About 100 people rallied last night on the Old Main steps to show their support for the reduction of energy use on campus.

The rally, which was run by members of the Kyoto Now! initiative, was held to prompt Penn State administrators to commit to a 38 percent reduction of energy use by 2012.

"I think they'll commit," said Maura Cowley, an organizer of the event. "I know that we're not ready to not let them commit."

The culmination of the rally included the presentation of a 30-foot petition that was rolled down Old Main's steps. Six hundred and fifteen students signed the petition, which pledged to "keep Penn State a leader in ecological responsibility."

John Yerger (junior-wildlife and fisheries science) said the Kyoto Now! initiative is concerned with climate change as the result of gas emissions that cause the greenhouse effect. By reducing the burning of fossil fuels and using clean energy sources such as wind energy, the effects of global warming can be slowed.

Jon Williams (senior-sociology) said he believes Penn State can make the commitment.

"We can do it. We can do it in ways that will ultimately save us a lot of money," he said.

He said the university has already made some changes to help the environment, but they aren't enough.

"We want to see Penn State be the first in the Big Ten to make this commitment," Williams said, prompting a round of applause from the crowd.

Office of Physical Plant (OPP) spokesman Paul Ruskin, who attended the rally, said the reduction the Kyoto Now! initiative is requesting will be a challenge for the university to meet.

"Additional resources would be needed to meet the request," Ruskin said. "We'll do everything we can. However, we have to balance the resources that we have."

Ruskin said the university spends about $12 million a year on electricity.

Cowley said she believes it is "totally feasible" for Penn State to accomplish the Kyoto Now! initiative. The proposal is being promoted at other college campuses, she said.

Ford Stryker, OPP director of special projects, said Penn State is already taking steps to promote energy efficiency on campus. He said companies have been hired to renew the energy systems in individual buildings at the rate of about eight buildings a year. Penn State has also mandated that all new buildings meet a certain minimum standard of energy efficiency.

Stryker said these initiatives would save the university about $900,000 a year.

"We are slowly but surely working our way," he said.

Williams said the commitment of the university is important because Penn State doesn't have a set target.

"We want to make sure they're moving along at a reasonable pace," he said.

Mary Peterson (senior-public relations) said Penn State is "taking the easy route" and needs to do more. She said the rally promotes awareness on campus and forces administration to take notice.

"We have to keep this issue at the forefront," Peterson said.