The University of California was recently recognized by Sierra Magazine as one of the nation’s front-runners in efforts to contain and prevent many of the adverse effects that energy consumption and waste disposal have on the environment.
In its most recent issue, Sierra Magazine ranked the UC as No. 4 on a list of the nation’s 10 most environmentally friendly and sustainable schools, following Oberlin College, Harvard University and Warren Wilson College. UC is the highest-ranked public institution,
Jennifer Hattam, senior associate editor of the magazine, said there was a long list of criteria for selecting the top schools, including the environmental sustainability of the universities’ buildings, transportation, recycling, dining and residential programs, and computer education programs.
Matt St. Clair, sustainability manager at the UC Office of the President, said green buildings and clean energy are just a few components of the UC’s environmental sustainability policy.
St. Clair said many universities in the UC system have buildings that are certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a program sponsored by the United States Green Building Council.
Criteria for LEED include the sustainability of the site of building, accessibility to the building, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, and indoor and environmental quality, St. Clair said.
At UCLA, La Kretz Hall is LEED-approved, and the university plans to renovate Rieber Hall to meet LEED requirements.
St. Clair said UCLA was also recognized for its transportation programs.
“UCLA has a very good vanpool program and some other great alternative transportation programs,” he said.
LaDonna Lewis, a fourth-year political science student, said though she appreciates the university’s efforts to be environment-friendly, she would like to see more classes about the environment. She said she thinks the majority of students care about environmental issues but aren’t very well-informed.
James Gibson, director of the Office of Environment, Health, and Safety at UCLA, said the university abides by both state and local environment regulations and has a comprehensive waste recycling program.
“Instead of disposing of the materials as waste, a lot of the flammable wastes that we no longer need are actually producing energy through fuels blending,” Gibson said.
The university also works with the city of Los Angeles to operate a voluntary household waste program that allows people from the community to bring in and dispose of “anything that might be considered toxic that might otherwise go into the normal trash,” Gibson said.
These items include but are not limited to electronics that contain mercury and may lead to groundwater contamination, and any kind of solvents such as paint thinners.
“They stay out of the landfills and prevent the groundwater from being polluted,” Gibson said, adding that the university’s recycling program is part of its the mission to protect the environment.
“I think that the UC system has been at the forefront of environmental awareness and protection for quite some time,” he said.
St. Clair said the university is also involved in reducing the emission of harmful gases.
The UC and California state law both require the universities in the system to reduce their greenhouse gases emissions to the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2020, St. Clair said. UC Berkeley has developed a climate action plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to the level produced in 1990 by the year 2014.
“They’re trying to achieve this goal six years ahead of the rest of the universities and the rest of the state,” St. Clair said. “It’s good leadership and it’s also something that other universities in the country are emulating.”
St. Clair said another environmental sustainability program involves changes in the food services at UCLA.
“They’ve been starting by changing some of the food vendors,” he said.
For example, vendors provide bulk ketchup instead of individual packets.
UC Santa Cruz has implemented a sustainable food project.
“25 to 30 percent of the produce in the dining halls on campus come from cooperative local farms,” St. Clair said. “The farmers and chefs plan menus together.”
Hattam said this is the first year Sierra Magazine is recognizing environmentally friendly campuses nationwide and reports will be published annually.