This year CSB/SJU is turning over a new leaf, the green sustainability leaf. No more selling custom made plastic bottles or printing excessive paper for class. But what does it really mean to be sustainable? Most people think to be sustainable you have to be a tree hugger or change your entire way of living—a common misconception. Simple actions such as bringing a cloth bag to a grocery store or using a canteen rather than buying a plastic water bottle gives light to a more sustainable earth.
New employees in the Sustainability Office Department at CSB/SJU are pushing for a more sustainable year, which is why the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University is dedicating the 2010-11 school year as “The Year of Sustainability.” Campus Sustainability Fellow, Theo Eggermont said a lot of participation around campus is desired to promote greater awareness.
“Awareness and education changes behaviors change habits and habits change energy,” Eggermont said.
He went on to say that the more sustainability is infused into the curriculum on campus; the more likely this change is to happen.
But the process of “going green” this year did not happen overnight. The economic and environmental faculty on campus put forth a great effort to get to where they are now. When president MaryAnn Baenninger and Dietrich Reinhart signed the American College and Universities Presidential Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, this document set the path to form sustainability and tracking carbon missions. By conserving energy, investing in efficiency and conservation, changing fuels, investing in alternative energy and carbon offsets, 2035 will be the carbon neutralizing year. Staff including Judy Purman, Theo Eggermont, Nick Moe, Lew Grobe, Lindsey Wimmer and Jesse Otis were hired to work to promote sustainability.
“Not a lot of campuses have this program, so the fact that we do is huge.” Eggermont said.
Throughout this year, there are several significant goals that the sustainability department wishes to be met.
“We want awareness and for people to understand what (sustainability) is,” CSB Sustainability Director, Judy Purman said. “If people are confused or have ideas to promote awareness, I want them to feel free to contact me.”
As a campus, CSB/SJU wants students to have the desire to save energy and therefore money and carbon emissions. Throughout the year, there will be various events and challenges for the students to participate in. Such events include happiness symposium, a lecture by Dr. Eban Goodstein on “Reconciling the Science and Economics of Climate Change” and the 2010 Energy Challenge. The Energy Challenge is a month long challenge in February to see which residental hall that uses the least amount of energy. There will be prizes for the winning hall.
For students all around campus, it is fairly easy to get into the year of sustainability. Some tips include turning off lights when they are not in use, replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFL’s, plugging electronics into a power strip and turning it off when it is not in use and recycling.
As the year goes by, it is hopeful that students will stay in touch with upcoming events and promotions through the Sustainability link on the CSB/SJU website. With the joint efforts made by the Sustainability employees and students around campus, the Year of Sustainability should be a success.