EAST LANSING, Mich. — Departments, programs and people at Michigan State University will soon have the opportunity to be recognized for the work they do that helps reduce the university’s environmental footprint.
Beginning Nov. 9, departments and on-campus students can earn green certification by completing an online form showing the steps they take to reduce MSU’s impact on the environment through energy efficiency and conservation, waste reduction, water conservation and purchasing.
In addition to reducing MSU’s environmental impact, there will be several other benefits to earning green certification:
- Recognition for units, departments and students at an Earth Day event April 22, 2010.
- Use of the green certification seal on departmental communications, recruitment and other materials.
- Buildings where all departments earn green certification will have a tree planted or a plaque recognizing the building as “green certified.”
- Where all departments within a building earn green certification, they will have a special designation on monthly environmental stewardship building reports.
Departments and individuals will have until March 5, 2010, to complete the certification. Notification of certification will be done on a rolling basis, with all notifications completed by April 1, 2010.
“Many times students and staff want to take action to reduce their environmental impact but are confused about what to do,” said Lauren Olson project coordinator in the Office of Campus Sustainability. “There are a lot of myths out there. Our office wants to distribute best practices for the university to eliminate confusion and empower students and employees to make a difference.”
“In this atmosphere the environmental and fiscal savings in doing the best practices in green certification have a tremendous impact,” said Jennifer Sowa, assistant director of the MSU Office of Campus Sustainability.
It is estimated that if the entire campus does the majority of the practices on the green certification, the university could save up to $1.2 million.
To fill out the green certification form, or for more information about MSU’s sustainability efforts, visit www.sustainability.msu.edu.
This is just one of many ways in which MSU protects the environment. Earlier this year the university officially opened the new Surplus Store and Recycling Center. For more information about the center go to: www.bespartangreen.msu.edu/recyclecenter/index.html. The Office of Campus Sustainability’s Be Spartan Green campaign informs the campus community on ways to reduce its environmental impact at www.bespartangreen.msu.edu.
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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.