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Energy

Fossil fuel energy byproducts are some of the most widely distributed and dangerous global pollutants. U Sustain strives to find ways to decrease energy consumption and expand the use of renewable energy on campus.

American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment

Union College President, Dr. Stephen Ainlay, signed the ACUPCC in 2007, committing Union to inventorying its carbon emissions and formulating a plan and timeline to reach carbon neutrality. U Sustain is working to help advance these goals as quickly as possible.

See: Ainlay signs climate committment

Wind Energy at Union

In 2007, Student Forum worked with President Ainlay to finance the purchase of wind power. The college now supplies 15 percent of its energy from wind, helping to decrease its carbon dioxide emissions as part of the ACUPCC.

712 Huron Eco-House

In 2007, Facilities Services worked to renovate one of the Seward/Roger Hull Place apartments as an eco-friendly house. The Eco-house now sports sustainable bamboo flooring, faucets with built in generators and low flow output, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, and a solar panel array to help generate electricity for the house.

Do it in the Dark

The last two years students have worked with facilities services to start an energy competition called Do it in the Dark The competition has helped save four and two percent energy, helping to save carbon emissions.

LEED

Facilities Services has made the commitment to construct all new residences as LEED (gold) certified buildings. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certifies only the best environmentally friendly and efficient buildings in the nation.

Energy Efficiency

Union College, compared to similar institutions is one of the most efficient campuses in terms of energy per square foot of building space, even though the average age of Union's buildings is over 70.
 
 
 
 

 

U Sustain seeks to promote sustainability initiatives and educate the campus community about ways to live, work, and enjoy Union in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable ways possible.

 

Academics
In an age of pressing environmental concerns, the government, businesses, and universities need graduates that understand basic environmental concerns and solutions. By incorporating environmental and sustainability education, we empower our students to participate in and strengthen our changing society.

Recycling
Everything we purchase, use, throw away, or recycle has an impact. U Sustain seeks to help you diminish or eliminate that impact as much as possible through recycling, reduction, and reuse.

Energy
Energy is an important component of sustainability and encompasses the electricity that keeps the lights on and the gas that keeps us warm in the blustery Schenectady winter. Knowledge about reducing our energy, and, in turn, our carbon footprint, can enable us all to make a difference.

Food
One way we can all make a difference is by being conscious of what we eat and how we eat it. U Sustain seeks to help us all lower our environmental impact by eating local and organic, buying fair trade, using less packaging, and making vegetarian options appealing.

Financial Resources
Union College is a large economic power - what the college invests in and purchases can make an important statement. U Sustain strives to help the college make the best economic statements possible.

Transportation
Union is a residential, walkable campus, but U Sustain is working on ways to help you get around Union and the greater Schenectady area comfortably, while keeping the environment in mind.