MSU is stepping up and becoming an environmentally friendly leader for universities everywhere - one step at a time.
While it would be very easy for the university to sit back and continue doing things the way everyone is used to, MSU is spending a little bit more money and time to formulate ideas and solutions around campus to reduce emissions, promote biofuels and create a more natural environment.
Lawn mowers and other landscape equipment on campus now use biofuels to replace diesel fuel, lubricants, oils and grease. With the recent $50 million federal grant to study biofuels, it's great to know one small department is already using biofeuls.
And while biodiesels may not be the answer to reducing the United States' dependence on foreign oil, they are perfect for small-scale uses like grounds maintenance. It's not easy to switch completely from traditional diesel to biodiesel for a large school like MSU, and the fact that MSU already did so is a testament to the school's environmental responsibility.
Also, the Grounds Maintenance Department mows most lawn areas on campus every other week to save on fuel, and in highly visible areas that require mowing more often, a higher blade is used that leaves the grass longer.
Certain areas south of the Red Cedar River are dedicated as "no-mow zones" and get cut as infrequently as once a year.
All these examples of longer grass help filter out fertilizers and other substances before they reach the river. Since the Red Cedar River eventually flows into Lake Michigan, it should be kept as pollutant free as possible to help the whole state.
As another testament to the school's recognizable devotion to sustainability, MSU became one of only seven universities to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, a legally binding program dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in a cost-effective manner.
Other campus initiatives to "go green" around campus include using environmentally friendly cleaners, implementing "green roofs" that hold storm water and decrease energy costs, environmentally friendly building construction, the Student Organic Farm south of campus, and several environmental science and environmental studies programs and classes.
It would be easy and cheap for MSU to do nothing to promote sustainability across campus, but the school made the right decision to become a leader environmentally - to set an example for other schools to follow.
MSU must continue to implement new environmental initiatives and improve areas on campus that are notoriously environmentally unfriendly, such as the cafeterias. If MSU keeps growing and evolving enough to maintain its status as an environmental leader in the academic world, the cachet will benefit MSU's image and East Lansing's environmental impact as a whole.
