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.

Last year, Guilford undertook sustainability projects such as the installation of waterless urinals and increased recycling efforts. Solar panels were installed on Shore hall as another green project.

“The biggest issue that is different is the greenhouse gas inventory, where we have to figure out what our carbon footprint is,” said Varnell, “And based on that footprint, how do we then begin to bring the reductions that the plan calls for to become carbon neutral.”

“The part that I’m most interested in is seeing how students can help the campus meet the requirements,” said Assistant Professor of geology and environmental studies coordinator Angie Moore.

One way is Moore’s Environmental Pollution course, in which students will in catalogue Guilford’s carbon gas emissions.

President Chabotar is not worried about the financial aspects of increased sustainability efforts.

“You can in fact save money by investing early on in environmental protection and energy conservation and the payback period is not that long,” said Chabotar.

“The idea of saving money and protecting the environment, I mean who can be against that, right? At this day in time, being an environmental advocate is a no-brainer in my view.