De Anza College is one of many campuses nation-wide attempting to become greener through school programs and club activity. The effort to make campuses more environmentally friendly is part of a widespread movement occurring globally.
The current efforts to be a greener campus are noticeable from the cafeteria to the bathrooms. The cafeteria grows and uses seasonal vegetables from gardens on campus, organic vegetables from local farmers, fair trade coffee and uses biodegradable containers and utensils.
The cleaning supplies used on campus are environmentally safe and green certified. All the bathrooms have energy efficient recycled soap dispensers, biodegradable soap in the bathrooms, 100 percent recycled toilet paper, paper towels and seat covers and the men’s bathroom have waterless urinals to save water.
The Kirsch Center, in particular, provides a national archetype for sustainability and education. The building, made of different recycled materials, uses solar panels and is ventilated by windows that face towards the sun.
Although these practices are good, there is still a lot that must be done in order to make De Anza a more sustainable and environmentally friendly campus. For example, incorporating non-science classes into the Kirsch Center would be more beneficial for the campus and for the students.
There are things that can be done with the school’s current budget and resources. Solar panels should be installed not only on the Kirsch Center, but also on all the roofs of buildings that receive sufficient sunlight to offset electricity use. Computers and other technology in classrooms and labs should be turned off when not in use and unplugged at the end of the day. Computers, and other electronic devices that are plugged in continue to drain energy even after they are turned off.
Measure C, passed in 2006, approved a bond worth $490.8 million for the De Anza and Foothill campuses. The money we are using for renovation and construction should be used to fund these initiatives. Also the school should give carpoolers incentives such as discounts at the bookstore, on food and DASB credit.
“As with many complex issues there are a lot of stakeholders at the table and cost is always an issue. Just like any project, there needs to be agreement and funding to implement major change in an academic institution, but nevertheless, this should not be a deterrent and this is something that is,” said Environmental Science teacher Mary Poffenroth.
One of the clubs working to make a difference is Working to Institute a Sustainable Environment on the 37th Parallel. Formed by a small group of students to bring local organic food options to De Anza’s cafeteria, W.I.S.E. 37 has become a large environmental club and is now working on a variety of environmental issues on and off campus through education, outreach and activism.
