Submitted on October 15, 2009; last updated on October 16, 2009
Towson University has targeted to become carbon neutral by 2050.
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The mitigation strategies associated with each emission source are organized into the following four main categories: Community Involvement, Green Building Construction, Conservation/Optimization, and Investment. The implementation strategy has been defined using a timeline that includes 5 distinct phases. Phase I consists of the first five years of the plan ending in 2015, while Phase II consists of the next five years thereafter ending in 2020. It is during these first two phases that Towson University shall focus its attention on the implementation of strategies (typically identified in the Community Involvement and Conservation/Optimization categories) that require low investment and offer high returns. This implementation strategy will not only begin to reduce GHG emissions campus-wide, but allow for an operational savings from the associated energy usage reductions. The financial savings that are achieved through energy reduction from Community Involvement and Conservation Optimization can be reinvested to acquire higher efficiency equipment and institute campus activities that lower GHG emissions and continue to reduce per capita expenditures. As increasing amounts of capital are saved, Towson University can transition into Phase’s III, IV, and V, years ending 2030, 2040 and 2050 respectively. It is during these three phases that more innovative, higher capital intensive projects can be initiated to achieve carbon neutrality.
Towson already has student groups that focus on sustainability. Two examples of such groups include the Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) and the Towson Energy Activists (TEA). SEA is a student group which is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness. The group organizes and participates in local environmental cleanups and recycling initiatives. TEA also has a focus that is relevant to the climate action planning process and could also aid in its success. The group promotes green building technology, energy conservation, and the use of renewable resources. The group serves the following purpose for Towson University: • Promote attitudes and practices within the university that are ecologically and culturally sustainable by advancing the use of clean energy and energy efficiency on campus. • Educate the University campus in areas related to energy efficiency, sustainability, and other conservation methods. • Make Towson University a model of sustainability for the rest of society.
Currently, Towson University’s students, faculty and staff have taken an active role in a program called “Go Green”. This program has helped raise awareness of the campus green initiatives. Go Green sponsors many other programs around the university including: • RecycleMania • RecycALL program • Adopt-A-Campus • Trayless Tuesdays • Reusable Mug Program • Earth Day PLUS • Go Green Orientation • Reduce/Reuse Program In addition to the above programs, Go Green also promotes various other sustainable outreach programs that promote student participation. For example, Go Green has a “Towson Goes Green” Facebook group. Students can visit the site and learn about upcoming programs and events that are occurring around campus. Overall, Towson University supports these outreach programs and provides many resources that help communicate the strategy for carrying out the CAP. These community resources should be encouraged to actively participate in the climate action planning process.
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