hile Owl Blue reigns supreme, Southern will note the growing influence of a new color thanks to a heightened commitment to “Going Green.” Southern has long focused on sustainability. But, in recent years, efforts to create a greener campus have increased, positioning Southern as a leader in the environmental arena.

Large windows bring in natural light into the newly expanded Hilton C. Buley Library.

In 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the university for its efforts to control spiraling energy costs. Last fall, President Cheryl J. Norton signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, which calls for educational institutions to bolster their environmental efforts by improving energy efficiency and conservation, and, ultimately, implementing a plan to create a climate neutral campus. (Climate neutrality is achieved through conservation, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and using carbon offset purchases to counter remaining emissions.) President Norton became a “charter signatory” to the commitment by signing before Sept. 15 when implementation officially began.

“We are dedicated to being a good citizen for the betterment of our local communities, the state, the nation, and indeed the world,” says President Norton. “Southern has been and will continue to be a leader in being environmentally responsible.”

Following are some of the ways the university community has united to create a greener campus for the benefit of students, faculty, staff, and the community-at-large.

Learning to Live

With an eye on educating tomorrow’s leaders, Southern offers undergraduate programs in marine and environmental studies; social perspectives of environmental concerns; and earth systems inquiry using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At the graduate level, master’s programs are offered in ecosystems and environmental concerns, environmental design, energy use, and climate change.

Many students also focus their research on wildlife and energy conservation. Past studies have investigated the monk parakeet population, wind-turbine feasibility, the Asian shore crab, the Long Island Sound American Lobster, the level of metal contamination along the Connecticut coastline, and habitat diversity conservation.

Building a Better World

Student research often focuses on the environment.

Completed in 2004, Southern’s new Energy Center uses ultra-low sulfur fuel, is 40 percent more efficient than the previous center, and has reduced pollutants by 50 percent. The end result? On a typical day, the center saves 1,000 gallons of fuel.

The West Campus Residence Complex, which opened in 2004, is equally impressive. Home to 350 students, this newest residence hall on campus was granted Green Building Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. West Campus was one of the first two buildings administered by the State Department of Public Works to attain this designation, which was issued through the council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. “This project minimizes air pollution, results in better indoor air quality, and saves the university a considerable amount of money,” says Robert Sheeley, Southern’s associate vice president for capital budgeting and facilities operations. “That savings allows us to spend more of our limited resources on educational programs for our students.”

Looking forward, all new projects costing $5 million or more in construction will be LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, as mandated by state guidelines. New buildings will be several stories high, making development compact. And to further preserve space, new construction proposed in the master plan will strive to use previously developed building sites.

Power to the People

Energy conservation measures have been implemented throughout campus. These include placing “energy misers” on campus vending machines to reduce refrigeration costs; installing 3,000 motion detectors on lights throughout campus; using motion devices to initiate water flow in campus restrooms; and employing “easy save” devices on all computer center computers to “power down” monitors after a period of non-activity. For further energy savings, building temperatures are regulated by energy management. One more bright idea: new fluorescent lighting, which saves 12 percent more energy than former fixtures.

A view of West Campus Residence Complex.

Efforts like these, combined with the greatly enhanced operation of Southern’s new Energy Center, have reaped substantial rewards. Southern consumed less electricity in 2007 than it did in 2000 — despite adding new buildings, installing air conditioning in existing facilities, and adding additional security lighting.

Energy Purchasing

Rates negotiated with Southern Connecticut Gas allow the university to purchase gas at a significantly lower cost and quickly switch between oil and gas when fuel prices become volatile.

The university is currently purchasing 5 percent green electricity.

The Beautiful Blue Bin

The campus-recycling program has been expanded under the direction of a full-time coordinator, Heather Stearns. “People naturally associate recycling with paper, bottles, and cans,” says Stearns, “but at Southern, we recycle so much more.” Among these item are office paper, newspaper, cans, bottles, plastics, cardboard, light bulbs, batteries, mineral spirits, leaves and grass clippings, scrap metal, computers and other electronics, cell phones, motor oil, and, in the near future, concrete.

Pilot bottle- and can-recycling programs also have been established in residence halls and at the student center. Building on these initiatives, special programs are held throughout the year, including a “denim drive” (80 items were collected last spring) and on-campus visits from Goodwill Industries to collect gently used clothing and household items.

The impact of Southern’s stepped-up recycling initiative has been significant. From January to June 2007, the volume of mixed office paper recycled on campus increased 36 percent, in comparison with the previous six months. The volume of bottles and cans recycled increased 33 percent during the same period.

In the future, Stearns hopes additional programs and a heightened marketing initiative will reap further rewards. “We want everyone to know that Southern is committed to being a green campus,” says Stearns.

Good Eating

Project Green Thumb encourages dinners to eat healthy rather than excessive portions of food. Next fall, even tableware will get a green makeover, thanks to the Biomass program. Look for salad bowls made from corn and utensils made from potato starch, both of which will replace plastic tableware. The new bowls and utensils will be biodegradable.

Get Moving!

With an eye on reducing emissions from personal vehicles, the university operates a free shuttle system that connects with New Haven’s and Hamden’s mass transit systems, as well as New Haven’s Union Station. This spring, a pilot shuttle program provided students with free public transportation to downtown New Haven and area shopping establishments.

Parking has been revamped as well. New parking garages capture oil and gas runoff so that they are contained and separated from water that seeps into storm drains. And for pedestrians, an ongoing program maintains sidewalks and makes walking convenient by installing benches, bike racks, and signage.

Student Support

Teams of students, administrators, members of the community, and New Haven police officers took part in Southern’s Day of Service on Sept. 8, collecting a total of six tons of trash from throughout New Haven. Capping off a commendable effort, the students also enjoyed their first ever “Zero Waste Picnic.”

The Environmental Futurists, a student group that focuses on improving environmental policies and practices on campus, has been cited by the city of New Haven and the state of Connecticut for its efforts. Among the group’s many initiatives are organizing neighborhood cleanups, building a greenhouse to grow produce for local food pantries, and planting an organic campus garden, which will be used primarily to feed low-income families.

“We’re very proud of the fact that our students are being acknowledged for their environmental awareness and activism,” says President Norton. “As a public university, we have an obligation to lead the way in promoting the community’s responsibility to protect the environment and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources.” N

Dollars and Sense

The university placed “sleeper devices” on 2,600 computers across campus.

Annual savings: approximately $300,000

Previously, soda vending machine refrigeration systems ran round the clock. “Energy miser” devises were installed on vending machines, which turned on the refrigeration compressors only when necessary.

Annual Savings: approximately $40,000

Motion detectors, which turn lights on and off, were installed in 3,000 rooms across campus. The detectors turn lights on for custodians and other workers and darken the rooms when the work is done. Annual savings: approximately $1.5 million

More changes that are making a difference

• The use of green-certified glass, floor, and all-purpose cleaners help Southern stay clean and green.

• All residence hall room walls are now painted with zero-VOC, low odor, and silica-free latex paints, which meet green guidelines.

• Electronic faucets and flushometers have been installed in many areas to minimize water usage, with more slated to be added.

• The university has implemented an environmentally friendly products purchasing policy, from letterhead and envelopes printed on recycled paper to markers, binders, and retractable gel pens.