Spring Break
ISU Green Team announces scholarship
Mick Swasko
Issue date: 4/28/06 Section: News
The ISU Green Team received the Green Government Award last week to honor the environmental improvements and accomplishments on ISU's campus.
The team was recognized for its achievements in recycling and energy conservation efforts. The award was presented by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.
"It is always nice to get some recognition for work that has been done by your unit," Chuck Scott, executive director of facilities management and member of the Green Team, said. "The team is really an advisory committee, it's a university-wide collaboration to get this university-wide award."
Scott said since 1988, the university has reduced waste sent to landfills by 48 percent, even with the growth ISU has experienced. He also said ISU recycles 1,500 tons of waste yearly.
"The reason the Green Team has focused on these areas is the greening of campus has to focus on its foundations," he said.
Scott said future construction and campus decisions will be influenced by environmentally friendly standards.
"The Green Team, over the last five years, has made a significant progress in sustainability on campus," Director of Energy Management Ron Kelley said.
Kelley said ISU has made progress in conserving water, gas and electricity, replacing 10,000 lighting fixtures and insulating piping throughout the university.
Scott said the Green Team plans on giving out an award of its own to students active in the field of environmental preservation and activism. The $500 Environmental Stewardship Award will be granted to a student under the stipulation that the money goes toward furthering the cause.
According to Professor of Environmental Health Tom Bierma, Green Team meetings are open to the public and welcome new members. As a professor, Bierma said that he looks to his background and knowledge of his field to help improve the environmental sustainability of ISU.
He said that part of his classes include students doing activities on Earth Day and America Recycles day and also doing a yearly waste audit of ISU.
Receiving the award will not slow the Green Team from continuing changes. According to Scott, the team plans to improve the efficiency of buildings during their renovations and is looking into implementing flex fuel vehicles.
"We are really borrowing the earth from future generations and it is incumbent upon us to preserve it and it and do the best we can to do so," Scott said.
The team was recognized for its achievements in recycling and energy conservation efforts. The award was presented by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.
"It is always nice to get some recognition for work that has been done by your unit," Chuck Scott, executive director of facilities management and member of the Green Team, said. "The team is really an advisory committee, it's a university-wide collaboration to get this university-wide award."
Scott said since 1988, the university has reduced waste sent to landfills by 48 percent, even with the growth ISU has experienced. He also said ISU recycles 1,500 tons of waste yearly.
"The reason the Green Team has focused on these areas is the greening of campus has to focus on its foundations," he said.
Scott said future construction and campus decisions will be influenced by environmentally friendly standards.
"The Green Team, over the last five years, has made a significant progress in sustainability on campus," Director of Energy Management Ron Kelley said.
Kelley said ISU has made progress in conserving water, gas and electricity, replacing 10,000 lighting fixtures and insulating piping throughout the university.
Scott said the Green Team plans on giving out an award of its own to students active in the field of environmental preservation and activism. The $500 Environmental Stewardship Award will be granted to a student under the stipulation that the money goes toward furthering the cause.
According to Professor of Environmental Health Tom Bierma, Green Team meetings are open to the public and welcome new members. As a professor, Bierma said that he looks to his background and knowledge of his field to help improve the environmental sustainability of ISU.
He said that part of his classes include students doing activities on Earth Day and America Recycles day and also doing a yearly waste audit of ISU.
Receiving the award will not slow the Green Team from continuing changes. According to Scott, the team plans to improve the efficiency of buildings during their renovations and is looking into implementing flex fuel vehicles.
"We are really borrowing the earth from future generations and it is incumbent upon us to preserve it and it and do the best we can to do so," Scott said.
Be the first to comment on this story