Suffolk University's Green Efforts Include Building Design

Boston's Suffolk University has building projects that incorporate environmentally sound construction processes and sustainable principles in their design. New buildings use water conservation fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC equipment, and recycled materials. Suffolk’s 10 West Residence Hall, which opened in 2008, received LEED Gold certification.

Other Suffolk University environmental initiatives include composting, biking workshops, and programs that encourage the use of reusable bags and mugs, bottle-less water filtration system, a reuse/donation program and a green event checklist to facilitate more environmentally friendly catered events

Princeton Review has again acknowledges Suffolk University as one of the nation's most environmentally responsible colleges citing coursework and sustainable practices. Suffolk University offers more than 50 courses in sustainability in areas of study ranging from business to law to science.

“Sustainability efforts have become a way of life at Suffolk University as we attend to environmental issues in the classroom, through outreach to faculty and staff, and by revamping our infrastructure,” said Marguerite Dennis, vice president for Enrollment and International Programs.

In 2010, the University’s employee education program on waste reduction and recycling earned a Gold Achievement Award from the Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise Program, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recognized Suffolk University as the 2009 WasteWise “Partner of the Year” for its comprehensive recycling and waste-prevention efforts.

To learn more click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved

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Supreme Court Recognizes EPA Role in Carbon Pollution Protection

On June 20, 2011, the Supreme Court confirmed the vital role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect against global warming causing carbon pollution.

Carbon reduction is critically important particularly in power production. As America's biggest polluters, power plants are pumping more than two billion tons of carbon dioxide pollution into the air each year.

On the day the Supreme Court ruling was announced, David Doniger, policy director of the Climate Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), applauded the decsion saying:

"Today's ruling reaffirms the Environmental Protection Agency's duty under the nation’s 40-year-old Clean Air Act to safeguard public health and welfare from dangerous carbon pollution. Now the EPA must act without delay."

According to Doniger, the pollution from power plants, "is driving dangerous heat waves and smog, stronger storms, floods, and droughts, and many other threats to our health and safety and our homes and communities."

The reduction of pollution from energy generation is a critical component of managing the climate crisis. With the Supreme Court ruling the EPA now has additional legal authority to limit carbon emissions.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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EPA's New Clean Air Rules

A new EPA rule puts 18 aging coal plants on a path to being cleaned up or retired and another EPA rule on haze could affect a total of 300 coal facilities.

The EPA is acting on its Clean Air Act mandate to collaborate with states to reduce haze.

This milestone agreement comes after the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Parks Conservation Association and WildEarth Guardians filed a lawsuit early in 2011 challenging the EPA's failure to act.

According to a June agreement filed in the US District Court in Colorado, the EPA will be required to oversee plans to curb thousands of tons of air pollution in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming beginning next year.

The goal is to restore visibility under natural conditions by 2064. The haze in question is about much more than the visibility of national landmarks, according to WildEarth Guardians, the 18 plants targeted under the agreement collectively release at least 200,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, 150,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 120 million tons of carbon dioxide..

Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming, aren't the only states that will have to reduce emissions that cause haze. The new agreement will demand that close to three dozen more states prepare their own regional haze plans. This may prove to be the first salvo in a nationwide effort to rein in haze-causing pollutants at power plants, pulp mills, refineries and smelters.

Under the Obama administration's tenure, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has transformed CAIR into what is now called the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The EPA recently released requirements for that newest standard.

EPA figures put the cost of acting on a nationwide plan to reduce haze in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion annually. But according to the EPA, the health-care savings will total around $8.4 billion a year.

Once the 30-day comment period ends July 15, a federal judge in Colorado is tasked with issuing final approval. The deadline for that agreement is currently being negotiated but details should be announced later this year.

Although it has been a long and slow process, it looks at though efforts to have cleaner skies in America is finally coming to fruition.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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