Spring Break
Group promotes environmental sustainability in Oxford
Ben Garbarek
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: Campus
While green may be associated with spring weather, St. Patrick's Day, or Green Beer Day at Miami University, a group of students is trying to get the community to "go green" in another way.
Green Oxford (GO) is a group of students and community members promoting the nationwide Go Green Initiative, a measure promoting sustainability and other environmentally friendly policies.
"We're trying to fight global climate change and start at a local level," said senior Bryan Glosik, a student involved with the initiative. "A university is a great place to inform others (about
environmental causes)."
According to the Go Green Initiative's official Web site, the organization provides "a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation."
The initiative is intended to make subtle, but significant changes on campus. According to Charlie Weber, Miami senior and president of GO, items such as solar panels and waterless urinals would help make buildings more energy-efficient. Under this initiative, future buildings constructed would be designed with more efficient heating and lighting to limit energy use.
Along with the Go Green Initiative, GO is also looking to enact the President's Climate Commitment. This separate initiative tries to create long-term climate neutrality. It lays out a thorough plan on ways universities can make themselves more
environmentally sensitive.
By making Miami climate neutral, Weber said the campus would significantly limit the amount of carbon emissions from coal power. He noted that besides seeking alternative forms of energy, a simple way of combating these harmful emissions is planting more trees.
According to Weber, 150 university presidents have already signed the commitment, with five in Ohio - including Antioch, Oberlin, and Ohio University, according to the commitment's Web site. Also among the signatures are the University of Washington and Macalester College, President David Hodge's former school and alma mater.
Green Oxford (GO) is a group of students and community members promoting the nationwide Go Green Initiative, a measure promoting sustainability and other environmentally friendly policies.
"We're trying to fight global climate change and start at a local level," said senior Bryan Glosik, a student involved with the initiative. "A university is a great place to inform others (about
environmental causes)."
According to the Go Green Initiative's official Web site, the organization provides "a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation."
The initiative is intended to make subtle, but significant changes on campus. According to Charlie Weber, Miami senior and president of GO, items such as solar panels and waterless urinals would help make buildings more energy-efficient. Under this initiative, future buildings constructed would be designed with more efficient heating and lighting to limit energy use.
Along with the Go Green Initiative, GO is also looking to enact the President's Climate Commitment. This separate initiative tries to create long-term climate neutrality. It lays out a thorough plan on ways universities can make themselves more
environmentally sensitive.
By making Miami climate neutral, Weber said the campus would significantly limit the amount of carbon emissions from coal power. He noted that besides seeking alternative forms of energy, a simple way of combating these harmful emissions is planting more trees.
According to Weber, 150 university presidents have already signed the commitment, with five in Ohio - including Antioch, Oberlin, and Ohio University, according to the commitment's Web site. Also among the signatures are the University of Washington and Macalester College, President David Hodge's former school and alma mater.
Be the first to comment on this story