Penn State signed an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday, becoming the first university in the nation to join its Sustainability Partnership Program (SPP).
Paul Ruskin, the communications coordinator for the Office of Physical Plant, helped organize the ceremony, held on Earth Day, and was adamant about the importance of the program.
"This will allow the EPA and Penn State to share innovation," Ruskin said. "This is a pilot program. Penn State is always happy to take the lead."
By joining the SPP, Penn State accepted the "Sustainability Challenge," which means it will aim to reduce its carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution. The agreement will allow the EPA to provide individualized tools and strategies to help the school function in a more environmentally efficient way, according to the SPP agreement.
According to a press release from the EPA, Penn State is already a forerunner in this area, with a recycling rate of 53 percent and the winner of the EPA's 2008-2009 Green Power Challenge in the Big Ten Conference.
Al Horvath, Penn State vice president for finance and business, signed the document on behalf of the university and said he was pleased by the steps Penn State has taken to improve the environment.
"This was kind of natural for us because we've been so involved in sustainability," Horvath said. "I think this is one example of where everyone has come together effectively. We're fortunate in that we're further ahead than most. We're focused on making progress."
Goals of the program include purchasing more energy and cost-efficient products, reducing waste production, considering the environmental impacts of construction projects and encouraging better transportation practices.
The Sustainability Coalition, a student group formed in 2005, is an umbrella organization uniting student groups that hope to achieve these objectives, said Ryan Fitzgerald, president of the student Sustainability Coalition. Some of the groups include Eco-Action and Engineers for a Sustainable World, among others, he said.
Fitzgerald (sophomore-civil engineering) spoke at the ceremony and said he is excited about the changes to come but added there is still much to be accomplished.
"It shows that the students and university as a whole are interested in the future of our Earth," Fitzgerald said. "It hasn't fully blossomed yet to what it can be."
Although many people are expecting that the partnership between Penn State and the EPA will result in positive changes on campus, the greater hope is that students will continue to be environmentally friendly after they graduate, said Mindee Osno, an EPA sustainability programs coordinator.
"People need to connect with the principles of sustainability," Osno said. "They can try to spread the word. That's the key: embrace sustainability."
Ruskin stressed how meaningful the SPP and being open to changing environmentally harmful habits are to the staying power of the university.
"This partnership will help ensure the sustainability of Penn State," Ruskin said. "What that means is that Penn State will be here 500 years from now. Penn State forever."
