updated September 7, 2007

By joining this group, Rose-Hulman has shown a commitment to protecting the environment, reducing our impact on the environment, and becoming climate neutral, according to Rose-Hulman President Gerald Jakubowski.
This commitment expands previous institute-wide efforts to conserve energy, reduce waste and decrease emissions.
“Rose-Hulman must exhibit leadership to increase sustainability and reduce emissions while educating our students to be leaders in dealing with our current and future environmental challenges,” Jakubowski said.

Several new environmentally-friendly initiatives over the past few months have been completed or are underway on campus. These initiatives include:

• Reducing night time temperatures in large areas;

• Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights;

• Conducting campus-wide sustainability assessment;

• Reviewing and expanding recycling efforts;

• Testing occupancy sensors;

• Testing waterless urinals; and

• Providing additional information to increase employee and student awareness about sustainability and educationally-related events in the community.

By supporting the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, Rose-Hulman agrees to:

• Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible;

• Initiate two or more of predetermined tangible actions (as specified in the Climate Commitment) to reduce greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being developed; and

• Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available by providing them to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for posting and dissemination.

Other colleges and universities joining Rose-Hulman in this climate commitment include University of Arizona, Arizona State University, University of Arkansas, Ball State University, University of California, Clemson University, University of Colorado, Cornell University, Duke University, University of Florida, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, University of Miami, New York University, University of North Carolina, Ohio University, Syracuse University and University of Washington.
 

A Rose-Hulman Facilities Operations Sustainability Team has been formed to promote the responsible management of resources through the further reduction of energy and waste, and increasing shared learning and community involvement. This team is promoting the responsible management of resources through the reduction of energy, waste, and increasing shared learning and community involvement. The team’s mission statement is “to reduce, to the extent technologically and economically feasible, the environmental impacts associated with the operations of the institute.”

The first campus education program was conducted in August with information booths on display and a tree planting ceremony during a kickoff luncheon. “Green Cleaning at Home” will be the focus of a Lunch & Learn session for Rose-Hulman faculty, staff and students on Sept. 25.

Rose-Hulman’s Sustainability Team is coordinated by Tuesday Strong, director of facilities services. Other team members are Jacob Campbell and Rohan Talwar, managers of custodial services; Mike Howard, manager of environmental health and safety; Joe Kastigar, director of construction services;Julie Lunsford, coordinator of facilities operations; Pete Mobley, director of maintenance services; and Susan Reynolds, manager of grounds services; and Rohan Talwar.

More information about Rose-Hulman’s sustainability program and the President’s Climate Commitment can be found at www.rose-hulman.edu//Users/groups/Facilities/HTML/sustainability/sustainability_main.html and http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.