Published: August 12, 2008 09:46 am         

Federal act pushing college campuses to become more energy-efficient

FROSTBURG - College campuses across the nation now have more of an incentive to go green as a result of the recently passed Higher Education Sustainability Act.

"I think this is one of the most historic things that has happened for college campuses in terms of people's knowledge of the issues that are facing our environment," Frostburg State University president Jonathan Gibralter said of the first new federal authorization for environmental education in 18 years.

The Higher Education Opportunity Grant, part of the new Higher Education Opportunity Act, directs the U.S. Department of Education to convene a national sustainability summit to support sustainability curriculum development and management practices on college campuses.

The bill also creates a University Sustainability Grants Program, which will help colleges offer more academic programs that address sustainability and aid campuses in becoming more energy-efficient.

FSU is involved in a number of green efforts through its Living Green, Learning Green initiative. The introduction of hybrids to the vehicle fleet, participation in Recyclemania, a college recycling challenge and an Energy Star procurement policy are just a few of the many initiatives taking place at FSU.

The university offers a variety of environmental and sustainability courses, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is working to create a degree program in the growing field of sustainability, according to Gibraltar.

"Colleges all across the country are developing sustainability offices," said Gibralter.

FSU recently received a score of 85 in the Princeton Review's green rating of colleges and universities. The rating is a numerical score of 60 to 99 based on data concerning environmentally related practices and offerings collected from the schools in the last academic year.

The FSU score is just five points short of other competing institutions listed on the green rating honor roll.

FSU became a signatory member of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in April 2007.

Allegany College of Maryland is also taking steps to become more energy-efficient.

"ACM is researching the efficient use of energy for future purposes. We are developing a plan to best utilize our current energy system along with investing new sources of energy for future purposes," said ACM President Bruce Exstrom. "Along with sustaining all of our campus facilities, we are in the initial phases of studying the needed skills for the future work force related to energy."

"This is a much-needed shot in the arm for the campus sustainability movement," said Julian Keinry, senior director and leader of the National Wildlife Federations Campus Ecology program. "Federal support for sustainability education will lead to a significant return on this taxpayer investment as we prepare future leaders, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy-efficiency."

For more information about the higher education sustainability act and the campaign for environmental literacy, visit www.FundEE.org. To learn more about FSU's Learning Green, Living Green initiative, log onto Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.