Sustainability at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
by Michele McKay

This month we asked Linda Day, University of Hawaii at Manoa Sustainability Communications Coordinator, to describe what it means to be sustainable.

Make Every Day Earth Day: Linda, what is “sustainability”?

Linda Day: Sustainability incorporates certain values about how we live our lives. The most often-quoted definition is from the United Nations’ World Commission on Environment and Development: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The term recognizes an obligation to our children to manage wisely our environmental, economic, social and cultural resources now in order to ensure sufficient and reliable supplies of energy, water and food in the future. It also is about preserving a sense of heritage and community.

MEDED: Why is sustainability important to us here in Hawaii?

LD: The archipelago of Hawaii is the most isolated group of islands on Earth. We rely on imported petroleum for over 90% of our energy. Our fresh water supply is limited. We bring in most of our food and materials. So, we are extremely vulnerable to potentially catastrophic interruptions in our supply streams. This is why sustainability – carefully managing our resources now, so they are available for the future – is essential to Hawaii.

MEDED: What is UH Manoa doing to foster sustainability?

LD: UHM is taking steps toward creating a model sustainable campus in many areas, including energy, climate change/global warming, recycling, transportation, and food.

• Our energy conservation and efficiency goals are to achieve 30% reduction of campus energy use by 2012; 50% reduction by 2015; 25% supplied by renewable sources by 2020; energy, water, and waste independence by 2050.
• UHM scientists and environmental experts are tracking campus greenhouse gas emissions in order to reduce our impact on climate change and global warming.
• We recycle more than 1100 tons of glass, plastic, aluminum, paper, metal, electronics and green waste annually, and we are purchasing more sustainably, such as increasing the recycled content in the paper goods we buy.
• More than 60% of our campus vehicle fleet is powered by alternative fuels, and we are engaged in mass transit and bicycle transportation improvements.
• This month, we are discussing our campus food service contracts regarding locally grown, organic, vegetarian, low-fat and GMO ingredients, reusable and biodegradable serving ware, reduced packaging, composting of waste, and using cooking oil to produce biodiesel fuel.

MEDED: How can people learn more and get involved in sustainability efforts?

LD: To find out more about sustainability projects at UHM, call me at 956-9346 or check out our website at sustainability.hawaii.edu And everyone is welcome to come to Campus Sustainability Week, October 22-26, where UHM students, faculty and staff will be sharing their work with each other and the public.

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