College Campuses Go Green

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  Oglethorpe juniors Stephen Germany (right) and Duo Zhou roll tires from a stream in Lithonia for a clean-up project with Rivers Alive during Hands On Atlanta Day last October. (Photo by Mark Delong).

Atlanta’s colleges and universities are making special initiatives to improve the quality and care of the environment, both on their campuses and in the greater Atlanta community. School administrators and academics have taken note of the need for improvements in air quality, sustainable development and environmentally responsible living. Institutions of higher education are currently engaging students, faculty and staff in the challenge, and now they want to engage you too.

Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College is currently breaking ground on a new campus chapel, which will be constructed using environmentally safe materials. Existing campus structures, such as Buttrick Hall, have been recently renovated to improve air quality by replacing window glass and ventilation systems. Agnes Scott’s mission statement includes the college’s dedication to reducing its impact on the environment, as well as leading the community on a path toward healthier, more environmentally responsible living.

Starting last fall, Agnes Scott students developed an Environmental Residents program to promote environmentally friendly living in residence halls. The Environmental Residents work closely with the Green Earth Organization to promote activism and awareness. Along with the students, Agnes Scott faculty and staff have joined forces in a Clean Air Campaign to conserve energy via promoting the use of public transportation and carpooling.

The president of Agnes Scott, Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, created the "Scottie Green Team" composed of staff, faculty and students to focus on environmental initiatives, planning and semester programming.

Emory University
As an early pioneer of green building, Emory University is a national model for environmentally responsible universities. Emory currently has more Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified buildings than any other campus in the nation. Residence halls currently under construction will not only be LEED-certified, but also will hold energy monitors in the lobby of each building to help residents keep track of how much energy they are consuming.

This year Emory has made an even greater "green" commitment by creating a sustainability committee, as well as an aggressive, 10-year strategic plan to reduce energy emission, improve air quality, provide locally grown organic food in campus dining halls and divert more than half of campus waste from landfills to recycling.

Emory also specializes in green transportation. The Cliff Shuttles travel not only on campus, but also around the Emory area, using 100 percent alternative fuel. These shuttles are free for anyone who wants to hitch a responsible ride. Coming this spring, the Bicycle Campaign will advocate for an increase in safe paths for bikers and pedestrians, as well as offering clinics to raise awareness regarding the risks of fuel emissions. Students will lead a bulb swap in which regular light bulbs will be traded for energy-saving bulbs. During Earth Week April 14 - 21 Emory will hold a Sustainability Fair as well as a number of other environmental activities.

Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University’s commitment to sustainable growth is demonstrated by recent upgrades in existing school buildings as well as in plans for future expansion. Last fall, Oglethorpe upgraded all light bulbs on campus to energy-saving bulbs, replaced windows with high-quality insulated glass, and installed state-of-the-art heating/cooling systems to improve air quality. A new dormitory, the North-South Residence Hall, opened in the fall of 2006 designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, yet it was constructed from recycled granite to maintain the architectural character of the university.

Oglethorpe’s student environmental club, ECOS (Environmentally Concerned Oglethorpe Students), has led the campus in ongoing recycling efforts.

Oglethorpe students have participated in the annual River Rendezvous event for the past four years, helping to clean and preserve wetlands for the local wildlife. This spring, members of the Oglethorpe community – students, professors, staff – will be volunteering with Trees Atlanta, as well as planning fun and informative Earth Week activities.

Spelman College
In October Spelman College began construction on a LEED-certified, "green" residence hall that is designed to minimize energy and water consumption and will serve as a model on campus for green maintenance, housekeeping and landscaping. "We are building for the next hundred years," said President Beverly Daniel Tatum at Spelman’s Opening Convocation last August. "We have to pay attention to our environmental impact and educate our community to [do the same]."

Under the guidance of Victor Madu Ibeanusi, chairman of the Environmental Science and Studies Department, many Spelman students are jumping aboard the green train. A student organization known as the Environmental Task Force recently issued a recycling survey to assess the levels of awareness and participation among the Spelman community.

Because of the recent green activities at Spelman, the college was selected to host a "Green Healthy Facilities and Building Training" workshop last month for minority facility management and building professionals. Industry experts advised trainees on topics such as improving air quality, recycling and green facilities management.

Spelman’s recent green initiatives have even captured the attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The college has partnered with the EPA since 1993 on a collaborative effort and commitment to improving environmental conditions.