August 25, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University graduate Christian Ryan-Downing has been appointed as the
University’s first Sustainability Coordinator.
Ryan-Downing will help identify and develop opportunities for reducing the University’s environmental footprint, and operational costs, through campus initiatives that reduce waste and use energy, water, and other resources more efficiently. She will work with students, faculty and staff at WKU to integrate sustainability principles and practices into the University’s operations and culture.
“Creating this position is an important part of a commitment by the University to increased environmental responsibility. We are taking steps to respond to the realities of the global issues we are faced with,” said John Osborne, Vice President for Campus Services and Facilities. “This is a challenge that will foster collaboration and innovation among faculty, students and staff at WKU in an unprecedented way.”
Ryan-Downing graduated from WKU in December 2007 with a master of science degree; her graduate research focused on sustainability at WKU. As a student, she was a co-founder and president of GreenToppers Students for Campus Sustainability.
During and following graduate school, Ryan-Downing has worked for WKU’s Center for Math, Science and Environmental Education and in WKU’s Department of Facilities Management helping to improve the campus recycling program (http://www.wku.edu/recycling).
“The benefits of a sustainable WKU extend well beyond a healthier planet to healthier people, educational opportunities for students and the community, and financial savings. This is a very exciting endeavor for our campus community, one in which every member of the campus community has a role to play,” she said.
Among Ryan-Downing’s first priorities are the creation of a WKU Sustainability website to keep the campus community informed of news, projects and initiatives, and the 2007-2008 WKU Sustainability Report, which describes many recent campus sustainability efforts. The report will be available online at www.wku.edu/sustainability at the beginning of September.
Greening Big Red will require effort from the entire campus community and all areas of campus services and operations, but Hilltoppers are ready, she said. WKU already boasts a number of sustainability initiatives, with students leading the way.
- The student sustainability group, GreenToppers, strives to increase awareness in the campus community about sustainable habits such as recycling, energy conservation, and reducing personal carbon footprints.
- Engineering students are creating biodiesel, made from used cooking oil, donated by campus dining services. The eco-friendly fuel will be used for vehicles and equipment at the WKU Farm.
- WKU faculty members are offering courses that focus on global climate change, environmental education, conservation biology, and other topics related to environmental and social responsibility.
- Student Government Association partnered with WKU Recycling to provide a campus community recycling bin, located behind the Supply Services Building.
- Housing and Residence Life has hired student Sara Ferguson to coordinate sustainability efforts in residence halls and a HRL Student Sustainability Committee has been created.
- The WKU ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships now boasts a solar collection unit, which serves as a community demonstration and WKU research project.
- WKU Parking and Transportation has launched a “car-free, care-free” campaign, which includes efforts for a more bike-friendly campus and other alternative transportation opportunities to be announced soon.
- Sustainability also has advanced in University operations, with a plan to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the new College of Education and Behavioral Sciences building.
- Fresh Foods Company in Downing University Center has gone trayless to reduce food waste and conserve water and energy. Java City and the WKU gardeners have partnered to compost used coffee grounds for campus gardens.
- Campus buildings are even being cleaned with “green” cleaning products, which are much safer for the people using them and for the environment.
“We are off to a great start in greening Big Red but opportunities for improvement are limitless,” Ryan-Downing said. “We want WKU to be a leading American university with an international reach and a very small environmental footprint.”
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Christian Ryan-Downing at (270) 745-2508.
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