University gets greener: sustainability improves

For 2009, Ohio State makes the "green" grade.

Overall, OSU earns a "B" on the College Sustainability Report Card 2009, which evaluates sustainability in campus operations and endowment investments, according to the Sustainable Endowments Institute press release.

For the third consecutive year, OSU increases its grade on the independently-conducted report card after receiving a "C" in 2007 and a "C+" in 2008.

Kate Bartter Arnold, associate director of the OSU Institute for Energy and the Environment, said the steady improvement is the result of hard work.

"This is not by accident, this (is) by design," Arnold said. "We have tried to make sustainability a campus-wide theme."

OSU also received a "B" in the subcategory of student involvement, according to the Green Report Card Web site.

The report card applauded OSU for its employment of eight part-time students to work primarily on sustainability projects through independent research and in direct assistance to the Office of Energy Services and Sustainability.

Hudson McFann, president of Students for a Sustainable Campus, sees the "B" as a mark of improvement from the past, and a mark to improve for the future.

"We have a long way to go," McFann said. "I feel that we are taking steps in the right direction."

McFann said he would like to see OSU student groups employ a more synergetic effort toward sustainability initiatives.

"One of the biggest challenges is that the groups are fragmented," McFann said. "It can be pretty daunting for one student group to get things done at a university this large."

One of OSU's four subcategory "A" grades was given to OSU's administrative effort to promote campus sustainability initiatives, according to the Green Report Card Web site.

Moreover, the report card specifically cites President Gee's signing of the Presidents Climate Commitment and the 2006 creation of the Office of Energy Services and Sustainability, which employs six full-time staff, as strong indicators of OSU's commitment toward promoting sustainability in campus operations.

"The administrative effort is there," McFann said.

Natalie Gawronski, president of Students for Recycling, credits much of the success of the annual Dump and Run yard sale to the involvement of OSU's administrative offices.

"We could not have done the sale without the dedicated help of the Office of Student Life as well as help from several members of Facilities, Operations and Development Department," Gawronski said in an e-mail. "Dump and Run is a great example of how OSU is moving towards 'Scarlet, Gray, and Green.' "

Arnold said she agrees that the relationship between the administration and the student population is productive.

"Many of our students are passionate about this," Arnold said. "[The students] are a great example of the leadership at OSU."

Although University of Michigan received a "B" on the 2009 report card as well, OSU received four subcategory "A's," whereas, the University of Michigan received only three subcategory "A's," according to the Green Report Card Web site.

McFann has a few suggestions to help OSU get an overall green "A" for the 2010 report card.

"There needs to be better communication between student groups," McFann said. "I would also like to see a campus switch to organic alternatives."

Moreover, Gawronski said a recent Scarlet, Gray, and Green program initiative is beginning to make a difference in OSU culture.

"Introducing students to concepts of sustainability from the moment they start their freshman year encourage people to begin making small changes in their lives to promote sustainability," Gawronski said.

Ultimately, McFann said he sees the annual report card as a challenge for OSU.

"We need to be a leader," McFann said. "We shouldn't just be playing catch up."

Amber Phelps can be reached at phelps.84@osu.edu.