BLACKSBURG, Va., June 1, 2009 – At today's meeting of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, the board adopted a resolution to fully support the university's climate action commitment — an important step for the university to take in order to become a national leader in campus sustainability.
After a year of community input and review, Virginia Tech has now adopted a 14 point Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan which calls for, among other things, to pursue LEED Silver certification or better for all new buildings and renovations, a 35 percent recycle rate by 2012, specific targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, reductions in electric usage, improvements in transportation efficiency, and many other measurable sustainability goals.
To ensure progress towards goals are met, the university will conduct annual assessments to measure actual progress each year and release these reports publicly.
One year ago, Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger established and charged the Committee on Energy and Sustainability to develop a campus sustainability plan aimed at reducing global warming emissions in everyday campus operations.
“President Steger’s charge to the committee resulted in a lengthy and complicated governance process to develop the commitment and plan, but it was far more effective than if he had simply signed the generic national president’s climate commitment,” said John Randolph, professor of urban affairs and planning and chair of the subcommittee that prepared the plan. “Many universities which have signed the commitment, have little to show for it, but we have our own commitment and a comprehensive plan reviewed and endorsed by the entire university. As a result we are immediately on track toward implementation in three areas: greening our facilities and saving energy, emissions, and money; greening campus culture through student programs, residences, and dining halls; and better coordinating and making more visible our academic programs related to sustainability.”
“It is critical that everyone understand why we made this commitment to environmental sustainability, said Angie De Soto, a senior majoring in environmental policy and planning in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and the university’s first sustainability planning intern. “When we first met with President Steger, we explained that climate change is the defining challenge of our generation and that environmental sustainability is the future that Virginia Tech should be striving to invent. Solving these global challenges will ultimately require the participation of every person on this planet. I hope that seeing Hokies take steps to do their part will inspire individuals across the nation to do their part”
Effective immediately, the university will adopt the following 14 goals and action items:
“President Steger’s intent was to develop a climate action commitment that is unique to Virginia Tech and achievable,” said Denny Cochrane, sustainability program manager for the Office of Associate Vice President for Facilities Services. “The 14-point plan pushes the envelope with realistic and achievable goals, and we are already on our way in meeting some of them. For example, the Office of Sustainability was recently established in the facilities services department and includes the sustainability program manager, and energy manager, and a graduate assistant. The successful implementation of the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan should position the university to be a leader in campus sustainability.”
At the board meeting, Steger praised the many students, faculty, and staff that served on that committee as well as the many student organizations that offered input and support to the planning process.
Listen to related podcasts:
Angie De Soto, a senior majoring in environmental policy and planning in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, and an intern in the sustainability office; John Randolph, professor of urban affairs and planning in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies; and Denny Cochrane, sustainability program manager in Facilities Services discuss the university's sustainability program.