(Christopher Queripel)Every year the Sierra Club, an Environmental organization, lists the top “Cool Schools’ based on their environmental sustainability and protection. This season SUNY ESF jumped one spot to number five out of the 328 schools in the rankings. Currently ESF ranks as a platinum level school which is the most sustainable step. But ESF’s Sustainability facilities manager Sue Fassler says the school is still striving for the highest goals.
(Sue Fassler) We do have two key areas of mroe specifice goals pertaining to energy. We really want to shift our campus to be of course powered by al renewable energy and we are well on our way to that goal. We want to reduce energy use itensity on campus so that’s basically the enrgy we use per square foot of building space.
(Queripel) The aspirations to maintain the high standards include voices from the students. Bethany Atkins who is in her second year at ESF explains what else she wants added at the University.
(Bethany Atkins) I would also love to see them provide shuttles in some ways for those who are commuter students or even offer bike rentals for those who live close by. Then they don’t have to drive their cars and get a parking pass and increase the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere then they can just ride a bike.
(Queripel) While there may not be a plan in place for transportation just yet. Fassler says ESF is proactive at just exactly how to become as efficient as possible.
(Fassler) A second goal for zero waste is we want to reduce the amount of trash we’re sending to landfills or incineration by 90 percent. That’s the real key you cannot recycle or compost your way to zero waste, you really need to first and foremost reduce what you’re throwing away from the start
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Annually the Sierra Club ranks the most sustainable campuses in the country. This year SUNY ESF placed fifth out of 328 schools. Now, there are a lot of specific criteria that goes into the specific rankings. ESF’s goal is to be as sustainable as possible and continue to do so until they are working fully off of renewable energy. Students tend to give insight into where they want so see the university headed. Sustainability and Facilities manager Sue Fassler, spoke about an initiative instituted last year.
“For example, last year we removed plastic bottles of all types from our vending machines and beverage containers and replaced that with aluminum, ” Fassler said. “That can be infinitely recycled whereas plastics can only be down cycled to what they started as.”
This initiative is just one way SUNY ESF looks to lower it emissions and footprint. Fassler continued by saying ESF wants to make the whole campus sustainable not just a personal choice to make a difference. Environmental consciousness is not a new idea to SUNY ESF, it actually turned out to be a major selling point for second-year student Bethany Atkins to attend the university.
“The fact that this school is environmentally conscious and is rated as one of the highest schools in that facet is important, “Atkins said. “It is probably one of the biggest decisions that led me to come here.
The announcement of SUNY ESF being named a top “Cool School” in the country comes as there has been a lot of discussion surrounding environmental issues in New York State. Just this week Governor Hochul announced projects to promote sustainability.
