Sustainability News!
Sustainable sharing lives at new USU Web pages
Author: Matthew K. Jensen, The Herald Journal, Logan
The issues affecting the environment are as diverse and scattered as their own solutions, but Utah State University's Sustainability Council has created a new Web site and Wiki page that enable students and community members to gather in one place to share ideas and information.
Council chair Nat Frazer, dean of the College of Natural Resources, says USU is one of 558 schools engaged in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
"In the end, our society's response to the challenges of sustainability will be made at the individual level," he said.
The new Web site, he added, can act as a clearing house for information on issues such as air quality, energy, transportation and the major topics of this popular discussion.
Frazer says USU's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint will directly improve one of Cache Valley's most pressing issues — air quality.
"In addition, students will now have both an in-class and out-of-class experience at USU," said Frazer, explaining how when students get involved in sustainability issues they're getting a dual education. "There's a lot going on at USU in this regard. The College of Agriculture, for example, has created an organic garden where excess produce can be sold to the general public."
The dean listed several examples when the Web site and Wiki will connect problems to solutions.
"I think a lot of people here want to use compact fluorescent light bulbs but are reluctant because they contain mercury," he said. "So we're going to put a link on our Web site to the Logan city Web site which will assist residents in recycling the bulbs and extracting the mercury before the they go to the landfill.
The site can be accessed at sustainability.usu.edu.
———
E-mail:
mjensen@hjnews.com
Copyright 2008 Cache Valley Publishing LLC
Record Number: 20080902030057716716.raw