Throughout the 2014-2015 academic year, 180,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere by the electrical generation used to power Capital’s central core, which consists of all academic buildings and most residence halls between Main Street, Pleasant Ridge Street, College Avenue, and Astor Avenue.
Although natural elements remove carbon dioxide emissions, it would take a forest of nearly 9,000,000 trees to absorb these emissions.
In effort to reduce its electricity usage and carbon dioxide omissions, the university partnered with its electricity provider, American Electric Power (AEP), to secure the foundation of an on-campus sustainability council established in October of 2013.
The sustainability council was co-founded by biological and environmental professor, Christine Anderson, and former philosophy professor, Monica Mueller, after the idea for a council was inspired by a sustainability and stewardship conference that they and late religion professor, Tom Christensen, attended at Augsburg College. At the conference, these faculty members saw an opportunity for Capital University to enhance its sustainability initiatives.
“The purpose of the council is to create a permanent structure that will centralize and promote the environmental and sustainable initiatives taking place across the university,” Terry Lahm, associate provost, said.
The sustainability council is now creating strategic initiatives in response to issues surrounding on-campus environmental and sustainability concerns, and its plans are eight-fold.
For example, the sustainability council will conduct research regarding curricular and non-curricular sustainability efforts on-campus. In addition, it will establish action plans with short-term and long-term sustainability goals, as well as form cultural and educational programs for students to learn more about sustainability practices. A sustainability webpage is also expected to be created in order to spread awareness of the council’s efforts.
The council will become involved with current courses that relate to sustainability as well, in order to better enhance curricular design. There are hopes to create faculty research opportunities and community service opportunities as part of their commitment to sustainability practices.
Finally, the group will pursue grant opportunities to encourage accomplishment of their sustainability goals and partnerships with other organizations with similar sustainability interests and goals.
The council aims to follow precedents set by similar programs created by other universities across Ohio and the United States.
Recent efforts of the university have already accomplished goals of reducing its effect on the environment. Through its partnership with AEP, Capital has reduced its electricity usage by 3.4 percent this year, surpassing the sustainability council’s established goal of 3 percent.
As part of its partnership, AEP will pay into Capital’s energy conservation fund for every kilowatt of electricity Capital saves. The fund is available for use by the sustainability council to promote activities and on-campus events to make campus more life-sustainable.
Students already have the opportunity to join the efforts of Capital University, AEP, and the sustainability council by taking personal measures when they are not on campus. These measures include shutting down and unplugging all computers, laptops, and printers that are not in use, along with televisions, radios, and power supplies in order to prevent unnecessary electricity usage. Reducing room temperature to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping windows closed and shades down, and shutting off all lights when not in the room will also help in the sustainability efforts.
Flyers about the sustainability council and its initiatives have been posted throughout campus over the recent mid-semester break. Students interested in taking a more active role in the sustainability council and its efforts can contact Anderson at canders2@capital.edu. or the council at energy@capital.edu.
