Community college selected among greenest universities

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — Universities and colleges across the country are picking up on the ‘green’ trend, and Kiwi Magazine recently selected the top 75 groundbreaking schools, including Mount Wachusett Community College, where sustainability has become the center of campus attention. The school recently converted its all-electric campus in Gardner to a biomass heating system in fall 2002 to limit greenhouse gas emissions and save money. Since the switch, electricity usage on the campus has gone down by 38 percent and water usage has dropped more than 50 percent, or 13.8 million gallons, which lead to a savings of more than $2.9 million. Another initiative realized this spring was the conversion of 100 metal halide light fixtures in the college’s Fitness & Wellness Center. The light fixtures were replaced with longer-lasting fluorescent fixtures and new control panels were installed, resulting in more than $20,000 in annual savings. College President Daniel M. Asquino said it was an honor to be considered among the most environmentally sound colleges in the country, a title that was achieved through years of hard work. “I think this is a testament to the efforts of the faculty and staff,” said Dr. Asquino. “We as a college wanted to go green long before it became something popular.” According to Dr. Asquino, the college has been working toward going green for the better part of a decade, and many of the initiatives are still works in progress. “The idea for this is about 8 or 9 years old,” said Dr. Asquino. “We looked at biomass and realized it was a great idea. We need to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and I would like to move forward with this initiative.” Vanessa Giacoppo, a representative for Kiwi Magazine, said that as more colleges go green, students will have a better appreciation for the ongoing effort to preserve the planet. “The academic world is really leading an environmental movement,” said Ms. Giacoppo. “The focus on green living isn’t a fad, it is a cultural shift. I think that institutes of higher learning, along with their students, are making ‘eco-commitments’ based on a true passion for the health of the environment rather than any short-term financial consideration.” According to Ms. Giacoppo, the list didn’t focus on specific projects, but rather on how each campus functioned as a whole. “Our goal was to include a broad representation of university actions and programs that support the environment,” said Ms. Giacoppo. “We examined how schools integrated sustainability into curricula and campus life, specifically focusing on environmental degree programs, green buildings, local and organic food and alternative energy plans.” Mount Wachusett was included on the magazine’s 2007 list of most green colleges and in order to get back on the list, Ms. Giacoppo said the magazine re-examined the college’s environmental efforts. “Mount Wachusett Community College has been one of the leaders in the ‘eco-charge’ — the school is one of the charter signatories of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a concerted effort among U.S. colleges to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ms. Giacoppo. “The school’s program to convert its heating system to run on biofuels is definitely a standout action.” oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 4 on 9/9/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 213)