GCBL just completed a major overhaul of our section covering University Initiatives. In addition to a comprehensive climate neutrality toolkit and a best practices list, nearly every university in our seven-county region has a page summarizing their campus sustainability initiatives.

The vast majority of campuses in the area are increasing efficiency of buildings in order to save money on heating and cooling while decreasing their carbon footprint. Public colleges in particular are being required to lower building energy consumption by 20% by 2014 because of House Bill 251 signed by Governor Ted Strickland in January of 2007.

We have also found that the campuses with the strongest programs are those that solicit input from students, faculty, and staff, usually in the form of an Environmental Committee. The people that live and work on campus every day know a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of their institution and are in an important position to contribute ideas to make their campus more sustainable.