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Facilities Management

Facilities Management Building
411 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)

Siraj Khan
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management
Oakland University
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4401
(248) 370-2160

Facilities Management

Facilities Management Building
411 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)

Siraj Khan
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management
Oakland University
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4401
(248) 370-2160

man standing in a greenhouse, pointing at a plant, with a group of students watching him

Sustainability

Oakland University is dedicated to being a campus of choice and sustainability is a core part of this initiative. A key element of sustainability is recycling — we are excited to roll out the OU RECYCLES campaign. OU uses single-stream recycling, which streamlines the collection process on campus. The recycling effort at OU ensures items that enter the waste stream will eventually be used to make other products for sale and reduce the need to use additional natural resources. 

Energy Management

Green Buildings and Sustainable Design

The Fall 2013 semester saw the opening of Oakland University's first green building project, the geothermal/solar thermal Human Health Science Building. The HHB is Oakland's first geothermal heat pump installation, and it includes an innovative desiccant cooling system powered by one of the largest solar thermal energy system in the U.S. The building uses a newer form of technology, Variable Refrigerant Flow heat pumps. These heat pumps use variable speed compressors and serve multiple refrigerant zones per unit. OU was awarded a $2.75M U.S. Department of Energy grant to help fund this innovative green building concept.

University Energy Usage and Cost

Take a look at the historical usage and cost of the west campus utilities over the past decade. About $380 is spent each year per Full Year Equivalent Student (FY2010 data). This equates to about 4% of a full time student's tuition (based on 15 credit hours for two semesters).

Heating and Cooling Policy

Policy 300 Air Conditioning and Heating explicitly states that non-OU personal electric heaters are prohibited on campus. Electric heaters cover up HVAC issues, create fire hazards and consume SIGNIFICANT amounts of electricity. However, an innovative, controlled heater will be provided in cases where your area's HVAC cannot provide the proper heating. Please contact the Work Control Center at ext 2381 to report a problem or request a heater, or submit an on-line request.

Campus Sustainability Efforts

Sustaining Our Planet Earth (SOPE)

Facilities and Grounds teams, including Director of Facility Services, Douglas LaLone and Assistant Director for Residential Facilities, Kevin McDougall, partnered with Sustaining Our Planet Earth (SOPE) and OU student Mustafa Baig, to put on a Campus Clean Up event!

SOPE is a University Housing led sustainability initiative seeking to make our campus community more sustainable, educate students and staff on sustainable practices, and enact sustainable plans and change for our University.

This Campus Clean Up event allowed for litter to be picked up around our campus, near our residential spaces, and the upper fields. Both students and staff joined SOPE in an effort to take responsibility for our campus, address the concern of improper trash disposal and to leave our university just as beautiful as we found it as we close out the school year.

It was a successful and enjoyable event for all involved and Facilities looks forward to partnering on future events!

Additional Campus Sustainability Efforts:

Student Organic Farm

Recycling news and information:

The Detroit Free Press published an interesting article about recycling mistakes.

Reduce

Global Recycling Day 2024

March 18, 2024

What is Global Recycling Day?

Global Recycling Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage people to take action to reduce waste and protect the environment. The day brings together individuals, organizations, and governments from around the world to promote sustainable practices and highlight the benefits of recycling.

When is Global Recycling Day?

Global Recycling Day is celebrated every year on March 18th. In 2024, the event will fall on a Saturday, providing an opportunity for people to participate in local events and activities.

How to get involved

Here are some ways to get involved in Global Recycling Day:

  1. Learn about recycling: Take some time to learn about the recycling process, what can and cannot be recycled, and how recycling helps to reduce waste and conserve resources.
  2. Take action: Start by making small changes in your daily routine, such as using reusable bags and water bottles, reducing food waste, and properly disposing of hazardous materials. You can also participate in local recycling programs and volunteer for community clean-up events.
  3. Spread the word: Use social media to share information about recycling and promote the importance of sustainable practices. Encourage your friends and family to get involved and make a difference.
  4. Attend local events: Check your local events calendar for Global Recycling Day activities and events, such as recycling drives, workshops, and community clean-up efforts. You can also organize your own event or activity to promote recycling in your community.

History of Global Recycling Day

Global Recycling Day was first established in 2018 by the Global Recycling Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to promote the importance of recycling and support sustainable development. The day is recognized by the United Nations and is celebrated around the world.

The first Global Recycling Day was celebrated on March 18, 2018, and it has since become an annual event that brings together individuals, organizations, and governments to promote recycling and sustainable practices. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of waste on the environment and encourage people to take action to protect the planet for future generations.
Source:   https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/global-recycling-day-2024/

The Sustainability Task Force challenges every OU staff and faculty member to pick at least one sustainable World Environment Day practice to try this month. If you do, we’d love to see it! Send photos of your sustainable practice to [email protected].

Stormwater Management

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is the rainfall or snowmelt that flows over our yards, streets, parking lots, and buildings and either enters the storm drain system or runs directly into a lake or stream.

What is a storm drain?

Storm drains are the openings you see along curbs and in streets and parking lots. They carry away rainwater and snowmelt and transport it through the system to nearby lakes and streams. Water and other debris that enter storm drains do not go to a treatment facility.

What is a sanitary sewer?

A sanitary sewer takes household water and waste from toilets, sinks and showers, and transports it to a wastewater treatment facility. There, the water is treated and then discharged back to a lake or stream.

How does stormwater get polluted?

As stormwater flows over our lawns and driveways, it picks up fertilizers, oil, chemicals, grass clippings, litter, pet waste, and anything else in its path. The storm drain system then transports these pollutants, now in the water, to local lakes and streams. Anything that goes into a storm drain eventually ends up in a lake or stream.

In Michigan, communities are coming together to address stormwater management on a watershed basis. In the Clinton River watershed, seven subwatershed planning groups have formed: Upper Clinton, Clinton Main, Stony/Paint, North Branch, Red Run, Clinton River East, and Lake St. Clair Direct Drainage.

Stormwater pollution has become the predominant source of water quality and habitat impairments in the Clinton River and its tributaries. Under Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), part of the Clean Water Act, more than 40 local and county governments and numerous other public entities across the watershed must meet federal and state standards for reducing stormwater pollution leaving their jurisdiction.

Each group has charted a course to fulfill the requirements of their stormwater permits by working together on a subwatershed basis, sharing data and information and creating joint planning documents.

Oakland University is located inside the Clinton Main subwatershed.

Additional information regarding Oakland University's Stormwater Management program can be found at the Office of Environmental Health and Safety website.