|
|
|
Delaware State University’s commitment to be an institutional leader in environmental stewardship moved to a new level as it became the first state entity in President Obama’s Better Buildings challenge announced Friday.
The challenge is part of the Obama administration’s Better Buildings Initiative launched earlier this year.
The program supports job creation by seeking increased private-sector investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades to make America’s buildings 20 percent more efficient over the next decade. It also aims to reduce energy costs across the country by nearly $40 billion.
DSU President Dr. Harry L. Williams attended Obama’s announcement in Washington, D.C.
Here are four things to know about Delaware State University’s involvement:
1) DSU recognized for prior work in green energy
The University was invited to be a part of the initiative as the result of its honor in receiving the 2011 Climate Leadership Award from the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. The award recognized DSU for the work it has done as a member institution of the ACUPCC through its Go Green initiative on campus since 2009.
“Higher education should play a meaningful role in modeling best practices for their states,” Williams said. “Delaware State University is honored to join President Obama in the challenge and also to contribute to Delaware’s becoming an environmental leader in reducing its carbon footprint.”
2) One of the elite few
DSU is one of 60 university, corporate, community and industrial partners in the Better Buildings Initiative. Of the 10 universities, DSU is the only historically black colleges selected.
3) DSU will save money
This endeavor will help the school realize more than $5 million in savings over 20 years through facility improvements. Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility has issued Energy Efficiency Revenue Bonds to finance upgrades and help DSU achieve a goal of a 25 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2015. State Sen. Harris B. McDowell III (D-Wilmington North), long recognized as a leader in energy policy, said the program is important because it helps institutions take advantage of the “non-use of energy” which he observed is the nation’s cleanest and greatest new energy resource.
4) Recognition from the General Assembly
McDowell sponsored the legislation setting up the state’s Sustainable Energy Utility and serves as its co-chairman. McDowell congratulated the University on becoming part of an important national program.
“A hallmark of any great leader is his or her ability to both seize and take full advantage of the opportunities before them,” he said. “President Harry Williams and DSU Executive Vice President for Finance Amir Mohammadi have demonstrated vision and leadership by joining the SEU Bond Program and saving the University millions of dollars in energy costs.”
Dr. John Byrne, co-chair of the SEU and the architect of the bond structure, said DSU “has turned its campus into a living laboratory for how to build a sustainable future.”
Delaware State University’s commitment to be an institutional leader in environmental stewardship moved to a new level as it became the first state entity in President Obama’s Better Buildings challenge announced Friday.
The challenge is part of the Obama administration’s Better Buildings Initiative launched earlier this year.
The program supports job creation by seeking increased private-sector investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades to make America’s buildings 20 percent more efficient over the next decade. It also aims to reduce energy costs across the country by nearly $40 billion.
DSU President Dr. Harry L. Williams attended Obama’s announcement in Washington, D.C.
Here are four things to know about Delaware State University’s involvement:
1) DSU recognized for prior work in green energy
The University was invited to be a part of the initiative as the result of its honor in receiving the 2011 Climate Leadership Award from the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. The award recognized DSU for the work it has done as a member institution of the ACUPCC through its Go Green initiative on campus since 2009.
“Higher education should play a meaningful role in modeling best practices for their states,” Williams said. “Delaware State University is honored to join President Obama in the challenge and also to contribute to Delaware’s becoming an environmental leader in reducing its carbon footprint.”
2) One of the elite few
DSU is one of 60 university, corporate, community and industrial partners in the Better Buildings Initiative. Of the 10 universities, DSU is the only historically black colleges selected.
3) DSU will save money
This endeavor will help the school realize more than $5 million in savings over 20 years through facility improvements. Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility has issued Energy Efficiency Revenue Bonds to finance upgrades and help DSU achieve a goal of a 25 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2015. State Sen. Harris B. McDowell III (D-Wilmington North), long recognized as a leader in energy policy, said the program is important because it helps institutions take advantage of the “non-use of energy” which he observed is the nation’s cleanest and greatest new energy resource.
4) Recognition from the General Assembly
McDowell sponsored the legislation setting up the state’s Sustainable Energy Utility and serves as its co-chairman. McDowell congratulated the University on becoming part of an important national program.
“A hallmark of any great leader is his or her ability to both seize and take full advantage of the opportunities before them,” he said. “President Harry Williams and DSU Executive Vice President for Finance Amir Mohammadi have demonstrated vision and leadership by joining the SEU Bond Program and saving the University millions of dollars in energy costs.”
Dr. John Byrne, co-chair of the SEU and the architect of the bond structure, said DSU “has turned its campus into a living laboratory for how to build a sustainable future.”
