CSU should work toward energy efficiency

By GLENN TOZIER / Special to The Collegian

The 2001-2002 energy crisis has lead to a 55 percent increase in our student fees. To keep education affordable, preventing another crisis should be of great concern to the CSU. The sustainability policy offered by the RenewCSU campaign sets three ways the university system can help prevent another energy crisis: conservating energy, purchasing clean energy, and building “green” to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards.

If adopted, the sustainability policy commits the CSU to conserving energy. The policy calls for a 20 percent reduction of energy consumption by 2014. Decreasing energy usage leads to an increase in revenue, which the CSU could apply to other needs.

RenewCSU calls for the university system to purchase 25 percent of energy from renewable resources by the year 2014. By doing so, the CSU will help achieve the goal set forth by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Gov. Schwarzenegger has required the state of California to obtain 20 percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2010, seven years earlier than the proposal made by former Governor Gray Davis. Utilizing renewable energy resources would save the CSU in the long term, and help rid the United State’s of its dependency on depleting natural resources.

The final measure included in the RenewCSU’s sustainability policy is to integrate clean energy and green building designs (following LEED silver standards) in all new buildings and significant renovations. Meeting LEED standards for green buildings would lower energy expenditures, operation and maintenance costs and infrastructure costs while taking the environment into concern.

Certain CSUs, like San Diego and Chico, have already recognized the value of implementing the demands of the RenewCSU campaign’s policy on their own. Glancing at the designs for the new library and gym, however, it seems Fresno State is not concerned with the costs incurred by us, our state, or our nation. We must pressure the CSU to adopt the sustainability policy offered by the RenewCSU campaign, so that we in Fresno may similarly benefit.