Although Elon University is making a large push for sustainability, some students are calling for even more action by students, staff and faculty.
The Sierra Club recently released the 2011 Coolest School rankings. Elon was ranked No. 57 out of 118 schools on the list, scoring lowest in the category of energy.
"Being included in the Sierra Cool Schools list is great recognition for Elon's sustainability programs," said Elaine Durr, director of sustainability. "We continue to work toward implementation of the Sustainability Master Plan and Climate Action Plan."
Elon is currently in the process of assessing its sustainability program and determining how to improve it. The school has registered to participate in the S.T.A.R.S program, or Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, a self-assessment tool used by many institutions.
These efforts are attractive to Elon's prospective students, but current students are concerned about making changes that have a greater impact, according to Brett Evans, activism coordinator of Elon's Sierra Club.
"We want to make sure changes aren't just cosmetic," Evans said. "Elon changes things that you would put in an ad. We want to make sure the changes are on a deeper level."
Freshman Gina Malito lives in Colonnades and said she has noticed the lights in the hallways and common area rely on censors to conserve energy. Despite this and other efforts to conserve energy, the low ranking in the energy section indicates there is still room for improvement.
"It's not necessarily where we are, but the fact that we are making progress shows the commitment t o w a r d s sustainability," said Elizabeth G i b s o n , president of the Sierra Club at Elon University.
Students recently received an email from the Department of Sustainability asking them to participate in a survey relating to matters of sustainability. They were asked various questions about their own habits that could affect the environment. One of the questions was whether students would support a Green Fund.
"A lot of other schools have them, and we have not made a lot of progress toward getting one," Evans said. "The money would go towards things that are above and beyond what Elon already does."
Durr said S.T.A.R.S will help Elon determine how to improve its sustainability efforts, particularly in comparison to peer institutions.
Students agree and have demonstrated their appreciate for the movement to save energy. Students wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and live greener lives now have access to the "Sustainable Living Guide." The first edition of the guide was published this year and is available on Elon's Sustainability website.
"The guide suggests tips to reduce your environmental impact in terms of power and water consumption, waste management, transportation and purchasing," Durr said.