Flagler Sustainability Committee looking at reducing college’s carbon footprint

By Lindsey Sperber | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Many students don’t realize it, but Flagler College has launched a new Sustainability Committee made up of faculty, representatives from the Business Services Office, Maintenance, College Relations and even student representatives.

Assistant Professor of Communication Kristine Warrenburg is the faculty representative, and she said the objective of the sustainability committee it to be a communication channel for academic efforts focused on sustainability at Flagler and coordinate college efforts to enhance sustainability.

She said there have been a number of sustainability projects, both large and small, including the December 2011 creation of a chiller plant behind the Proctor Library, which is saving approximately $54,000 a year. Over the next 10 years, this adds to a savings of over a half million dollars. This plant is also capable of supplying chilled water in the future to Markland House, the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum and the Crisp-Ellert House. Also, in December 2013, Flagler replaced 165 14-watt compact fluorescents with 4-watt LEDs in Ponce Hall. Other LED replacement projects are planned for the Lewis Auditorium and the Tennis Complex.

On Feb. 11, the Sustainability Committee held an annual event called Love Your Planet Day, which brought students, faculty, staff and community partners together to share information about sustainability and reducing carbon footprints.

“We do this through presenting awareness information as well as highlighting sustainable responsibility, community, practice, and commitment,” Warrenburg said. “Love Your Planet works to promote biking/walking/scootering/carpooling to campus as well as encourages campus community members to pledge to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Emily McCully, a Flagler College science minor, said that Love Your Planet Day was a success. “You can really have fun while making an impact,” she said.