Climate Strategy at CSBSJU

This week I learned about what CSB/SJU is doing to be sustainable on campus.  I had heard and even participated in some of the programs at school, like community kitchen.  There were some things that I did not know about though.  I had not idea that both St. Ben’s and St. John’s were have the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035!  I was so impressed to hear that St. John’s has already taken great strides in reaching this goal, and that they have to rewrite the program.  One area of improvement that stuck out to me from both CSB and SJU plans was that we do not have any required courses on the environment.  I think that this is something that should be implemented into our common curriculum in some way.  Another important aspect is to make sure all of our students know of all CSB and SJU are doing to be sustainable on campus.  For example this week was the first time I’d heard about some of these programs and I am a junior year.  Some ideas offered were that as freshmen get adjusted to the school, RA’s or orientation leaders may aid is this awareness process.  When my group and I were brainstorming what some progressive moves the schools could take on we thought of taking energy from the fitness center and using that elsewhere.  I have charged my phone before by pedaling on a bike, I think that it would be a large job but extremely beneficial in the long run if we used the energy generated from the fitness machines.  This week overall makes me really excited to look at all that we have already done here and to look at all the possibilities that can be done in the future.