Saint Martin's University - Sustainability and Technology

Sustainability and Technology

Under a new environmental program, between August 29 and December 11, 2008, the cafeteria collected an average of 243 pounds of compostables a day. Besides food waste, this includes biodegradable paper waste, like cups, soup bowls, compostable lids, napkins and paper towels. It also includes to-go containers, cup lids, and straws and portion cups made from sugar-based polylactic acid plastic. The composting program took about 27,216 pounds of materials out of the waste stream in Thurston County in the fall semester alone. This material was transported to the Silver Springs composting facility and will be used again in many different forms. Saint Martin's is also setting up a program with Standard Biodiesel to start picking up used cooking oil and rendered grease for use in biodiesel.

Tapas K. Das, Ph.D., P.E., adjunct faculty member of Saint Martin’s University School of Engineering, was named the recipient of the Professor S. K. Sharma Medal and CHEMCON Distinguished Speaker Award for 2007, given by the Development Organization for Sustainable Transformation (DOST). The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers recently conferred the award upon Das to recognize his contributions to the profession of chemical engineering.

Harned Hall is in accordance with LEED green standards.

In the fall semester, 2012, a new 22,000+ square foot engineering building is planned to open. The building is designed with the intention of meeting or exceeding LEED platinum standards.