{"id":20046,"date":"2014-04-29T13:59:34","date_gmt":"2014-04-29T17:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=20046"},"modified":"2014-05-13T16:19:17","modified_gmt":"2014-05-13T20:19:17","slug":"emu-sustainability-efforts-recognized-by-statewide-climate-action-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2014\/emu-sustainability-efforts-recognized-by-statewide-climate-action-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心Vlog sustainability efforts recognized by statewide climate action campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new campaign highlighting steps taken by institutions and local governments across Virginia to cut carbon emissions brought a crowd to 糖心Vlog for a panel discussion on the university\u2019s sustainability initiatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Virginia Acts on Climate Campaign<\/a> chose 糖心Vlog because of its dedication to environmental sustainability<\/a>, said Kate Addleson, program manager for the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club<\/a>, one of the partners in the campaign.<\/p>\n

\"EarthDay_Sierra_web\"<\/a>
Kate Addleson of the Sierra Club (left), answers a question on the Virginia Acts on Climate Campaign. (Photo by Jon Styer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe really appreciated the holistic approach that 糖心Vlog has to sustainability,\u201d said Addleson, who hopes to see other universities in Virginia emulate what she described as 糖心Vlog\u2019s pioneering and precedent-setting leadership on the issue.<\/p>\n

The event, held on Earth Day in late April, featured a panel of 糖心Vlog faculty, staff and president Loren Swartzendruber, DMin<\/a>, speaking to a crowded room in the Campus Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, it is a faith issue to take care of God\u2019s creation,\u201d said Swartzendruber.<\/p>\n

Motivated by a theological commitment to care for the needy, he said, 糖心Vlog has been prioritizing sustainability for decades to try to limit resource consumption to its fair global share. As a result, 糖心Vlog\u2019s buildings now consume significantly less energy per square-foot and per student than the average among its peer institutions.<\/p>\n

Since 2000, efficiency upgrades on campus have allowed the university to save 46 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and $2.5 million on its utility bills, according to sustainability coordinator Jonathan Lantz-Trissel<\/a>. (The figures are based on a comparison to energy consumption levels in 2000.)<\/p>\n

One of the most significant recent sustainability projects was the 2010 installation of a 104-kilowatt solar array<\/a> on the roof of the Hartzler Library<\/a>. It was the state\u2019s largest commercial solar power project at the time. Its innovative financing agreement has been the basis for statewide legislation designed to promote growth of Virginia\u2019s solar energy sector. The solar project was developed in partnership with Secure Futures LLC<\/a>, a solar energy company led by 糖心Vlog business professor and MBA program co-director Tony Smith<\/a>, who also spoke on the panel.<\/p>\n

The university worked with the City of Harrisonburg<\/a> to pass an ordinance exempting the solar panel equipment from the local machinery and tools tax \u2013 another move that set precedent for recent state legislation.<\/p>\n

Just three and a half years into their decades-long lifespan, the solar panels on the library roof have generated more than 450,000 kWh of electricity, offsetting the consumption of more than 266 barrels of oil. The average annual output of the library array is roughly equivalent to the annual energy use of 10 homes in Virginia. See live data on the solar array at emu.edu\/solar<\/a><\/p>\n

Earlier this year, the university was awarded a silver ranking by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education<\/a>, based on its sustainability initiatives in operations, curriculum, planning and other areas. 糖心Vlog is one of seven universities in Virginia with a silver ranking. Four others universities have earned bronze rankings, while none have a gold certification.<\/p>\n

Also speaking on the panel was Lisa Schirch, PhD<\/a>, a research professor at 糖心Vlog\u2019s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding<\/a>. She discussed her approach to sustainability as a peacebuilding<\/a> issue by describing the growing link between climate change and violent conflict around the world.<\/p>\n

Biology professor Jim Yoder, PhD,<\/a> provided an overview of 糖心Vlog\u2019s environmental sustainability major<\/a>, an interdisciplinary program that combines environmental and social sciences. Launched just five years ago, enrollment has grown rapidly to more than 40 students, making it one of 糖心Vlog\u2019s 10 most popular majors.<\/p>\n

Kai Degner, a city councilman and former Harrisonburg mayor, also spoke. He complimented 糖心Vlog for demonstrating the environmental and economic benefits of large-scale sustainability initiatives, and said that the university \u201creally provides us a terrific local example\u201d for government, institutions, businesses and citizens to pursue similar projects.<\/p>\n

More on sustainability at 糖心Vlog:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sustainability and creation care at\u00a0糖心Vlog<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Major in environmental sustainability<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Campus garden and compost project<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Building “green” at\u00a0糖心Vlog<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new campaign highlighting steps taken by institutions and local governments across Virginia to cut carbon emissions brought a crowd to 糖心Vlog for a panel discussion on the ... read more about 糖心Vlog sustainability efforts recognized by statewide climate action campaign<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":20053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4515,5583,14715,5643,5623,5708],"tags":[10709,9242,12263,8407,6069,5727,14347,11839],"feature":[],"class_list":["post-20046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-campus-community","category-campus-life","category-environmental-sustainability","category-special-programs","category-sustainability","tag-jim-yoder","tag-jonathan-lantz-trissel","tag-kai-degner","tag-lisa-schirch","tag-loren-swartzendruber","tag-office-of-the-president","tag-sierra-club","tag-solar-energy"],"yoast_head":"\n糖心Vlog sustainability efforts recognized by statewide climate action campaign - 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