Campus Environmental Awards (2001)

The annual campus environmental awards recognize the significant environmental achievements of the campus in the past year. The following individuals and departments received awards for their extraordinary efforts:

Ed von Bleichert for Outstanding Alumnus.

Since an undergraduate, Ed was active in advocating student and faculty involvement regarding environmental practices on campus. Now, an employee of CU, Ed has continued to play a key role on campus through his commitments to issues like the noxious weed program, reducing toxics, waste reduction and recycling. He is recognized for his dedication to the implementation of successful environmental practices here at CU.

Joe Roy for Alternative Transportation.

Joe went above and beyond in his efforts to get the Ecopass program approved for the faculty and staff. He went out of his way to show the cost-benefit advantage of the Ecopass program and succeeded in making it available and successful for this campus. The program is now in its third year.

The Department of Housing for Recycling.

The Department of Housing has made a formal commitment to an expansion of the cardboard collection program in Housing and Family Housing through an operating agreement with UCSU and Facilities Management. Housing has begun composting grounds waste. They have also hired a full-time environmental coordinator - Sue Wallace – who is committed to further improving waste reduction and recycling efforts, integrated pest management, green building and more.

The Transportation Services for Departmental Achievement.

CU's Transportation has a long history of incremental, positive environmental change. They have made a variety of significant efforts on alternative transportation, hazardous materials waste reduction, recycling, recycled products purchasing, and solid waste reduction. Some examples of their efforts are: the purchase of hybrid and electric vehicles; steam cleaning rather than solvent cleaning of parts; recycling automotive waste; and purchasing re-refined motor oil and re-tread tires.

Scott Harvey for Hazardous Materials Reduction.

Scott's work in the area of least-toxic integrated pest management has had a big impact on indoor air quality as well as other environmental/health-related issues. As the campus’ structural IPM technician, Scott has eliminated the use of pesticide sprays, aerosols, mists, and foggers. He has single-handedly saved the campus tens of thousands of dollars while providing a much safer, effective and humane pest-control service.

Ginger Cassady for Individual Achievement.

Ginger was chosen as an awardee for her commitment to promoting environmental awareness on campus through her work in motivating and leading volunteers in numerous grassroots campaigns. These include support of the Wilderness Study Group with student fees, stop drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and other environmental issues here on campus. During the 2000 elections, she spearheaded the student voter education campaign.

The Student Body for Energy Conservation.

The student body was nominated for their vote last spring to raise their student fees by $1 per semester to purchase clean, renewable energy produced by wind for the next four years, making CU the largest University purchaser of wind in the nation. This effort not only continues to make CU a leader in environmental protection, but also demonstrates the students' recognition of the importance of clean, renewable energy as pollution and depletion of resources continue. This effort will save 1400 tons of carbon dioxide, 14,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 10,000 pounds of nitrogen dioxide from entering the atmosphere every year. In addition, there are no air, water, or waste emissions from wind energy, and, in a typical wind farm design (such as Ponnequin wind farm where CU's wind energy comes from) up to 99% of the land can be utilized for other purposes, such as ranching.