University places emphasis on sustainability, 'green energy,' waste reduction
Thomas Rohrer is trying to create a culture of sustainability at Central Michigan University.
As director of the Great Lakes Institute for Sustainable Systems, he has been collaborating on a number of initiatives to promote a "green campus."
“Going green saves a lot of green,” Rohrer said. “Sustainability really pays off.”
CMU has saved money on water consumption by installing faucet aerators across campus, reducing water output by five times the previous usage. Occupancy sensors have been installed in rooms, shutting off the lights if nobody is using them. The university has also added 3,000 new recycling bins across campus and has sustainably disposed of 4,800 pounds of electronic equipment.
Rohrer believes recycling and conserving energy are priorities for the university.
“Sustainability also involves being good stewards of financial resources as well as being good stewards of natural resources,” he said.
CMU was recently recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the 322 "green colleges" in the United States, earning a reputation for being a leader when it comes to sustainability. Director of Energy and Utilities Michael Walton believes there is still work to be done, though.
Walton works on ways the university can cut down on energy costs as well as electricity and water consumption.
“It’s not just what (facilities management) is doing to be sustainable,” Walton says. “Everybody else can help CMU be more sustainable, too.”
Walton recommends making sure things like lights, water and heat are shut off if nobody is using them. Other ways students and staff can be environmentally conscious are by cutting down on waste through using only what is necessary.
Cutting down on excessive waste has been a major initiative in the dining halls on campus. Walton said food trays, which were removed from all dining areas, created a behavior where people took more food than they should have. Now that trays have vanished, students are only taking what they need, which has led to a decrease in food waste.
Director of Environmental Health and Safety Rebecca Uzarski is concerned with the contaminants that pollute the environment as well as sustainable practices.
She advises students to carefully choose personal care products like lotions, shampoos and antibacterial products. Some of these personal care products contain mixtures that could be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.
When selecting these products, Uzarski urges students to research and carefully read the labels, choosing only products that are safe for the environment.
