When many students hear “sustainability” they probably think “recycling” or maybe even just turning off the lights when they leave a room. While those things are sustainable acts, sustainability encompasses much more. Many campuses around the country, including UW-Whitewater, are starting measures to become sustainable. Even better, they are doing so in creative ways.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, for example, thought outside of the solar panel when it came to producing renewable energy on campus. While many campuses have at least some solar panels producing energy for their students, this school has taken to installing wind turbines on campus. Currently, the school saves over $160,000 per year in energy costs due to the wind turbine energy output, and that was just from their first turbine! They plan to install many more in the future.
Wisconsin’s own Ripon College found another creative solution to the burning of fossil fuels. Due to concerns about the pollution of students with cars (and parking concerns) Ripon College instituted a brand new program where incoming college freshman get a free bike, bike lock, and helmet if they pledge to use them instead of driving to class! The College even received donations from local businesses so that it costs the school little to nothing.
Many colleges, including UW-Whitewater, are strongly supporting ride-share programs as well! These can be as simple as a web page organized by the school, where commuting students (or those who are just going home for the weekend) post where they need to go, where they are already driving, and how many open seats they have. Not only does this drastically cut down on the number of cars and the roads, and therefor emissions, but it also gives everyone somebody to talk to on those long, boring drives back home!
As you can see, there is much more to sustainability than just recycling. These are just a few of the creative ways that some schools are encourages their students to protect the Earth for future generations.
-David
