What is Sustainability?
Put in simpler terms, sustainability is providing the best for people and the environment both now and in the indefinite future. In terms of the 1987 Brundtland Report, sustainability is “Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”.
One of the most important goals of the Presidents Commitment is to reduce the carbon footprint of the College. Some of the ways to do this include increased recycling, use of public transportation, Energy Star products, and compact fluorescent bulbs. The Energy Tip of the Week is distributed to all to enhance awareness of energy conservation and suggest ways to do this.
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is defined as:
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
In other words: When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal, then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.
For more information about Rosemont’s sustainability efforts, contact the Director of Facilities, at ext. 2152.