CONNECT institution presidents and event speakers

Colleges of S.E. Mass Detail Work in Conservation and Sustainability

Posted on September 26, 2008 - Permalink
Audiences: Alumni Current Students Faculty and Staff HomePage Trustees

From conservation programs that save a million dollars annually, to use of a wind turbine and solar panels, to tons of recycling, and even an on-campus community farm, the public colleges and university of Southeastern Massachusetts are doing much to save energy and cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

These efforts were highlighted Tuesday (9/23) at a conference held at Bridgewater State College's Moakley Center. The Sustainability Summit allowed the institutions that comprise CONNECT -- Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Cape Cod Community College, Bristol Community College, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Massasoit Community College -- to discuss the work each has done to reduce energy use and cut greenhouse gases.

Bridgewater State College President Dana Mohler-Faria welcomed all those to the summit and said that even though much has been achieved that it was important for CONNECT members to continue with sustainability initiatives.

"There is still work to be done, but we have a great commitment to carbon neutrality here in Southeastern Massachusetts," he said.

Things like conservation and sustainability should be part of the mission of all higher education institutions, said Dr. Anthony Cortese, co-founder and co-coordinator of the Higher Education Associations' Sustainability Consortium, who delivered the conference's morning address.

"We are here for two reasons, to educate students and to do what we can do to make the world a better place," he said.

Dr. Cortese also spoke about the world's immediate need to create green energy alternatives, which he said is, "the greatest human design issue in history."

"We have to find a way for a different relationship between humans and the environment," he said, "and sustainability is a large part of that."

A year ago, the CONNECT institutions signed on to the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, a national movement of colleges and universities to take the lead in finding and employing ways of addressing global warming. The commitment also asks institutions to educate their students about sustainability and to produce individuals concerned about the earth's welfare.

Over the past year, each campus has undertaken at least two of the seven interim actions as mandated by the commitment, including a waste-management program, an Energy Star procurement policy and LEED-certified buildings. Each institution is also conducting an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.

Tuesday's conference marked the one-year anniversary of the signing, and gave the presidents and faculty members of the area's colleges and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth a chance to talk about what their institutions have done in the way of conservation. Highlights included:

-Bridgewater State College -- Savings on utilities of more than 25% (nearly $1 million annually) due to new conservation program. Finished first in the state in recycling competition among institutions of higher education.

-Massachusetts Maritime Academy -- Has constructed its own wind turbine and implemented the use of solar panels.

-Cape Cod Community College -- Continues to operate the first fuel cell ever installed on a community college campus (1999). The college has an environmental technology program, and has plans for a wind turbine.

-Bristol Community College -- Has equipped one of its main buildings with solar panels with plans to expand the program to others. The college also has a community farm, and offers an organic farming certificate program. Will complete energy- and water-conservation project this fiscal year.

-UMass-Dartmouth -- Piloted a green roof program (planting extensive gardens on rooftops to save energy), and made changes to its landscaping and added "green" courses to curriculum.

-Massasoit Community College -- Implemented a new, single-stream recycling program in all its buildings, and projections include the recycling of up to 50 tons by year's end. Entered into MASSRIDES partnership to explore commuter options.

The conference included an afternoon talk by Jennifer Andrews, Campus Program Manager, Clean Air - Cool Planet, who talked about ways institutions can achieve carbon neutrality.

The event comes at a time of soaring energy costs and when global warming is a top issue, on the streets and on the campaign trail. Those in attendance at Tuesday's conference said educators must play a leading role in stemming that tide.

"Together we can make a significant difference in reducing our carbon footprint," said Dr. Michele Wakin, a BSC assistant professor of sociology and coordinator of CONNECT.

CONNECT is a partnership of public higher education institutions in southeastern Massachusetts established in 2003, that seeks to improve the quality, accessibility, and affordability of higher education; and to advance the economic, educational, and cultural life of southeastern Massachusetts. (John Winters and Rob Matheson, photo by Rob Matheson, Office of Institutional Communications)