University of Richmond president signs climate commitment

I just returned from an international trip (perhaps I will blog about that later). I was greatly pleased to receive the following news. Of course, my immediate thought was- WHAT ABOUT VCU?

University of Richmond president signs climate commitment

January 21, 2008

University of Richmond President Edward L. Ayers has signed an agreement

committing the university to sharply reducing and eventually eliminating all

of its global warming emissions and accelerating research and educational

efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

Ayers signed the American College & University Presidents Climate

Commitment, joining leaders of hundreds of other institutions across the

country.

Under the agreement, the university will create a comprehensive

institutional action plan to move toward climate neutrality.

Ayers noted a number of new and ongoing efforts on campus to build on the

university’s commitment to sustainability, including the installation last

summer of laundry equipment in residence halls that will save a million

gallons of water a year, use of biodiesel in campus transportation equipment

and a plan to switch to a more efficient heating system in student

apartments.

In addition, Weinstein Hall is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design (LEED)-certified building, and the university has registered four

additional projects for certification with the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED certification means the project has met a set of nationally recognized

standards for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.

The Presidents Climate Commitment is the first such effort by any major

sector of society to set climate neutrality—not just a reduction—as its

target. The undertaking by America’s colleges and universities was inspired

by similar efforts by U.S. mayors and other collective efforts by states and

businesses.

Under the guidance and direction of the Leadership Circle of Presidents, the

American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment is supported

by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Second Nature and ecoAmerica.