Today is Earth Day and it seems fitting to share an update about American Public University System’s (APUS) most recent sustainability initiatives and accomplishments.
Recycling is one of the most fundamental elements of sustainable practices. At APUS, we have had a recycling program for many years. A year ago, we expanded the program to include battery recycling using The Big Green Box program.
Today I had the honor of hosting the ribbon cutting event for American Public University System’s (APUS) latest addition to its Charles Town campus, a 1,660 panel solar array. The array is the largest solar project in the state of West Virginia and will produce approximately 480,000 kWh of energy.
It has been a little while since I’ve provided an update on American Public University System’s (APUS) sustainability efforts. There seems no better time to do so than Earth Day. Despite my lack of updates on this blog, the APUS Sustainability Committee has been working diligently and partnering with other groups on campus to promote sustainability and make APUS a greener place to work and learn.
On July 21st, the APUS Sustainability Committee hosted its First Annual Sustainability Summit. Since September 2007 when I signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), the APUS Sustainability Committee has been working diligently to find ways to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
The event was an opportunity to share ideas for promoting sustainability within higher education and within the communities in which college campuses are situated.
I attended The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual Executive Leadership Forum in Washington, DC and had the opportunity to listen to a panel discussing the pros and cons of signing the Presidents Climate Commitment. David Oxtoby, President of Pomona College and former Dean of Physical Sciences at the University of Chicago, made a point which was similar to my thinking that he had some reservations about his and any institution’s ability to achieve carbon neutrality but thought that the process of examining efforts and pledging a commitment was important.