Student activism on campus is invaluable to getting the powers that
be on the green track. When change does occur, you can trust that its
impacts reach much farther than the boundaries of campus. Colleges and
universities look to each other for inspiration and example. If your
university is at the cutting edge of all that is green, other
institutions will soon follow suit.
Colleges and universities spend $6 billion each year on electricity. Through greater energy efficiency, the US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that American colleges and universities could save over 25% on electricity costs—some $1.5 billion.[1] Though these institutions of higher learning account for only 3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States,[2] there are numerous ways that colleges and universities can assume a leading role in the green movement.
In 2006, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) chronicled 629 individual acts by colleges and universities to go green, an increase from only 250 in 2005.[3] As of October 2007, more than 415 American institutions have signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to reduce their carbon emissions and integrate sustainability into course curricula.[4]
The role of student groups
Student environmental and sustainability groups often play a crucial
role in any campus-wide effort to make their school a place of
higher—and greener—learning. Student groups are an excellent way for a
new student to get tapped in to the "green scene" on campus, as they
often spearhead innovative efforts to save energy on campus and change
university habits for the greener. At Penn State University,
for example, a student group created a volunteer initiative in which
students traverse the main campus on Friday nights and turn off lights
in public spaces. The students estimate that they shut off 1,500 to
2,500 lights each weekend.[5]
Other examples of student environmental initiatives include: passing
out CFL bulbs to incoming freshmen, lobbying for local and/or organic
food in the cafeteria, turning down thermostats campus-wide a couple of
degrees, performing waste audits, and switching over to paper with
recycled content.[6]
If your campus lacks a prominent environmental group, feel
encouraged to start one of your own. There's a lot of support around
these efforts, as many schools provide funding for such student
activities. For more guidance, check out the Sierra Club's Student Climate Campaign Action Guide.
Having the support of a group of like-minded students can make all the
difference when thinking about initiatives to make your campus a
greener place to live and learn.
The faculty as a valuable resource
Environmental science and other departments related to the
environment and sustainability are growing on college campuses
nationwide. This is in part due to a growing recognition of the
importance of ecology and climate change as academic disciplines.
Professors who teach classes related to the environment can be a
valuable resource to students looking to make their campus more
sustainable. These professors often have years of experience, both in
and out of academics, and can help you organize a lecture series on
campus through their contacts, devise more effective campus
sustainability campaigns, and assist in your efforts to make the
administration go green through their own advocacy.
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