Ryan ChartrandThose with their ears to the ground have probably heard the term “sustainability” tossed around recently on the Cal Poly campus. Aside from being the focal point on the cover of the 2007-2008 course catalog, sustainability is frequently a topic of discussion for many students and faculty. The purpose of this inaugural edition of “The Green Spot” will be your weekly update on environmental issues and your connection to the sustainability movement at Cal Poly.
Sustainability is conventionally defined as the ability of a society to be maintained indefinitely. A sustainable society is socially, technologically and economically healthy. It has become apparent that simple daily activities such as driving a car or throwing away a tin can have serious effects on the world around us. Mainstream America is increasingly more conscious of the effects, a fact that is visibly reflected by the prominent displays of compact fluorescent light bulbs in our stores and the explosion of hybrid vehicles on our roadways.
The fast pace of developments in green legislation and science can be very difficult to keep up with. This year, the writers of “The Green Spot” intend to keep you up-to-date on a host of environmentally friendly issues. From international emissions agreements to environmental research right here on campus, “The Green Spot” will break down the most pressing issues.
The near future promises to be an exciting time for those interested in sustainability. The Supreme Court has recently ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. All eyes are now on California. As a pioneer in greenhouse gas legislation, our state is likely to play a critical role in shaping federal law. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are currently drafting comprehensive energy legislation packages to be proposed this fall. Each includes extensive energy conservation components.
Energy conservation is not a silver bullet, however, and nowhere is this fact more readily acknowledged than at academic institutions. To members of academic communities in particular, sustainability means more than just changing a light bulb. College campuses across the United States are hotbeds of green activity. Efforts to create a more sustainable society have been largely conducted at American universities and in the midst of rapid collegiate developments in the green movement, Cal Poly is a standout.
As a polytechnic university, Cal Poly plays a special role in addressing the issue of sustainability. Social, technological and economic aspects of sustainability require truly multidisciplinary solutions. Students, faculty and staff from every corner of campus have taken on the challenge of addressing the critical issues we face today. From renewable fuel research to sustainability and environmentally related course offerings, Cal Poly is truly addressing environmental issues from all angles.
The writers of “The Green Spot” anticipate an exciting year and are eager to inform Mustang Daily readers of environmental developments during the coming school year. Welcome back to school and look for us in the paper every Friday!
Matt Hutton is an environmental engineering senior and a Mustang Daily columnist.