Earth Day
April 18, 2007
Robert A. Kennedy, President, University of Maine
• We at the University of
Maine are serious about reducing our energy consumption and lessening
our environmental impact. We are fortunate to have the talent on campus
to compile and analyze energy consumption data, to identify excessive
areas of energy consumption and carbon emissions, and to find or create
solutions.
• During the past several years, UMaine, including its students and
faculty, has worked to address these critical issues of our day. We need
to use energy in a responsible way, and our students will need to be
leaders in creating sustainable societies in the future.
• From the university's point-of-view, this takes a long-term
commitment.
• I am pleased to tell you that I have recently signed the American
College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. This pledge
commits us to meeting certain targets and working toward what's called
"climate neutrality." It is modeled after a similar pledge signed by
mayors across the U.S.
• I am proud that UMaine is among the earliest universities to agree to
this commitment. More universities are signing on – literally – every
day, and it will make a real difference going forward.
• Our list of accomplishments over the past several years is impressive,
and I encourage you to review them in our "Energy
Conservation/Sustainability Initiatives" pamphlet. Copies are available
on the Earth Day tables set up behind me.
• All new UMaine buildings are designed to meet "Green Building" (or "LEED")
standards. This is critical in our effort to reduce emissions generated
by heating and utility usage.
• The Student Recreation Center will receive a Silver LEED
certification, surpassing "basic" green building standards.
• For example, the Rec Center will feature formaldehyde-free plywood,
high levels of recycled content in the rubber sports flooring and
countertops. Materials excavated from the site will be reused on campus.
Half of the wood in the building was purchased locally. The building
will be 25-30% more energy efficient than typical construction. More
than 90% of construction waste is recycled.
• What we have learned from the Recreation Center is that "green
buildings" can and should be beautiful, maximizing light and air and
views. Not only do they consume fewer resources in construction and
operation, but they provide an uplifting environment.
• Wells Commons, to be completed one year from now, will also have a
Silver LEED certification.
• We have seen many energy improvements in residence halls during the
past several years. Lighting and heating in residence halls is being
modified to be "smarter." Lighting controls automatically turn lights
off when certain rooms are not occupied. Heating controls in residence
halls allow adjustment to prevent overheating, which has been a problem
over the years.
• Facilities Management is slowly repairing antiquated steam lines and
water lines. Repairs between 2003 and 2006 saved in excess of 8 million
gallons of water per year. These critical infrastructure repairs will
continue.
• We have added six hybrids to our motor vehicle fleet over the past two
years in a constant effort to increase fuel efficiency in the fleet.
• We have a new vehicle idling policy that prohibits drivers from
leaving vehicles idling on campus.
• Our custodial staff uses environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• Our Purchasing Department is adopting an Environmentally Friendly
Procurement Policy.
• UMaine uses technology and the latest in innovative thinking to
minimize our usage of electricity, and Alfond Arena is a good example.
New energy saving lights installed over the semester break will provide
tremendous long-term savings, and the high visibility of this facility
makes it a good place for us to model this kind of activity.
• Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs ("CFL's") were distributed earlier
today, courtesy of Vice President Janet Waldron. CFL's reduce energy
consumption dramatically. We encourage you to install them in your rooms
and other spaces. They really do make a difference.
• These are just a few of many, many examples of the steps we are taking
toward greater sustainability in our community.
• We have a group of enthusiastic students who manage the Green Campus
Initiative. They are working hard on recycling on campus with the
primary focus on residence halls, reducing UMaine's waste stream by 45
percent.
• The UMaine Sustainability Alliance is a collaboration of students,
faculty, and administrators who meet weekly, and in fact organized the
Earth Day agenda today. We encourage you to become involved in the
alliance, which was formed to coordinate all the environmental
stewardship activities on campus.
• Today is the beginning of what we might call UMaine's "Blue Goes
Green" campaign!
• Transportation will again be targeted because vehicles account for
roughly 14% of the university's carbon emissions. Last Fall, I approved
a policy that prohibits vehicle idling on campus.
• Today I am announcing a second vehicle-related effort, Campus Carpool.
This program will allow carpool groups to have free parking permits in
the parking lot of their choice. Special, preferential "carpool" spaces
will be designated in the lot selected. Emergency rides home are
guaranteed.
• The carpooling rules and regulations are described in a handout
located on one of the display tables.
• How does all this relate to Earth Day today?
• The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
creates a challenge for all of us. We are committed to reducing our
carbon emissions. How are we going to do it? There is no single roadmap
or plan.
• My broad strategic goals are to work with the UMaine Sustainability
Alliance, the Climate Change Institute and many dedicated, creative and
resourceful faculty members to:
1. Incorporate sustainability into the core curriculum;
2. To establish in our Strategic Plan that environmental responsibility
is a core mission of the University of Maine;
3. To ask students, faculty and administration, starting today, to
inventory all the resources on campus that can be brought to bear to
reduce our "environmental footprint";
4. To research alternative fuels and renewable fuels that can replace
the fossil fuels we burn in our steam plant;
5. To spend the next year measuring and recording our environmental
impacts, on and off the campus, in the areas of electricity consumption;
heating fuels; campus sprawl; transportation; stormwater and waste
disposal; and energy waste that occurs because of aged buildings and
infrastructure.
6. To develop a plan to achieve our environmental goals to reduce and
eventually eliminate carbon emissions; reduce energy costs; shift to
renewable sources of power and alternative fuels; continue to increase
recycling; continue to build and renovate to "green" building standards.
• I believe that we must address our environmental impacts in order to
remain true to our land grant heritage.
• It is your participation in Earth Day and beyond that will help the
university to develop its plan to achieve climate neutrality.
• Four community dialogues will start at 2:30 p.m., addressing how we
can "green" our Campus. Prior to that, UMaine graduate students Susan Kaspari and Leigh Stearns will discuss their findings from a study of
UMaine energy use. Susan and Leigh will speak at 2:15 p.m.
• Please participate in the discussions and sign up to help in future
projects. This is your campus and your planet, and we all need to work
together to keep them healthy and beautiful.
• Thank you for joining us here today and for participating in Earth Day
activities.
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