Congress addresses sustainability issues
Taylor Muller
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: News
Those universities looking to become more energy-efficient or increase campus sustainability may have a little help from the federal government, but funding should not be expected until 2010, said spokespeople for the National Wildlife Federation.
Signed into law by President George W. Bush on Aug. 14, the Higher Education Sustainability Act as part of the new Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 could allow for up to $50 million for institutions of higher education to take those steps towards turning green.
Another sign of sustainability on campus was indicated by a university report card that was recently released, highlighting those institutions across the nation that have made particular strides in turning green, said Julian Keniry, senior director of Campus Ecology at the National Wildlife Federation.
The report card, Campus Environment 2008, examines the 1,068 responding universities, of which 240 were identified as having a variety of exemplary programs in place, including energy efficiency, green transportation and education of conservation.
The report, which is available at campusecology.org, examined two year and four year institutions as well as state and private universities. Nebraska had 10 participating institutions, but only Chadron State College stood out due to its programs related to campus clean energy sources, Keniry said.
"There were some schools that really stood out, quite a few really strong programs in place. As a
nation we're doing a pretty good job greening the campus, tending energy, greener buildings,
retrofitting older buildings, but we're lagging behind on educating students," Keniry said.
"We're not preaching what we practice, just not happening. Students in certain disciplines, health sciences, engineering, business, are barely being exposed to sustainability issues at all."
This is where HESA comes in. Awaiting appropriation by Congress, the bill's impact could hinge on the amount of money available, said James Elder, director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy.
Signed into law by President George W. Bush on Aug. 14, the Higher Education Sustainability Act as part of the new Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 could allow for up to $50 million for institutions of higher education to take those steps towards turning green.
Another sign of sustainability on campus was indicated by a university report card that was recently released, highlighting those institutions across the nation that have made particular strides in turning green, said Julian Keniry, senior director of Campus Ecology at the National Wildlife Federation.
The report card, Campus Environment 2008, examines the 1,068 responding universities, of which 240 were identified as having a variety of exemplary programs in place, including energy efficiency, green transportation and education of conservation.
The report, which is available at campusecology.org, examined two year and four year institutions as well as state and private universities. Nebraska had 10 participating institutions, but only Chadron State College stood out due to its programs related to campus clean energy sources, Keniry said.
"There were some schools that really stood out, quite a few really strong programs in place. As a
nation we're doing a pretty good job greening the campus, tending energy, greener buildings,
retrofitting older buildings, but we're lagging behind on educating students," Keniry said.
"We're not preaching what we practice, just not happening. Students in certain disciplines, health sciences, engineering, business, are barely being exposed to sustainability issues at all."
This is where HESA comes in. Awaiting appropriation by Congress, the bill's impact could hinge on the amount of money available, said James Elder, director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy.
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