Free Essay On California State University Northridge: The Sustainable/Green Campus

California State University Northridge is among the pioneers of alternative energy technology. In partnership with faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, dedicated leaders of Facilities Planning as well as Physical Plant Management steers the sustainability campaigns. The plan for the campaign in the University is to establish sustainability culture in all areas of the University operation by the year 2023. This include expanding the sourcing of healthy and sustainable foods, offering sustainability education and making all the new buildings in the university to meet the LEED Gold standards starting from 2013. Sustainable/Green buildings are healthier and are resourcefully efficient in terms of renovation, operation and maintenance. The university will also increase its investment in areas of renewable resources up to 10 percent; use the Green Seal-certified cleaning procedures and products and re-use of waste vegetable oil.
Moreover, the sustainable campaign and student actions will reduce the quantity of food going to waste by 15 percent by the year 2015 and up to 50 percent by the year 2023. Other green waste will be reduced by 80 percent by the year 2023. The sustainable green campaign leadership will develop fully organic food garden to provide education as well as research opportunities to students, staff including the local community. This will save the university significant amount of money and resources. On matters of transportation, the campaign will reduce the vehicle miles travelled by students and staff in the university by 10 percent, it will foster for Bicycle-friendly University, increase alternatives from single-commuting vehicles to public from 26 percent to 40 percent.
Such transportation policies will help much in reducing the university carbon footprint. In addition, the campaign aim to reduce the average carbon emissions associated with the fleet operations in the university by up to 50 percent. The total waste per capita will be reduced by up to 20 percent to help the university to save money. The California State University Northridge also aims to expand its recycling capability of plastics and other materials. Currently, the university is using cups and mugs in its beverages premises which are 100 percent recyclable. This is currently done by means of contracted Consolidated Disposal Services issued to student housing and the main campus. The California State University Northridge was the first to start the recycling program in 1996 and has kept the pace ahead of other Universities in California and in U.S.

Work Cited

www.csun.edu. CSUN Sustainability Plan, 2013-2023. California State University Northridge. 2013. http://www.csun.edu/senate/reports/sustainabilityplan050913.pdf. accessed April 17, 2015