WVU gets ‘B’ for ‘green’ efforts
BY CASSIE SHANER The Dominion Post
TO SEE WVU’s 2010 Sustainability Report Card, go to dominion post.com and click on the link. Official: Grade shows move in right direction WVU’s eco-friendly efforts have earned a “B” on the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s 2010 Sustainability Report Card. A total of 332 colleges and universities across the country received grades. The report card evaluates each school’s performance in nine areas that affect sustainability, including administration, transportation, energy use, student involvement and building practices. WVU is one of 67 schools that earned a “B” grade. A total of 202 schools scored below WVU, and 63 scored higher. WVU earned a “C+” last year. Lea Lupkin, a communications fellow for the Sustainable Endowments Institute, said WVU improved its score by getting more students involved, launching a car-sharing program and entering the second phase of a performance-based energy reduction program. “They’ve also drafted an institutionwide sustainability policy, which is a big step up from the position statement they had in 2007,” Lupkin said. Clement Solomon, director of sustainability for WVU, said the university’s score shows it’s moving in the right direction. The administration is taking sustainability seriously, and officials are working together to make positive improvements that will benefit WVU’s future.
“It’s about being smart with your money, being smart about the environment and being socially conscious,” Solomon said. “Who wouldn’t want to do that?” Solomon said WVU will celebrate Campus Sustainability Day on Oct. 21. A plaque will be mounted at Oglebay Hall to recognize the building’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The sustainability office, WVU’s Student Government Association (SGA) and Mountaineer Maniacs also plan to launch a campuswide pledge campaign. Cassie Werner, executive director of the Mountaineer Maniacs, said the organization is promoting WVU’s sustainability efforts as part of a community outreach program that began this year. Its members will hand out flyers, produce videos for sporting events and post messages on Facebook and Twitter to help out. “We’re trying to make students aware that just by doing one or two small things, you can make a huge difference,” Werner said. SGA member Taylor Richmond said WVU’s green grade boosts the university’s image and sets an example for the state. “Even though we’re a land-grant university in the coal belt, it doesn’t mean we can’t improve ourselves and be greener,” Richmond said. WVU earned an “A” for its administrative policies, student involvement, on-campus transportation programs and investment priorities. WVU earned a “B” in the remaining categories, except two. It got an “F” for endowment transparency, a “D” for shareholder engagement. Solomon said WVU is considering many initiatives that could improve its score in the future, but he couldn’t think of a specific example. “There’s always room to improve,” Solomon said. “This is a journey and a work in progress. We will be constantly looking for ways to innovate.” Lupkin said WVU could improve its score by spending more of its food budget on local foods, offering reusable food containers to students and making WVU Foundation records available to the public. “Even offering access to select individuals would bump WVU up to a ‘D’ or ‘C,’ ” Lupkin said. The Sustainable Endowments Institute is a nonprofit organization that aims to advance sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices. Lupkin said the WVU Foundation’s endowment was valued at $315 million as of June 30, 2008, making it one of the top 300 college endowments in the nation.