The College of Visual and Performing Arts is leading the university’s initiative to become carbon neutral by 2040.

‘Being climate neutral means that you are not emitting a greenhouse gas,’ said Steve Lloyd, the associate director for sustainability in the Sustainability Division. ‘Also, any greenhouse gases that you are emitting are being offset by certain activities you take, like planting trees, so it comes out to a net zero greenhouse gas emissions.’

Throughout the summer, the Sustainability Division at Syracuse University performed an initial audit on all 10 of the buildings in which VPA has classes or offices. Currently, the division is creating a list of feasible projects. The next step, Lloyd said, is to collaborate with the maintenance department, students and staff of VPA to see what they’d like done. Then they will go through the list once again and start implementing projects.

SU announced its Climate Action Plan in September 2009 as part of its participation in the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment to become carbon neutral. More than 600 universities have signed such contracts committing to sustainability by a certain date, Lloyd said.

With this plan, energy consumption will go down, there will be more recycling and transportation initiatives will be better and healthier, Lloyd said.

VPA became involved with the plan early on.

‘Shortly after releasing the plan, I got a call from the dean’s office in VPA, and they volunteered to be the first school,’ said Tim Sweet, the director of energy and computing management at SU.

The plan is starting with VPA because it already has programs committed to sustainability. VPA serves as the pilot, and changes will later be carried to other universities and buildings on campus.

‘Quite a few professors (in VPA) have already integrated sustainability into the curriculum,’ said Melissa Cadwell, the marketing manager for the Sustainability Division. ‘It was a huge bonus for us because they are already invested in sustainability.’

SU will enhance and expand the plan every five years to allow new technology and scientific understanding to come into play, Lloyd said.

‘This measure will help preserve the university for future generations,’ Cadwell said.

The buildings and their campus occupants are the primary focus of SU’s Climate Action Plan activities because they directly affect the campus’ carbon footprint, according to the plan.

Although the university is in the planning stages of how to next increase VPA’s sustainability, Cadwell said, students have already been working with the project. She said more students could get involved once the Student Environmental Action Coalition starts or through SU’s recycling and composting program.

‘Students can always contact us if they have projects that they’re working on that has a sustainability twist or if they need help,’ Cadwell said. ‘We’re always available to help students.’

medelane@syr.edu

Published on September 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Meghin: medelane@syr.edu | @meghinwithani