Going Green....but HOW?

Many colleges and universities across the country are leading the way for a greener future for our planet. By doing so, various positions have been created, buildings have been adjusted, constructed, or demolished, and new initiatives have popped up across the country. For example, here at the university, an actual department was created to oversee campus sustainability. By having an office that is dedicated to the cause, new policies can be easily created and implemented. They can also help increase campus awareness. In terms of buildings, the new law school will be LEED-certified (as well as the Luckyday Residential College.). Other buildings have been renovated to accommodate expectations to be green. Despite all of this encouraging work and progress by the universities, the biggest difference-maker will be made by faculty, staff, students, and visitors. So, for this blog, I want to focus on the opportunities the campus community has to enhance the green initiative in terms of energy consumption.

Of course, in our technology-driven world, electricity is used or wasted every second of the day. Did you know that just by having an appliance plugged in and turned off, energy is being wasted? Think about that…your phone charger by your bed at home, your nice plasma-screen television, and even that light in the corner that you never turn on. In terms of the workplace, everyone (or almost everyone) operates with a computer. These contraptions use a ton of energy when being used. Change the settings so that they are set on energy-efficient or have the monitor shut off after an hour of no use or go as far as putting your computer in stand-by when you go to lunch. Also, relating to computers, it seems that we print out tons of garbage that is never physically read again. Digitize the paper keep it on your computer rather than wasting the paper and placing it in the filing cabinet. Also, in relationship with paper, when sending something across campus, why use a one-time-use envelope when reusable envelopes are available.

The Sierra Club provides ten ways to be GREEN at work…

1. Be bright about light
2. Maximize computer efficiency
3. Print smarter
4. Go paperless when possible
5. Ramp up your recycling
6. Close the loop
7. Watch what (and how) you eat
8. Rethink your travel
9. Reconsider your commute
10. Create a healthy office environment

http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_ways_to_go_g.html

Many of these adjustments are very simple and can be made on an individual basis. I think, however, that it is the responsibility of the leadership within universities to implement these policies to ensure the university meets green standards.