Penn State will be the first to join the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Sustainability Partnership Program, according to a Penn State Live press release.
Though the EPA offers many different voluntary partnership programs, such as Energy Star and WaterSense, this program "creates a one-stop shopping approach" to make it easier and more financially sound for organizations to help the environment, according to the press release.
"It looks like it's going to be able to make Penn State's impact on the environment less, and less impact means less environmental harm," said an Eco-Action public relations representative Tina Robinson.
According to the press release, Penn State will formally sign the agreement with the EPA at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, which is Earth Day, at the front entrance to the HUB-Robeson Center.
"It's about damn time," said Carlo Sica, president of Eco-Action. "I think it's absolutely wonderful."
The signing ceremony is meant to symbolize the university's commitment to reduce energy use, focusing initially on Beaver Stadium, athletic events and residence hall usage. They are also committing to increasing recycling efforts, according to the press release.
Robinson said she thinks the program is a step in the right direction for Penn State and added she hopes that it will "positively affect" the decision the university is currently making regarding tissue paper. The university is currently collaborating with Eco-Action to find paper products that are environmentally sound.
While Sica (junior-geography) said he was pleased with the university's initiative, he hopes Penn State does not lose sight of issues such as the environmental sustainability of its future construction plans.
University representatives did not return calls by press time.
