Miami University’s sustainability plan
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020
Purchasing at least 17 percent of electrical power from renewable sources by 2020
Reducing carbon footprint by 12 percent by 2020
Fully displacing coal as a campus energy source by 2025
Implementing bio-waste recycling or composting programs for food, yard waste, grey water and horse manure by December 2013
OXFORD — Future Miami University students could be composting on campus and riding in new bike lanes around town.
Both initiatives are part of Miami’s first sustainability plan, which outlines goals that will reduce the school’s energy consumption, lower its carbon footprint and help the bottom line.
“This is something we hope will inspire everyone,” said MU President David Hodge, who created a sustainability committee in 2008.
One commitment is to reduce the university’s coal consumption immediately, with the goal of fully displacing coal as an on-campus energy source by 2025. Miami currently heats the Oxford campus with its coal fired steam plant, located on the western campus.
The plan also touches many other aspects of Miami life, with a more coordinated approach among many departments.
“Everyone needs to feel like we’re working toward a shared, common set of goals,” said David Prytherch, Miami’s sustainability director. “We’re more serious now than we’ve ever been before.”
Miami plans to make recycling more convenient, to purchase recyclable products more often, and to strive for more environmentally friendly construction.
Miami also plans new parking policies that give preference and lower prices to vehicles that carpool and low-emission vehicles.
The university has also hired a design firm to develop a plan for alternative modes of transportation and a network of bike lanes.
“We recognize that Miami is a pedestrian campus, but we probably have more vehicle trips than we ought to,” Prytherch said. “If we want to encourage people out of their cars, we have to give them safe alternatives.”
The plan also calls for expanding learning opportunities for students and making sustainability part of the orientation process.
“Our hope is that the students see Miami as serious about sustainability and model behaviors that are more efficient and sustainable,” Prytherch said.
About the Author