University's initiatives are
good for the environment

By Pamela Seasoltz
Special to Intercom

Along with providing education, research and public service, a healthy environment also is at the forefront of Penn State's mission to "make life better." Since its beginning, Penn State has partnered with the environment. But in recent years, even greater environmental strides have been made as Penn State continues to grow and meet the demands of its surroundings.

Some of the most successful environment-conscious initiatives undertaken by Penn State include:

The Penn State Land Treatment System, which has been in operation since 1983, treats approximately 2 million gallons a day of waste water from the University Park campus. The water is sprayed onto PSU-managed crop lands and forest areas, and recharges the aquifer. The University then harvests the crops for use in its livestock programs.

Project Earth Grow, where food waste from University dining commons is composted for use in campus landscaping activities, may expand. The dining hall compost is used in flowerbeds, planters, turf seed preparation and mulching -- providing both educational and economical benefits. Due to the success of the program, the University is looking to augment its composting facility to include an educational center and research area.

Overall, Project Earth Grow is expected to have a large impact on waste reduction in the area's landfills; provide cost savings; and provide more opportunities to use composting as a way to better beautify the campus.

Recycling expanded

Composting, however, is not the only recycling initiative undertaken by the University. Recycling of solid waste increased dramatically between 1989 and 1998 -- from 20 tons per year to 3,700 tons per year. Additionally, Penn State's recycling program prevents 37 percent of its solid waste stream from going into landfills. That amounts to about 10,000 tons per year.

In the past three years, the Beaver Stadium Recycling Program has recycled 105 tons of garbage and has donated $27,800 to the United Way. The innovative program has been so successful it has received the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and has been selected as a model for recycling programs at Three Rivers Stadium, the Air Force Academy Stadium in Colorado and the Tennessee Titans Stadium. In addition to the environmental benefits as a result of the program, Penn State is saving thousands of dollars in garbage tipping fees annually and is saving money on post-game cleanup.

Through its recycling program, the University has been extremely diligent about recovering traditional materials such as aluminum and bi-metal cans, three colors of glass, newspaper, mixed office paper, cardboard and some plastics. However, Penn State has now added scrap ferrous and non-ferrous material, wooden pallets, tires, used oil and oil filters, and toner cartridges, to its recyclable list.

Conservation during construction

New construction projects on campus also include environment friendly initiatives.

Water saving shower heads and toilets are part of all new residence hall construction, as well as controlled heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that are computer monitored and automatically adjusted for energy savings.

New exit signs installed in campus buildings account for 96 percent less energy use than their predecessors and the policy of reducing temperatures to 55 degrees Fahrenheit during winter break in certain campus buildings has created further energy savings.

Two newly constructed residence halls at Penn State Erie have used an innovative technological heating and cooling advancement system called geothermal heating. Geothermal (or ground source heat pump) systems are considered the most energy-efficient heating and cooling system available.

The system uses the sun's abundant energy by transferring heat found in the earth into nearby buildings, rather than actually creating heat from flammable fuels. The system is environmentally beneficial, decreasing the country's dependence on foreign fuels, conserving depleting fossil fuel inventories and replacing polluting energy resources with clean ones.

Currently under construction, the Visitor Center on the University Park campus, will be the site of a cutting-edge porous paving system in the parking lot that will allow water to perk into the soil rather than contributing to runoff that eventually flows into area streams. One of the benefits of the system is to reenergize the aquifer, or layer of the earth that acts as a natural filter for groundwater.

The Visitor Center also will feature a landscape of native plants arranged to demonstrate how these plants relate to each other, how they grow and how they can be used in the landscape. The Visitor Center landscape will be used as an environment-based educational tool for students at Penn State and in the community.

Circleville Farm study

The Circleville Farm study is another example of a novel project undertaken with the environment in mind.

Circleville Farm, near the Blue Golf Course in Ferguson Township, Centre County, is a 176-acre site that is currently under study by Penn State's Hamer Center for Community Design Assistance, in collaboration with faculty, students and members of the Ferguson Township community. The Hamer Center's goal is to create a model, sustainable community development that addresses both the interests of local residents and the issues of environmental sustainability, an approach to life that is mindful of limits and the environment. The results of this study will be a range of design options featuring open space, and bike and pedestrian trails, while promoting a sense of community and attention to the environment.

Penn State is taking a leadership role in promoting this environmentally sustainable community design in the hope that it may become a model for the region and the Commonwealth. An additional benefit for Penn State is that the project provides an outstanding research and educational tool for faculty and students.

Transportation management

Penn State's plan for managing campus transportation in the next five to seven years, the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan, has made great strides toward a better campus environment by moving toward a true pedestrian campus and working on eliminating traffic tie-ups at University Park. Some key TDM initiatives include:

n Redesigning parking areas and offering alternative transportation such as the no fare Loop Service, and express-type Link Service, along with RideShare, and bike paths. The no fare Loop Service on campus began in fall 1999 and ridership has tripled from 155,872 in September 1998 to 444,662 riders one year later. Because fares are eliminated, more people are using mass transit rather than their personal vehicles, resulting in less traffic congestion and air pollution.

n Offering RideShare, a program that helps commuters through carpooling and vanpooling. RideShare began in fall 1999 and has 70 participants.

n The biking initiative is scheduled to begin in fall 2000 and will feature 12 miles of new bike paths to be coordinated with the Centre Region bike paths.

n Thirty-four Center Area Transportation Authority (CATA) buses that service the University daily operate on natural gas which means they are safer for the environment. Using natural gas results in emissions that are dramatically reduced and less injurious to the environment than petroleum-based fuel buses.

"Penn State has consciously chosen to maintain an environment of clean air and water, partnering with natural surroundings, for a scenario of good health and beauty," said Gary C. Schultz, senior vice president for Finance and Business/Treasurer. Schultz oversees many of the units responsible for Penn State's numerous environmental initiatives.

"Keeping our agricultural roots in mind, Penn State will continue to expand into the new century with the exciting mission of not only providing a quality education, but a quality environment as well."