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6/4/07

SLU STUDENT CENTER TO BE POWERED WITH 'GREEN' ENERGY

CANTON - St. Lawrence University's Student Center is going green in 2007-2008, powered by sustainable energy. It is estimated that the center accounts for 7 percent of total electricity use on campus.

The student Environmental Awareness Organization (EAO) began the initiative, conducting research on their own and with faculty from the environmental studies department. Backed with signatures from 650 students supporting the initiative, EAO proposed the matter to the student government organization, the Thelomathesian Society, which approved funding. Following a presentation by student government President Jasper Burch '08, of Concord, MA, the program was accepted by the University's Board of Trustees at its meeting in May.

University President Daniel F. Sullivan has announced that in support of the initiative, St. Lawrence will purchase half of the electricity necessary to power the Johnson Hall of Science, set to open in the fall, as wind power, providing a sustainable resource for two of the largest buildings on campus for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

"We will be considering many ways we can rely more on sustainable energy after this one-year pilot program, both for the Student Center and Johnson Hall, as well as for other campus facilities," President Sullivan stated. "I add my congratulations and thanks to those of the Board to the Thelomathesian Society for their farsighted commitment."

"Green energy," as supplied by St. Lawrence's energy company, Constellation Energy, is energy produced from wind, solar, hydroelectric or biomass sources. Such sources have significantly lower impact on the environment than traditional energy sources, such as coal and oil.

Vice President of EAO Erin Griffin '09, of Redford, NY, says, "Purchasing green energy is simply an option on the electric bill. It costs one extra cent per kilowatt hour. Next semester, the Student Center will be powered by energy coming from more sustainable sources than coal and oil, and the carbon emissions from these sources will be near zero. Since this is simply another option on the energy bill, no structural renovations were needed."

EAO raised funds for the project, with $500 coming from the sale of travel mugs to the St. Lawrence community. The fund-raiser had the additional goal of encouraging people to use fewer disposable items. An additional $300 was raised from a drawing for a kayak, held during the Step It Up! Rally in April, organized by the Coalition for Climate Change. The Thelomathesian Society approved funding of $5,200 for the project.

The Conservation Council at St. Lawrence, a committee including faculty, staff and student representatives, worked with EAO on the project and approved of the plan, as part of the development of a wide-ranging Environmental Action Plan now under way.

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More information: The St. Lawrence University Green Pages