Mason Commits to Becoming Climate Neutral

By Broadside Correspondent Aaron Hartman

In July 2007, George Mason University’s president, Alan Merten, signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment , committing Mason to becoming climate neutral.

As stated on the ACUPCC website, “The commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming.”

In addition to helping realize Mason’s path to climate neutrality, an energy-efficiency contract initiated in 2004 with Siemens Building Technologies now saves Mason over $1 million every year just in utility costs.

Additionally, in 2007, Mason committed to constructing all new buildings to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver standard, which will make them 20 to 30 percent more efficient than a standard building.

In September 2008, the Office of Sustainability published Mason’s first greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. It estimated that Mason emitted 103,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in the 2006-2007 academic year. That is over 8,500 pounds per full-time “person” at Mason.

This spring, Mason is undertaking the challenging task of developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to map its path toward climate neutrality. The CAP Core Planning Committee (CPC) is leading an effort that will consist of five teams, each tackling a different aspect of Mason’s CO2-equivalent emissions, such as residential, travel, etc.

The goal is for each of these teams to complete the initial assessment and make recommendations by summer 2009.

For more information, visit http://green.gmu.edu/climate/cap.html.

Living the Green Life

Here are five easy ways to help reduce your carbon footprint:

•Reuse paper by using both sides

•Turn your water off when you brush your teeth, wash your hands or shave

•Reduce plastic ware use by using your own dishes

•Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones

•Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer by a couple degrees

Green Calendar

Tuesday, Feb. 10:
Visit the Environmental Awareness Group at Kiosk C in the Johnson Center to learn about the Patriot Green Fund 9 - 12 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11:
Second roundtable discussion in the Mason Energy Roundtable Series; The focus will be on liquid fuels (such as oil, biofuels and hydrogen), entitled “New Transport Fuels: The Road to Greener Pastures.”

Seating will begin at 7 p.m. in Research I, Room 163. For more details and to reserve a seat, please contact Colin Bennett in Mason’s Office of Sustainability at cbennet6@gmu.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 12:
Visit the Environmental Awareness Group at Kiosk C in the JC to learn about the Patriot Green Fund at 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 14:
Wear a green shirt and join in the Green Spirit at the basketball game when Mason plays Northeastern 12 p.m. at the Patriot Center.

Cheer for Climate Action t-shirts are available for only $6.50 at the Environmental Science & Policy office, 3043 David King Hall or from
Carrie Meyer, Department of Economics, cmeyer@gmu.edu. Games are free to students with a Mason ID.

For more green events, please visit: green.gmu.edu/calendar.
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Aaron Hartman is a GMU Sustainability Councilmember and Co-chair of the Energy and Climate Working Group.

Dan Waxman is the Sustainability Projects Manager for University Services and can be contacted at dwaxman@gmu.edu.
Know a green event that is coming soon, or want more information about sustainability? E-mail the Sustainability Office at gogreen@gmu.edu.