About Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)

An EMS is a framework that allows colleges and universities to identify then manage their environmental responsibilities in a more systematic way. An EMS ensures continual improvement by incorporating ongoing monitoring, reviews, and revisions of the environmental procedures. It is a relatively simple business tool to improve an institution's environmental performance. While an EMS does not require formal certification or independent auditing, these are some of the options available to institutions.

An EMS allows a college or university to:

• Operate with greater efficiency and control;
• Comply with the law;
• Protect the health of their community; and
• Demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and progress.

An EMS is appropriate for all types and sizes of colleges and universities. While designing and implementing a successful EMS takes resources, the cost savings and other benefits that result from the investment make it worthwhile. In fact, many campuses already have components of an EMS in place that they can build upon, such as written and unwritten procedures, practices, and environmental training.

Choose from the links below to learn more about EMS:

• Benefits of EMS for colleges and universities
• Frequently Asked Questions about EMS
• Glossary of terms