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Think about it—100 percent cotton fiber togas, organically grown herbs, holistic remedies of 180 proof, civic-mindedness promoting social change for causes in which they believe. Yes, Animal House was green. In all seriousness, closer to the real world, colleges on Long Island are not just adding greener courses to their curriculum, they’re incorporating sustainable practices on the campuses themselves. Even more interesting, they are integrating the fresh intelligence of their student bodies—who are more inclined to care about sustainable issues—to work with faculty and administration to implement innovative ideas.
A New Kind of School
Stony Brook Southampton (SBS, stonybrook.edu) is a small, intimate campus with a curriculum organized around issues related to the environment. Dean Martin Schoonen announced three cutting-edge Bachelor of Arts majors to be implemented this fall: Ecosystems and Human Impact; Environmental Design, Policy & Planning; and Sustainability Studies. “Our students will have a global perspective and will lead the way toward a low-carbon society,” he says. “The transition will also create new jobs and redefine others. Green-collar jobs range from energy auditors to policy makers to advocates to teachers. Our undergraduate degrees are a solid foundation for these types of careers.”
The SBS campus itself utilizes a wind turbine able to power one medium-sized building. Power from the turbine goes into the power grid and SBS receives a rebate for electricity. In addition to their studies, SBS students are intrinsically involved in planning “green” spaces, including the campus greenhouse and garden. Students take a leading role in growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices enjoyed in the SBS healthy-fare cafeteria.
Did You Want Fries With That?
Stony Brook Southampton is the only campus in the SUNY system that does not fry food—providing not only a healthier menu but also resulting in less waste. “At first, the students were in shock when they couldn’t find the usual cafeteria fare on the menu,” admits executive chef Matt Doris. “But when they learned about health, nutrition, and how it could help them and the planet, they got into it.” He adds, “Much of the food served, when possible, comes from local farms and businesses: coffee from the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, apples from Water Mill, and organic produce from the North Fork. Using local farms aids the local economy and decreases carbon offset.”
Adelphi Gets an A
Adelphi University in Garden City (adelphi.edu) is the recipient of the 2008 Regional Commuter Choice Outstanding Achievement Award. Transportation is a big part of campus life, and Adelphi demonstrates their commitment to the environment through a commuter benefits program utilizing buses, carpools, bicycling, and, yes, walking, as alternatives to driving. The University shuttle service has transported more than 197,000 students, faculty, and administrators to and from drop-off locations this past year.
Adelphi has also eliminated all commercial pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and petroleum-based fertilizers from its grounds-maintenance plan. As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Adelphi took a giant step in 2003 by installing a geothermal heating and cooling system—one of the first in the region—when it constructed its new residence hall. With the success of this residence hall, they made the commitment to “go green” with their new buildings, opening in fall 2008 and earning LEED ratings.
Taking It to the Streets
Hofstra University (hofstra.edu) is taking action as well. Their Center for Civic Engagement is currently working with the Roosevelt Middle School District on an after-school program partnering college and middle school students to green, clean, and replant in the Town of Roosevelt. Taking an even more global approach, Hofstra, along with nonprofit groups Plan USA and Plan Togo (which fights against child trafficking) engages the Roosevelt students in a pen-pal program with students from Togo, Africa. Running parallel curriculums, the Roosevelt students learning about North American Forests and the Togo students learning about African jungles exchange letters trading stories about their lessons.
In addition to its roster of green campus initiatives, this fall the group Students for a Greener Hofstra will reach out to students of other universities to exchange ideas for social responsibility and the environment. According to student Michael LaFemina, of the civic-minded Canarsie LaFeminas, “Our goal is to be proactive in creating a venue for student conversation and initiatives—a space for dialogue leading to engagement and participation.” (For more information on this program, email Michael at mlafem1@pride.hofstra.edu.)
Leading by Example
Stonybrook’s Dean Schoonen summarizes the campus philosophy, “It’s all a part of our mission to not only teach sustainability but to lead by example with forward-thinking new projects on campus, with the students as trailblazers leaving a legacy to the environment long after they’ve moved on.”
SETTING THE STANDARD
The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies (eomega.org), located in Rhinebeck, NY, is developing a visionary project—the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL). This cutting-edge green facility will supply all its own energy needs, recycle wastewater, and act as an educational model to inspire sustainable-living practices. The self-sustaining building will be heated and cooled using geothermal systems and solar and photovoltaic power. The heart of Omega’s ongoing environmental initiatives, it will include a laboratory, greenhouse, water garden, constructed wetland, and classroom. The OCSL will be used to educate students, teachers, corporate executives, architects employing greener standards into their designs, and even government agencies. The core of the center will be a 4,500-square-foot greenhouse containing a water filtration system called the Eco-Machine™. This living system will use plants, bacteria, algae, snails, and fungi to recycle Omega’s wastewater (approximately 5 million gallons per year) into clean water that can be used to restore the aquifer. The $2 million construction project is expected to be finished and fully operational next year.
OCSL has already received the On the Boards Award, which acknowledges the highest level of environmental performance currently achieved in buildings in the United States. Living Building criteria is intended to exceed the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum standards, and move the building industry toward achieving truly restorative design.
