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BSU works toward ‘campus neutrality’
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The 3rd annual Campus Sustainability Day took place Wednesday. A record turnout attended a speech in the Student Union Building by Associate Vice President for Energy Research, Policy and Campus Sustainability John Gardner.
Gardner focused on the issues facing Boise State University as it continues toward its goal of “campus neutrality.”
BSU Vice President of Finance Stacy Pearson introduced Gardner, discussing briefly BSU’s commitment to environmental awareness.
“A lot of things have been going on,” Pearson said.
According to Pearson, colleges serve as role models to the surrounding communities.
Gardner is responsible for overseeing energy use and research on campus and aggressively seeking funding to ensure BSU will continue to lead the local community as well as the rest of the nation.
“It’s been great working with him so far,” Pearson said.
Gardner opened his speech by stressing the importance of grassroots campaigns and events such as Campus Sustainability Day.
“[Campus Sustainability Day is] a day in which we celebrate the grassroots and personal actions that everyone can and should take to change the world,” Gardner said. “It’s also a day to ask questions, of each other, of the administration and of our elected officials.”
Gardner said at first he was wary to accept his new position.
“As I told the green team the day my appointment was announced, I was reluctant to take on a job if it was only about promoting sustainability efforts on campus because I’d be afraid I could screw it up,” Gardner said.
After discussing ideas with BSU President Bob Kustra, Gardner agreed to take on the challenge of integrating sustainability into the teaching process and interactions of BSU.
“I have been given the honor of leading the charge to launch Boise State to the forefront of sustainability in the state, the region and the nation,” Gardner said.
In an effort to minimize the environmental impact of BSU, Kustra has joined more than 400 other educational leaders in the Presidents’ Climate Commitment.
Kustra is committed to implementing a plan that makes BSU “climate neutral.”
“The good news is that we’re already well on our way,” Gardner said. “Through foresight and leadership of the University administration great strides have been made.”
In addition, BSU and more than 900 educational institutions will be involved in “Focus the Nation,” Jan. 31.
For “Focus the Nation,” students will engage in discussions about climate change.
“This is but the first step in many planned actions to bring sustainability into our classroom,” Gardner said.
Gardner said in the future BSU will offer certificates and minors in sustainability.
According to Gardner, since 2000, BSU has decreased its consumption of electricity by 20 percent and its consumption of natural gases by 50 percent on an annual basis.
“And this was accomplished with no decrease in quality of service and substantial economic savings as well,” Gardner said.
Gardner gave several other examples of positive environmental changes that have already taken place.
“Recent conversion to ‘green certified’ cleaning solutions has not only resulted in a safer working environment for the staff and a softer environmental impact, it has also netted over $50,000 in annual savings,” Gardner said.
Gardner feels the action in the present is critical to what the future will hold.
“We stand at a crossroad, and it’s a very advantageous place to be,” Gardner said.
CEAN SIEGEL
News Editor
