Environmental consciousness and the topic of sustainability continue to be top-of-mind issues in our neighborhoods, in our nation, and across the world. Rensselaer is—and will continue to be—dedicated to responding to the call to create a sustainable environment.

As the Institute continues its unprecedented physical growth, we are committed wholeheartedly to growing sustainably. The design and renovation of new and existing facilities on campus are driven by this goal. Examples of this commitment are evident across the campus.

For instance, as part of the East Campus Athletic Village project, a photovoltaic renewable energy system will be installed on the roof of the Houston Field House, and the solar energy supplied by the system will be used to make ice for the hockey rink.

A similar photovoltaic system is installed next to the Voorhees Computing Center, providing the Center with about two kilowatts of electricity, enough to run about 25 computers. During a heat wave last summer, when Rensselaer’s cost for electricity was five to 10 times higher than normal, the solar system continuously reduced the Institute’s electric demand.

We also strive to attain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System certification for EMPAC and the ECAV. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings, and is awarded to buildings that meet standards in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

We also are focusing on the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of dependence on external sources as part of the energy the campus will need and use in the future. A very aggressive energy conservation program has been implemented, and our consumption has been reduced up to 3 percent, despite our significant campus growth. A 10-kilowatt, three-blade wind turbine has been installed on the east side of campus, and this power is transmitted to the campus power grid.

Campus Planning and Facilities Design, part of the Division of Administration, is working to upgrade our electric transmission systems, and has replaced one whole set of transformers with a more modern version that saves energy. CPFD also is developing a campus-wide energy reduction plan and reviewing the usage of all computers, fax machines, scanners, and printers to find a way to limit their energy consumption during off hours.

In addition to conservation initiatives, Rensselaer also makes concerted efforts to reuse and recycle materials. Salvageable Institute resources—from paint to cement blocks to furniture—are donated or saved for future use: material from the health center that was demolished during preparation for the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies was removed and reused in the renovation of the service building; leftover paint from campus and within the community was used in a Troy alley beautification project; and a biodiesel processing facility that will convert the waste cooking oil from the dining halls into a useable fuel for campus vehicles is currently being designed and installed. Recycling has increased—particularly in renovated and newly constructed buildings—and more than 25 tons of surplus electronics are recycled per year.

Sustainability demands that each of us, as global citizens, commit to making modifications in our daily lives and to uncovering and developing today the technologies that will conserve energy and protect the environment tomorrow. We also must innovate the technologies that lead to alternative energy sources, which are reliable, cost-effective, safe, as environmentally benign as possible, and sustainable.

“Energy and the Environment” is a strategic research thrust of The Rensselaer Plan, and Rensselaer is addressing the challenges of energy security with a range of research centers—ranging from the Center for Future Energy Systems to the New York State Center for Polymer Synthesis—geared toward developing better hydrogen fuel cells, brighter LEDs, more efficient solar cells, and a more robust electricity distribution grid.

The schools of management, humanities and social sciences, architecture, and engineering have added several courses that are directly related to sustainability and green buildings. These programs are helping to educate socially responsible scholars who can apply their talents toward addressing the social and environmental needs of the 21st century.

Beyond academic work, there are myriad ways for students to gain experience devising and implementing sustainable initiatives through extracurricular activities on campus. More than 30 members of the Rensselaer campus community—including students, faculty, staff, and administrators—and several Rensselaer Union student organizations serve on the Student Sustainability Task Force, which holds regular open forum discussions to give updates on the planning process of various sustainability initiatives, and to solicit additional ideas and feedback.

The environmental student organization “EcoLogic” founded the Greening of Rensselaer Initiative, which offers every member of the Rensselaer community an opportunity to actively participate in environmental initiatives and education.

And finally, the “Engineers for a Sustainable World” club was formed with a mission to “pool the knowledge, skills, and experience of RPI, and the surrounding community, to discover and solve environmental, social, and economic problems, recognizing the importance of sustainability.”

Through Institute initiatives, research centers, and academic programs, as well as faculty- and student-led organizations focused on sustainability, Rensselaer has demonstrated a proven commitment to the issue—and the aforementioned projects are just a sampling of our collective efforts.

As we move forward together toward even greater sustainability, I will form a campus-wide Sustainability Task Force led by Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for Policy and Planning Laban Coblentz. This group will work together with the Student Sustainability Task Force to propose, coordinate, foster, and oversee the implementation of sustainability initiatives on campus.

I look forward to working together to accomplish even higher levels of campus sustainability, and to discussing this and other topics with you at the next “Pizza with the President” gathering.