2008 Woodie Awards
President Chabotar signs American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment
Tim Cox
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
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This May, President Kent Chabotar signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging Guilford College to increased efforts in reducing it's climate impact.
To date, 347 college and university presidents have signed the agreement. Guilford College was the fourth North Carolina institution to sign and the first Quaker-founded institution.
According to www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org, the agreement's official Web site, the Presidents Climate commitment is a "high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate."
The commitment requires that Guilford create a comprehensive inventory of carbon gas emissions within one year and develop an action plan for achieving climate neutrality within two years.
The commitment also requires that Guilford initiate at least two efforts to reduce emissions while the comprehensive plan is under development. Such efforts could include the purchase of ENERGY STAR products, which are government-certified to use less energy, which are government-certified to use less energy.
"We're one of the only schools that had the trustees approve it before I signed it," said Chabotar. "We're making a long-term commitment; it's got to transcend presidents."
Passing and implementing the efforts called for by the commitment has required cooperation from staff, faculty, and students.
"Being green is being a good steward of the environment and our resources, and everyone should be part of that," said Project Sustainability Manager Rex Harrell.
"The key thing to remember with the Presidents Climate Commitment is that it's not anything so much new, it's taking and pulling together all the things we were already doing," said Jon Varnell, associate vice-president of operations and facilities.
To date, 347 college and university presidents have signed the agreement. Guilford College was the fourth North Carolina institution to sign and the first Quaker-founded institution.
According to www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org, the agreement's official Web site, the Presidents Climate commitment is a "high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate."
The commitment requires that Guilford create a comprehensive inventory of carbon gas emissions within one year and develop an action plan for achieving climate neutrality within two years.
The commitment also requires that Guilford initiate at least two efforts to reduce emissions while the comprehensive plan is under development. Such efforts could include the purchase of ENERGY STAR products, which are government-certified to use less energy, which are government-certified to use less energy.
"We're one of the only schools that had the trustees approve it before I signed it," said Chabotar. "We're making a long-term commitment; it's got to transcend presidents."
Passing and implementing the efforts called for by the commitment has required cooperation from staff, faculty, and students.
"Being green is being a good steward of the environment and our resources, and everyone should be part of that," said Project Sustainability Manager Rex Harrell.
"The key thing to remember with the Presidents Climate Commitment is that it's not anything so much new, it's taking and pulling together all the things we were already doing," said Jon Varnell, associate vice-president of operations and facilities.
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