Sustainable Solutions in Higher Education

De Anza College Strives for a Sustainable Campus

  • In 2005, De Anza College in Cupertino, California, opened the Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies.

  • This facility marked a significant achievement as the first community-college building to be certified LEED Platinum.

  • The campus hosts a 36.5 kilowatt photovoltaic energy system installed on its rooftop.

  • Incorporation of conservation technologies within the building includes:

    • Red and green lights that provide advisories on opening and closing windows

    • Natural lighting utilized in labs, classrooms, and study areas

    • Much of the interior is constructed with recycled materials.

  • Additionally, the building is landscaped with drought-tolerant native plants that necessitate minimal watering.

  • An arboretum is adjacent to the building, showcasing native plants and plant communities.

  • Presently, there are nine LEED-certified buildings on campus.

  • The dining facilities serve local and organic foods and the college has divested its holdings in fossil fuels.

  • Certificate programs offered include wildlife tracking and research training.

Sustainability on Campus

  • Sustainability refers to living in a manner that can be sustained for future generations.

  • Many colleges and universities are actively making efforts to foster sustainable practices.

Student-led Campus Sustainability Efforts

  • Student-led initiatives for campus sustainability are proliferating.

  • Various local initiatives from colleges and universities exemplify these efforts.

Major Approaches in Campus Sustainability (Table 24.1)
Renewable Energy

  • Numerous educational institutions are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable heating and electricity.

  • Actions include:

    • Installation of solar panels

    • Utilization of biomass in power plants

    • Construction of wind turbines on campus

  • Students have influenced administrators' decisions and have voted for student fees to purchase "green tags" or carbon offsets to finance renewable energy.

Transportation

  • Approximately 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions from the average college/university arise from vehicle commutes.

  • Schools are investing in:

    • Bus and shuttle systems

    • Hybrid and alternative-fuel fleet vehicles

    • Programs encouraging carpooling, walking, and biking to mitigate pollution, congestion, and parking issues.

Carbon-Neutrality

  • Aiming to combat climate change, many campuses target carbon neutrality, meaning they emit no net greenhouse gases.

  • These institutions strive to utilize clean renewable energy, and not all can achieve this without purchasing carbon offsets.

  • Nearly 700 presidents have signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, establishing carbon-neutrality as an objective.

Food and Dining

  • Increasingly, schools are growing their own food through campus farms and gardens, providing local and organic options for students.

  • Adoption of trayless dining is reducing food waste significantly (on average, waste decreases as students take only what they wish).

  • Many campuses are composting food scraps.

Plants and Landscaping

  • Student actions involved in restoring native plants and communities, tackling invasive species, and improving wildlife habitats.

  • Establishment of green roofs, greenhouses, and botanical gardens enhances ecological surroundings, offering educational opportunities in ecology and natural resources.

Fossil Fuel Divestment

  • Currently, it's estimated that U.S. higher education endowment exceeds $400 billion, with a portion invested in fossil fuel corporations.

  • Since 2012, students have mobilized to urge administrators to divest from fossil fuel investments.

Auditing for Sustainability

  • An audit is instrumental to ascertain the resource consumption of institutions.

  • Example of an auditing instrument: Kill-a-Watt meter, measuring electrical current drawn by appliances.

  • Utilizing comparative data from other institutions can generate sustainable practice recommendations.

  • Studies reveal that half of collegiate greenhouse gas emissions stem from vehicle commuting, stressing the importance of alternative transportation solutions.

Events and Competitions for Sustainability

  • Many campuses engage in festive events and competitions to spur sustainability efforts.

  • Examples include:

    • University of Texas at Austin: Annual “Trash to Treasure” program, reusing discarded student items.

    • Hamilton College: Reduces landfill waste by approximately 28% through similar programs.

    • Recyclemania: A competition fostering improved recycling rates among various colleges.

    • Williams College (MA): “Do It in the Dark” competition leading to 13% energy usage reduction.

    • U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon: A project where students design and build solar-powered homes.

Organizational Support for Campus Sustainability

  • Various sustainability efforts on campuses are bolstered by external organizations, namely, the Campus Ecology program of the National Wildlife Federation.

  • This program hosts a collection of case studies documenting sustainability initiatives online.

  • Conferences like Greening of the Campus at Ball State University serve as networking avenues for students, faculty, and administration to exchange ideas.

Sustainable Development Definition

  • Sustainable Development is defined by the United Nations as:

    • “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

  • This concept necessitates the fulfillment of the triple bottom line, which consists of environmental protection, economic well-being, and social justice.

Environmental Protection and Economic Opportunity

  • In early societies, economic well-being and environmental protection were often seen as conflicting, but today they are recognized as mutually beneficial.

  • For instance, investing initially in methods to reduce consumption can yield considerable long-term savings.

  • The renewable energy sector can create green-collar jobs and encourage new investments.

Ecosystem Valuation

  • Sustainability derived from managing ecosystems in a balanced way shows higher economic value compared to practices focused on private resource extraction.

Connection to Environment

  • Urban populations often lack connection to the natural world, unable to identify native species or understand where essential resources come from.

  • Recognition of the interdependence between consumption and the natural world is critical.

Strategies for Sustainable Solutions

  • There are 10 strategic approaches to foster sustainable solutions:

Political Engagement

  • Sustainable solutions generally require legislative backing, necessitating active engagement from citizens to influence policymakers.

  • Key actions include voting and contacting lawmakers to voice opinions.

Consumer Power

  • Consumers can influence the market by prioritizing eco-labeled products.

Quality of Life

  • Growth in economic terms has been chiefly the result of increased consumption of material goods.

Population Stability

  • The Earth’s resource capacity cannot be infinitely expanded; growth halting will occur.

  • Efforts aimed at stabilizing population via voluntary means, particularly aiding developing nations to expedite demographic transitions.

Local and Global Approaches

  • Individuals closely connected to their local environments often value and sustain their surroundings.

  • Supporting locally produced goods can reduce fossil fuel consumption related to transportation.

  • Globalization has both detrimental and beneficial aspects; sharing models of sustainability among countries can be advantageous.

Green Technologies

  • Technological advancements have escalated environmental impacts.

  • Within the IPAT equation, technology can yield either positive or negative effects depending on environmental compatibility.

  • Contributions include catalytic converters, scrubbers, recycling technologies, and wastewater treatment systems.

Mimicking Nature

  • Industrial processes should aim to operate cyclically, akin to ecological systems, significantly curtailing waste generation.

Systemic Solutions

  • Many current issues are addressed with short-term tactics rather than systemic solutions which relate to fundamental causes.

  • Example: Developing agricultural practices that exclude pesticides when resistance develops.

Long-term Perspective

  • Sustainability necessitates solutions that remain effective over extended periods.

  • Example: Reforesting to mitigate erosion impacts.

Research and Education

  • Elevating scientific inquiry and enhancing public understanding of environmental sciences empower broader participation in sustainable initiatives.

Urgency of Time

  • The urgency for achieving sustainability is critical as our natural systems are rapidly changing, with human impact intensifying.

  • Global climate change is a quintessential concern, influencing various facets of our environment and societal structure.

Earth as an Island

  • The Earth is analogized to an island, limited in resources, space, and delicate ecosystem services.

  • To avert the pitfalls faced by collapsed civilizations, such as Easter Island, it is essential to transform behaviors and cultural practices towards sustainability.