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Campus Sustainability Leaders Recognized
During Earth Week
Pat Jacoby | April 16, 2007
From supporting a 100 percent biodiesel shuttle bus
test program to an ongoing quest for energy efficient
buildings, students, staff, faculty, and alumni of
UC San Diego are engaged in all-out sustainability
efforts.
An awards ceremony to honor leaders in these sustainability
endeavors was held at noon today in the Price Center to
mark the beginning of Earth Week April 16-20.
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox presented 10 recycled glass
trophies to the award winners, including a leadership
in sustainability champion and undergraduate students,
graduate students, staff individuals and staff teams,
faculty, and alumni.
The winners were selected under the auspices of the
UCSD Advisory Committee on Sustainability, chaired
by George Tynan, professor of mechanical and aerospace
engineering. More than 30 individuals and groups were
nominated. Award winners are:
The Leadership in Sustainability Award was presented
to Gary Matthews, assistant vice chancellor,
Auxiliary and Plant Services. Proactive in
terms of becoming green before it is required, Matthews
is open to exploring new ideas. He is working with
the Biofuels Awareness and Action Network (BAAN) student
organization, through a Chancellor’s Interdisciplinary
Collaboratories Grant, to run one campus bus with
100 percent biodiesel and to do an economic and emissions
study on it. Called the “Greenline,” the
bus serves the Hillcrest Medical Center shuttle route.
Matthews also works closely with the UC Office of
the President in sustainability related areas.
Student Tim Haag, an economics major and environmental studies minor, has analyzed the benefits of sending food wastes from UCSD dining halls to the city of San Diego to be composted. His findings are being examined by a group of UCSD senior managers and directors and his research is considered a crucial beginning point.
Student Ellie Kim is majoring in environmental systems with a focus on ecology, behavior, and evolution. Passionate about conservation as a form of sustainability, Kim has created statistical banners for UCSD Dining Halls and informational signage in campus laundry rooms. She worked with Affiliate Housing to develop an informational brochure for residents explaining the different ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The UCSD Chapter of Net Impact, a global organization that strives to use the power of business to positively affect the environment, actively organizes local outreach and informational events, including panel discussions on new technologies, community volunteer activities, and site visits to local environmental and sustainable businesses. Chapter members are graduate students at the Rady School of Management and International Relations and Pacific Studies.
Dave Decaro, principle publications coordinator
of UCSD Dining Services, came up with the
idea and created the original artwork for Major Planet
and Toby the Wonder Dog, sustainability mascots for
Housing & Dining Services. The mascots act as
spokespersons on energy conservation and sustainability
goals.
Jim Ruby, garage manager, Fleet Services,
has guided the transition to 20 percent biodiesel
on all diesel campus shuttles and is working to get
electric vehicles powered by solar panels on the roof
of the Fleet Services Campus Garage. Along with Assistant
Vice Chancellor Matthews, he is supporting the “Greenline”
100% biodiesel shuttle bus test program.
The staff team from UCSD Housing and Dining
Maintenance Division recognizes the need
and importance of conservation efforts and the efficient
use of resources during its everyday operation. It
strives to minimize the consumption of energy, water
and other resources by eliminating wasteful practices
and promoting efficient use. For example, motion sensors
have been installed in common areas like restrooms
so that lights are only on where there are people.
Participating in the San Diego Gas and Electric energy-efficient
equipment replacement program in 2006, the Maintenance
Division received rebates totaling $26,950. Older,
inefficient electrical equipment is being replaced
with energy-saving appliances such as refrigerators.
Materials are recycled as much as possible and there
are ongoing efforts to explore new areas for conservation.
Through Rideshare Operations, the
UCSD/MTS has subsidized the Free Bus Zone that provides
unlimited free rides to faculty, staff, and students
on all MTS routes serving UCSD. The Free Bus Zone
has become UCSD’s most popular sustainable transportation
program enabling riders to reach numerous city destinations.
UCSD Alumna Nicole Kennard is the president of New Leaf Biofuel, a local biodiesel company that uses recycled oil as the main raw material. She is a community advisor of the UCSD student organization, the Biofuels Awareness and Action Network, and is helping San Diego become more sustainable by reducing the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.
Paul Linden, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and currently chair of the department, is a main proponent of the environmental engineering program. His research is in the area of making energy efficient buildings and environmental flows and his motto is that “all engineers should be environmental engineers.” |
