Solar Compactors, Extra Bins Add to Green Efforts
September 30, 2009
From new solar-powered trash compactors to a desk-side recycling program, Georgetown has kicked its sustainability efforts up a notch to progress the university’s ultimate green goal of becoming a zero-waste campus and reducing its overall carbon footprint.
“We want to improve our carbon footprint, and we’ve done well so far,” says Karen Frank, vice president of facilities and student housing. “But there’s more we can do. We have ambitious goals, and we’ll need everyone at Georgetown to help us meet them.”
Georgetown has committed to reducing its overall carbon footprint from 2006 level by 50 percent by 2020. In 2008, the university’s carbon footprint stood at 91,123 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.
“We are working toward this goal by continuing to improve efficiencies in central utilities plant generation and distribution, building and renovating to LEED standards, buying clean energy and enhancing recycling efforts,” says Senior Vice President Spiros Dimolitsas.
