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APUS is Going Green!
By Wally Boston
There can be little doubt that climate change is a hot topic for today’s global community. According to the National Resources Defense Council, the polar ice cap has shrunk by more than 20 percent since 1979. Glaciers are disappearing at alarming rates. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing at exponentially higher rates than during pre-industrial times. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that the potentials for floods, droughts and other extreme weather events are on the rise. Unless specific and drastic action is taken very soon, the disturbing trends discussed above will continue and likely accelerate.
Institutions of higher education, particularly large research institutions, certainly contribute to the problem. The higher education community, however, is uniquely suited to take measures to mitigate such alarming trends. To this end, in September 2007, I signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The ACUPCC is a voluntary collaborative effort created in 2006. The organization has established a forum for colleges and universities to discuss the ways in which we, as a community, can become better stewards of our planet. Since its founding in 2006, more than 600 college and university presidents have committed to addressing their institutions’ impact on the environment. Within 1 year of signing the commitment, signatories are required to complete a Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Inventory; within 2 years of signing, signatories are required to complete a Climate Action Plan (CAP) which details the measures to be taken to address greenhouse gas emissions and the institutions’ overall carbon footprint. To date, APUS has completed its GHG Inventory and is in the process of developing a comprehensive CAP. In considering President Obama’s recent overtures toward establishing a Green Economy, the higher education community will find an even great onus placed on them. There are arguably very few, and certainly not enough, Americans trained for jobs within a Green Economy. Higher education must take it upon itself to assist in educating and preparing students for entry into a changing workforce landscape. While APUS offers a BS in Environmental Studies and an MS in Environmental Policy and Management, we are considering options to further integrate sustainability into our larger curriculum. In addition, as we work to complete our CAP, we have already taken many notable steps to mitigate our GHG emissions. As an online university, APUS students and faculty are located in all 50 states and around the world. We have updated our conference rooms on campus to include video and audio conferencing capabilities; in this way, we have been able to reduce the amount of air and ground travel required to conduct a meeting with individuals in different locations. We have also implemented recycling programs in our Charles Town, WV and Manassas, VA offices. Our custodial staff now uses green cleaning supplies. The lighting mechanisms in our Manassas office are fitted with occupancy sensors and 2 of our recently renovated buildings in Charles Town have been fitted with such sensors. In the Charles Town buildings that we’ve occupied for several years, all light bulbs are being replaced with more energy efficient ones. We have recently completed the long and arduous process of digitizing all student records to reduce the amount of paper used. Our most recently occupied building which houses our Information Technology department has been fitted with 23 heating and cooling zones and new thermostats that are pre-set with warmer temperatures in the summer and cooler temperatures in the winter so that during evenings and weekends when the building is not occupied, we do not waste energy heating and cooling to the human comfort level. In addition, any new construction undertaken by APUS will be done to meet LEED Silver standards at a minimum. I have heard many argue that it is simply too expensive to go green. While there may be higher upfront costs associated with some green products, they usually last significantly longer and almost always provide some cost savings to the consumer over their life-cycles. As an online university, APUS is arguably ahead of the game as far as reducing GHG emissions. Since all of our courses are conducted online, APUS students and faculty do not commute to classes. Further, whereas brick and mortar institutions must contend with the emissions from facilities like dining halls, dormitories, and research labs, APUS’ GHG emissions is obviously much lower due to the absence of such buildings. Even though we lack many of the physical buildings that raise the emissions levels at many universities, APUS understands that there is still work to be done. If you are interested in additional information about the ACUPCC, please visit the organization’s website. I also encourage you to take a look below at 10 simple measures you can take at your own home or office to reduce your own carbon footprint.
| 1. Replace your light bulbs with more energy efficient ones. They may be more expensive upfront but they will use less energy and last longer. Also remember to turn off lights when you leave a room.
2. Use canvas bags. The next time the bag boy at the grocery store asks “Paper or plastic?” tell him, “Neither! I brought my own.”
3. Just say No to bottled water. Countless numbers of plastic water bottles end up in landfills every year. Install a water filter on your faucet and purchase a sturdy reusable bottle for when you’re on the go.
4. Go paperless. Register for online bill pay options whenever possible and “unsubscribe” from junk mailing lists. You should also have your name removed from unsolicited credit card offers.
5. Establish a carpool at work and for after school events with the kids. Not only will you save gas and money, you may make a new friend!
6. Recycle as much as possible. Find out if curb side recycling is available in your area. If it is not, there may be a recycling center in your community to which you could take your recyclable materials. Write a letter to your local and state representatives stating your concern about climate change and request that they consider implementing recycling programs.
7. Unplug unused appliances and electronics. Even when electronics are not on or in use, they draw energy when plugged in.
8. Wash clothes in cold water. Hot water uses energy to heat. Cold water washes just as well as hot water and uses less energy.
9. Use green cleaning products. A number of companies have recently developed green cleaning products that do not contain the chemicals that are toxic to you, your family and the environment that are found in other cleaning products.
10. Combine errands. Try to buy as many things as you can in one stop. Even if you can’t find everything at one store, try to shop in areas that have many shops within walking distance.
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