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Wiping the slate green to promote sustainability

Written by The Shorthorn editorial board

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 08:52 PM

Meghna Tare began her job as the university’s new sustainability director on Jan. 4. Now what?

Many universities have focused on sustainable campuses in a world concerned with climate change. A fully sustainable campus would limit its carbon footprint while continuing to grow.

According to The Princeton Review’s “Green Rating Honor Roll” and the College Sustainability Report Card, the top sustainable universities have shown enormous dedication to creating a sustainable lifestyle by educating their students and making changes to their campuses.

The College of the Atlantic has become the nation’s first carbon-neutral college through hydropower, super-insulated buildings, and energy efficient lighting, among other things.

The Arizona State University Tempe campus has the most energy-providing solar panels on a single campus. ASU’s School of Sustainability offers professional certificate, graduate and undergraduate degree programs for solutions to environmental, economic and social issues.

Bates College gets rid of over 80 percent of its food waste by recycling, composting or sending it to food banks or pig farmers. Nearly one-third of the college’s total food budget is spent on local farmers and food production. Bates participates in the Zipcar program, which gives an alternative to owning vehicles by providing Toyota Prius cars for rent to students and faculty.

Bates’ dining area was built to LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — Silver requirements. The LEED Green Building Rating System was designed to promote construction of and establish standardized criteria for sustainable buildings in order to promote eco-friendly performance in site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Texas Christian University was the only north Texas school reviewed by the College Sustainability Report Card survey and received an overall grade of C-.

UTA has taken another big step toward getting onto the list of top sustainable colleges by hiring Tare.

Next, we need to look at what has been successful at other schools to become a leader in Texas sustainability.

- The Shorthorn editorial board consists of Mark Bauer, Jason Boyd, Dustin L. Dangli, Marissa Hall and Ali Amir Mustansir.

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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 January 2010 09:43 PM )

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