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UM Environmental Initiatives Cut Broad Swath

Last week's 37th annual Earth Day, like its predecessors, drew attention to the protection of our natural environment. But unlike its predecessors, this time public attention to our deteriorating environment has come alive. The 37th time is the charm. I want to commend the students, faculty and staff for their increased interest in this serious problem and for their many contributions to making the campus more sustainable. The University takes seriously its responsibility to the environment.

Many on campus are unaware of our long-standing commitments to the environment. It might be helpful to mention some of our initiatives. In the late 1990's, the campus undertook the development of the Combined Heat and Power facility that uses environmentally friendly natural gas to produce electricity, steam and chilled water while saving enough energy to power 7,500 homes. It was awarded the 2005 Energy Star Award by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

Earlier, when we developed our Facilities Master Plan that extends through the year 2020, we reached beyond the campus up to the Beltway and out to the Metro. Our plan was focused on environmental responsibility as well as placement of facilities. The plan was awarded the "Greening the Campus through Stewardship Award" from the National Wildlife Federation. Our parking structures, new green spaces and rain water run-off collection ponds are its consequences. We created the Environmental Stewardship Committee to watch over our steps forward in facilitating this plan. The benefits and costs are shared by us all.

Today, biodiesel fuel made from used cooking oil powers our shuttle bus fleet, and our residence halls housekeeping staff uses only green seal products –no dyes or harsh chemicals. Our dining halls compost 16 tons of food per month with some of it nourishing organic herb gardens on the roofs of dining halls. Dining Services purchased a new refrigeration system that saves 80,000 gallons of water per month, and by December we expect to cut water and energy use in dish washing by 50%. The University is experimenting with the most efficient lighting available (T5) and hopes to extend it to the entire campus next year. Facilities Management is striving to "green up" the energy used on campus beyond the 4.6% renewable energy already achieved.

We are providing students with new opportunities to engage with the environment. EcoHouse, our newest living-learning community that opens this Fall, provides opportunities to study and serve environmental issues. The Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health in the proposed School of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Science and Technology in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources are also new academic units.

Research interests led to the Center for Integrated Environmental Research that brings scientists together on large scale environmental problems. The Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary Center undertakes large-scale modeling and prediction of the natural environment. The Joint Global Change Research Institute investigates the scientific, technological, economic and policy implications of climate change. The NOAA National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction is being constructed in our research park for collaboration with students and faculty on climate prediction and change.

Last week, we hosted the third major campus sustainability conference. It was the second sponsored by the EPA and attracted participants from 115 colleges and universities located in 39 states and six Canadian provinces.

In her visit last Saturday Laurie David, the producer of "An Inconvenient Truth," urged everyone to do something for the environment. We are all recycling with a mania, doubling our recycling in the past year, and reusing furniture, electronics, and even cars through Terrapin Trader. (It is the only surplus facility in the region.) All of these measures are part of our wider campus commitment to the Earth.

Students are leading the charge on many fronts, sponsoring Earth Day on the Mall last week and again building a solar powered house to compete in the Department of Energy's nation-wide Solar Decathlon. Our team won the Innovation in Technology Award last year.

I am excited by the diversity of actions because it projects our commitment to the environment. To those who have led these initiatives, I applaud you and encourage others to follow your lead. Please visit our sustainability site at www.sustainability.umd.edu for information. I welcome suggestions on how to make our campus more efficient, more sustainable and more respectful of our environment.

Public sentiment is a key driver to effective actions on environmental issues. I am reminded of President Abraham Lincoln's remark: "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed." This is a time to succeed.

C