Conference Services Responds to It's Role in Supporting Penn's Climate Action Plan

Social responsibility is more important and integral than ever to our success. It’s a lens we use across the department to improve our resident, conference attendee and staff engagement, operational efficiency and productivity. 

Conference Services must take the initiative to apply real solutions in reducing the carbon footprint of the University.  Programs, meetings and events of any size have the potential to create a substantial amount of waste and by applying small measures, we can go a long way to reduce the impact to our environment.

We consider ourselves partners in Penn’s mission to increase awareness of waste reduction, energy conservation, and best practices for living a sustainable lifestyle including, but not limited to:

Housing-Residential Dining

• Bulk check-in for short-term conferences eliminates printing of individual registration cards
• Support various entities by donating gently used bed linen and towels to shelter and veterinary-related care facilities
• All residence hall bathrooms have been equipped with water-saving showerheads resulting in significant water conservation
• Guests/residents are politely asked to set HVAC resources to reasonable temperatures/off when not in use
• Conference Services On-line Registration Service launched in 2007 has eliminated all print/mail/fax applications
• Penn was an early adapter of the dining hall 'trayless dining' movement

Conferences-Events

• For our own use, Conference Services procures green products whenever possible and encourages our clients to do likewise
• We maintain a strong waste reduction ethic
• Conference attendees are politely asked to recycle name badge holders at the conclusion of their event
• Programs are encouraged not to print conference materials but provide them via CD or jump drive
• Conference Services On-line Registration Service launched in 2007 has eliminated print/mail/fax applications wherever feasible
• Meeting Planners are urged to order bulk beverages for catered events to facilitate the refilling of personal reusable containers

Daily Operations

• Conference Services will take a further step in our paper reduction strategy for the 2010 summer season by eliminating print evaluation/comment cards
• Use of shared drive to save contracts and other critical documents that are needed across several departments
• Conference Services On-line Registration Service launched in 2007 has served to automate invoice payments and generate electronic invoices and receipts
• Signage and promotion of Penn's recycling initiatives.  When living with us in any of the following College Houses:

                                           

  Building	Recycle Location
  Fisher Hassenfeld	Foerderer Arch, Upper Quad gate, or Speakman trash rooms
  Ware	Appropriate chutes located in Graduate, Upper Quad gate, or Speakman trash areas
  Riepe	Appropriate chutes located in Graduate, Upper Quad gate, or Speakman trash areas
  Harnwell	Recycling alcoves on every floor
  Rodin	Mechanical rooms on even-numbered floors