied Health Professions,University of Phoenix-Richmond Campus, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics, Richmond Professional Institute, Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging, ECPI Technical College, MedSpa Careers Institute, Bryant and Stratton College-Richmond, Centura College, ITT Technical Institute-Richmond, ECPI College of Technology, Richmond, Center for Judaic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University

Higher Education Focus - University of Richmond
http://www.richmond.edu/

Facebook Presence: 
https://www.facebook.com/universityofrichmond

https://www.facebook.com/SpiderSustainability

This is a Facebook page dedicated to Sustainability and Going Green at the University of Richmond. It is linked to the University of Richmond webpage page on Sustainability.   http://www.sustainability.richmond.edu/action-plan/index.html

This page has has links to different organizations and the plan to keep them sustainable,including Education.
In this they have the

• Background
• Accomplishments
• Next Steps
• Implications

Everything is laid out in a very exact plan and has steps to complete everything.  

I think the University of Richmond is doing an excellent job of thinking about their future and planning for it.

What would help

Dual-Flush Toilets

 A upgraded almost all of the toilets on campus with manual, dual-flush mechanisms. Push the handle down, and the toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush—already a huge savings over older, non-efficient units. Pull the handle up and the toilets use just 1.1 gallons, saving another half gallon per flush.

By switching from older toilets to basic, low-flow 1.6 gpf units, we can save about 10,000 gallons of water per toilet per year. But adding in the dual-flush, high-efficiency mechanisms we’ve added another 8,000 gallons of water savings for each toilet.

Rainwater Capture System

Instead of relying on city water for the toilets on campus, they can install a grey water system that captures rainwater from the entire roof. The 1700 gallon, underground system uses mechanical, sediment and ionization filters to treat the water before pumping it up to the bathrooms.

 By feeding all of the toilets from the grey water system they can be able to efficiently reuse rainwater and reduce the amount of city water needed in the building.