The University of California was recognized by the California Sustainability Alliance last week when the environmental agency presented the UC system with its prestigious Excellence in Sustainability Showcase Award, an honor highlighting the university’s ongoing efforts to implement sustainable practices throughout its numerous campuses and research institutions.
Since 2002, the UC system has vowed commitment to a green campaign designed to bring the 10 campus system up to speed with modern sustainability practices and to place the university at the forefront of college-led environmental efforts. The UC Board of Regents approved the Green Building Policy and Clean Energy Standards in 2003, cementing this commitment into university policy.
‘Thanks to the leadership of students, faculty, staff and the regents, the University of California has embraced sustainability and continues to transform business practices to further reduce our environmental impact and fight global warming,’ UC President Mark G. Yudof said in a statement. ‘We’re grateful for this recognition of our efforts and hope that it will help to bring more attention to sustainability efforts throughout California.’
The regents’ adoption of these policies has since resulted in efforts throughout the UC system to implement energy-saving technology in new and existing buildings, invest in local renewable-energy sources such as solar and hydrogen power and cut greenhouse-gas admissions dramatically over the next decade.
Initiated several years ago as a student-led environmental campaign aligned with global environmentalist organization Greenpeace, the university’s attempts at adopting green-oriented policy have since gained national attention for the public higher education system. The Princeton Review named the University of California among its most ‘green’ colleges last year, while several environmental agencies have recognized the university as a leader in sustainability projects.
At UCSD, Vice Chancellor of Resource Management and Planning Gary C. Matthews has overseen a number of sustainability initiatives, including the construction of solar panels atop several campus parking structures and the installation of two 1.2 megawatt hydrogen cells on east campus. Additionally, the recent passage of the A.S. student activity fee referendum will provide several thousand dollars in funding to the upcoming campus Sustainability Center, an initiative approved by administrators last year that will serve as a central resource for various student environmental organizations on campus.
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