Salve Takes Green Initiatives

By: Katie Wildgrube
Posted In: Campus News

Salve has been brainstorming and coming up with new ways to promote a greener campus, but with such historical buildings making up most of campus, solutions such as turbines and solar panels are just about out of the question.

“The cultural and historical significance of the campus poses challenges for coming up with renewable energy solutions,” said Dr. Jameson Chace, a biology professor at Salve.

Some research has been put into possibly making the roof of the O’Hare Academic Center, one of the non-historical buildings on campus, into a green roof. According to greenroof.com, a green roof is a roof top that is filled with plants in order to keep the building better insulated to save energy. Not only does it extend the life of the roof, but it adds beauty and space.

Eventually the roof of O’Hare will have to be replaced, and when that time comes, a green roof might be an option, according to Chace. The roof also provides a good surface for solar panels, but they tend to be too expensive.

Chace said he believes that more could be done. “We must get away from the idea of everything having to make economical sense,” Chace said. “Are you really being a good steward of the environment by saying it costs too much?”

The Campus Environmental Sustainability Program states that “Salve Regina University will strive to conduct its activities in an ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable manner, and will continue to do so for future generations.” The goals of the program are to create an environmentally literate and responsible community and to practice environmental stewardship.

Despite some economical setbacks, the university has taken many steps to accomplish the program’s goals. All light bulbs on campus have been converted to CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs); the lights in the gym are on motion sensors so that only the section of the gym that is in use is lit; all students are provided with free transportation on the Rhode Island Public Transit system with a student ID; and water is pumped from the basement of Rodgers Recreation Center to be used for lawn irrigation.

In the past year, Salve has purchased a new hybrid security vehicle and Energy Star washers and dryers for each dorm. The new products cost more upfront, but will save more in the end.

Sodexho Dining Services’ Green Dining Initiative is also saving by purchasing local meals when possible and instituting tray-less dining to conserve water.

The Environmental Advisory Committee and the newly established Environmental Club, as well as other organizations on campus are continuing to come up with ways to promote a green campus, but there will always be something more that can be done.