GW Releases Major Environmental Reports

During the Fall 2008 semester, GW released two major environmental reports. The first one, released in the summer of 2008, was the report of GW’s Sustainability Task Force. That report summarizes the work of a group of GW faculty, students and staff who participated in weekly meetings over the September 2007-May 2008 time frame. E&EM professor Jonathan Deason and E&EM graduate student Brian Krausz were heavily involved in that effort.

The Task Force evaluated the University’s existing academic and administrative programs and developed recommendations addressing energy conservation, resource and waste management, sustainability awareness, research programs, learning/curricular opportunities, procurement policies, and service initiatives and partnerships. The final report of the Task Force can be seen by clicking here.

The second report was the result of President Steven Knapp’s signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. On November 6, 2008, the University submitted its first status report to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education—committing to three immediate actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.

In the status report, GW agreed to adopt an energy-efficient appliance policy requiring purchase of Energy Star-certified products; encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty members, staff, students and visitors; and participate in the waste minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, while adopting three or more associated measures to reduce waste.

Other major environmental achievements at GW that have resulted from the efforts described in the reports include:
• Recognition of GW by the National Wildlife Federation in its Campus Environment 2008 report
• Entry of GW into the National Council on Science and the Environment and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education during the spring 2008 semester
• Creation of a campus-wide recycling and conservation initiative, details of which can be seen at http://www.gwu.edu/hr/g@w
• Reinvigoration of several student conservation groups, details of which can be seen at http://www.sustainability.gwu.edu/student_groups
• Involvement in the National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment