Columbia Goes Green

This year's class of first-years received a little something extra along with the standard orientation fare: an introduction to Columbia's green side.
For the first time ever, the Columbia "Guide to Living" featured a "Guide to Green Living" on the back, showcasing tips for conserving resources and buying responsibly. In addition, all Carman rooms now feature new water-saving toilets and motion-sensing lights.
And to tie these efforts together, 20 "Eco-Reps"-students paid by the University to help carry out environmental initiatives-were on hand during move-in to explain Columbia's environmental policies and hand out energy-saving light bulbs. Throughout the rest of the year, these "environmental RAs" will work to raise students' awareness of conservation efforts, especially among first-years.
"We're trying to introduce them to Columbia as a place that is really conscious of environmental responsibility," said Anjana Sharma, CC '06, who worked with Housing and Dining to compile the extensive "Guide to Green Living" over the summer.
Perhaps as soon as next year, Sharma envisions an environmental pre-orientation program, along the lines of COOP and CUE, that would introduce select first-years to available environmental resources in New York City. The students would move in early and take field trips to locations such as green markets and research stations.
But for now, most students seem pleased with the improvements.
"They're awesome," said Sari Ancel, SEAS '10, referring to the water-saving toilet flushers that each save about a half-gallon of water per flush. "They flush exactly the amount you want them to."
Also over the summer, at the request of Senior Executive Vice President Robert Kasdin, members of the Green Umbrella-a coalition of student environmental advocates-drew up five environmental recommendations for administrators and five for students. The list, including proposals such as purchasing green power and revamping recycling systems, was sent to key administrators for eventual incorporation into campus life.
Housing and Dining has also taken steady steps toward sustainability. Director of Housing and Dining Scott Wright said that all future renovations of dorms will include timed lights with built-in sensors, which turn off after 30 minutes of room inactivity and don't cost any more than regular ones, as well as energy-efficient appliances.
Dining Services has invited local food suppliers to John Jay Dining Hall and replaced Starbucks coffee with a local, organic fair-trade brand in all dining locations with the exception of Ferris Booth Commons.
And to facilitate Columbia-wide efforts, the University even hired an environmental stewardship coordinator over the summer, who will be charged with organizing pertinent campus events and smoothly integrating environmental aspects of academic and residential life. The new hire has yet to be named.
Although impressed by the receptivity of administrators, Sharma cautioned that students need to remain active.
"I think the most important thing to me is that it really follows up into changes of the ecological footprint of Columbia," she said. "That it doesn't become just 'greenwashing.' We do need a lot of accountability."