One would think that PSU administration would have entire teams searching for ways to minimize the imminent tuition hikes.

Certainly, lobbying for state funding and continuing to solicit private donations and research dollars remain important weapons in the fight against unaffordable education. But so is fiscal responsibility.

I was surprised to learn last Thursday night at a Green Design Team presentation that a group of PSU scientists showed how we could save dozens of thousands of dollars each year making a single building on campus more energy efficient. These findings, presenting in the Mueller report, were taken by administration who is now working to make the suggested improvements in the Mueller Building.

But the Mueller Building was not chosen as an egregious example of energy inefficiency. It is, I'm told, quite the typical campus building. A new report on the Sackett Building (ironically home to civil and environmental engineering departments) shows similar problems there. Apparently, PSU administration is awaiting a particular report on each individual building rather than merely implementing common and intuitive measures campus-wide. Surely, every building and student would benefit from efficient light bulbs, water conservation, diligent recycling, and [gasp!] insulated windows.

One could only guess how far these measures would go towards offsetting the increasing costs of operating such an enormous campus.

Nevermind the trivial fact that we might also help to save this planet we call home.