Campus sustainability calls for individual effort, collective awareness
As a sophomore pursuing a minor in Energy and Water Sustainability, I was ecstatic when I found out I would be living in a building unlike any other - Duncan College, the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold-certified building at Rice. However, after living in Duncan for two months, I am beginning to question not only the structural design, but also whether or not these residential colleges are actually any more environmentally conscious than the others.The university took a firm stance on its commitment towards sustainability by constructing these buildings according to LEED standards, but it is not enough to just erect these two structures and expect that they will carry the whole campus towards sustainability. For example, even though Duncan and McMurtry College have light sensors in their bedrooms, it does not mean that an extensive amount of electricity is being saved across campus. The solution does not reside in installing high-tech light sensors in every single dorm, classroom and office - it resides in becoming conscious and taking a personal initiative to turn off the lights when leaving a room. The practices and mindsets of the members of the Rice community need to change in order for the university to become worthy of "gold."