May 11, 2009
Small Changes. Big Impact.
Go Green Pledge—launched for Earth Week—aims for a more sustainable University
If you don’t think one small change can have an impact on the environment, consider this: The University implemented an energy conservation program throughout February to set back winter thermostat temperatures in several campus locations. In many cases, temperatures were set back just one or two degrees. The result: energy consumption fell by 5 percent on the River Campus and 2 percent at the Medical Center, with savings totaling $257,909.
The Council for Sustainability has started a new program to encourage everyone at the University to commit to taking other small steps to help the environment. The Go Green Pledge was launched during Earth Week last month and hundreds of faculty, staff, and students have already pledged to do their part in creating a more sustainable University.
“We have already shown how the collective actions of a large group of individuals can contribute to energy savings,” says Lisa Glover-Henderson, assistant director of central utilities for University Facilities and Services. “The goal of the Go Green Pledge is to continue to build upon the growing campus support by asking everyone in the University community to commit to do at least one small action.”
Examples include:
Pledging to turn off lights and monitor when leaving the office for more than 15 minutes: Power management of monitors and lights has the potential to save significant amounts of electricity as well as deliver other economic and environmental benefits. The process is a bit of a hassle at first, but hassle quickly turns into painless habit.
Pledging to use a reusable water bottle and not buy bottled water—Many bottled waters: (including those sold at the University) are simply filtered tap water. Filter your own using personal filtration systems if you must or just drink straight from the tap. It’s much less expensive and just as healthy.
Pledging to use alternative transportation when possible: Running, walking, and bicycling are excellent ways to reduce your carbon footprint, stay fit and healthy, and avoid the hassles of traffic. If those aren’t plausible, try to carpool/rideshare. Yet another option is public transportation.
You can even create your own pledge items. An important part of the pledge is to commit to doing something you wouldn’t typically do. Once you’ve selected your pledge items, an e-mail outlining your selections is sent to your inbox as a reminder.
Take the pledge online at www.rochester.edu/sustainability/pledge/.
| Previous story | Next story |
