BSU goes green at Campus Sustainability Day

Community leaders and Boise State University faculty, staff and students gathered last Wednesday on the second floor of the Student Union Building in the Hatch Ballroom to discuss BSU’s current and future efforts toward sustainability.

The environmentally friendly conference included an interactive webcast titled, “A (recycled of course) Six Pack of Sustainability Lessons from the Past Year in Higher Education” and presented by the Society for College and University Planning, four “Where are we now?” presentations from BSU faculty and staff, and roundtable discussions for future goals and planning.

Campus Sustainability Day promoted water and energy conservation and efficiency, while emphasizing how institutions of higher education can act as role models to the community, according to the flyers handed out before the conference.

As defined by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency, sustainability refers to the ability of an ecosystem to maintain a defined/desired state of ecological integrity over time.

BSU leaders, including faculty, staff and students, in conjunction with community leaders, are planning ways to move the university in a more sustainable direction. An energy conservation study began four years ago.

“With efficiency upgrades, tuning up old buildings, and designing more efficient buildings since 2001, energy consumption has dropped 21 percent,” Steve Swain, BSU director of Facilities Operations and Maintenance, said.

The webcast presentation emphasized that with more student involvement, other universities throughout the country had better results.

Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston was highlighted in the presentation for itsparking signs allowing only electric vehicles to park in certain spaces throughout campus. The fuel-efficient cars reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the air, with a low level of emissions.

When asked to respond to the interactive webcast question, “How well does your campus integrate the student learning experience with [sustainable] campus operations?” BSU responded “barely,” along with 43 percent of the 100 colleges and universities participating in the webcast.

BSU is taking steps to improve the level of sustainability on campus, according to the “Where are we now?” presentations given by faculty and students regarding BSU’s level of sustainability.

There are recycling programs in place that include bins throughout campus, an alternate transportation system in conjunction with Commuteride, and a biking program, landscaping efforts made toward water conservation, and new construction projects with efficiency and sustainability in mind.

In regards to BSU becoming a more sustainable campus in the upcoming years, Whitney Weirick, BSU college and university planner, said, “We’re going to take ideas from today and apply them to Boise State.”

The Campus Sustainability Day flyer promoted sustainability by including the statement: Together we can make BSU’s long-term future even brighter by finding ways to reduce our impact on the environment.

Jessica Wigley / Special to The Arbiter

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