R. Steve Dick/University Relations
Wayne Pearse, building engineer for KU Memorial Unions, displays the H2Orange2 cleaning system. The device emits only the necessary amount of a green cleaning product. Pearse was recently recognized with a Sustainability Leadership Award for his efforts to save energy and make the Unions more environmentally friendly.
Awards honor efforts to make KU more sustainable
For Wayne Pearse, sustainability is a state of mind. To be truly environmentally friendly, one has to change the way he or she thinks.
Pearse and a dozen other members of the campus community were recognized with the Center for Sustainability's inaugural Sustainability Leadership Awards on Oct. 24. Awards were presented in three categories: student, staff and faculty projects.
The awards were given as part of Campus Sustainability Day. They recognize outstanding leadership and creativity in addressing issues of environmental, economic and social responsibility on the KU campus and in the broader community.
"Sustainability is a cultural issue. It's about changing your thinking," said Pearse, building engineer for KU Memorial Unions. "That's what we've done here."
Pearse received the staff Sustainability Leadership Award. He was recognized for playing a key role in projects to reduce waste and promote a healthier indoor environment at the Kansas Union.
Corey Stone/University Relations
Chevron Energy Solutions "energy monitors" are distributing "Con$erve KU" light switch stickers throughout campus. The stickers, which feature three campus designs, encourage people to turn off lights when a room is not in use. To request stickers, contact Rod Ideker with Chevron Energy Solutions at 785-550-7014 or at rideker@chevron.com and an energy monitor will deliver them.
Pearse said KU was the first institution to install such a system, nearly a decade ago. In the first six months, it shaved $13,000 from the unions' energy bills. It also saved labor costs, as it was no longer necessary for a person to turn the heat or air conditioning on dozens of times throughout the day.
"The Kansas Union is the second-largest building on campus, but it's 12th in energy consumption and 20th in steam consumption," Pearse said.
Custodians in the unions clean every day with a green cleaning process that replaces traditional supplies with non-toxic cleaning products and eliminates the human tendency to overuse supplies. Pearse credits custodial supervisor Kirby Ostrander with implementing the H2Orange2 cleaning supplies system. The system dispenses the appropriate amount of the green cleaning product for the job at hand.
"It only gives you what need for the job you're doing," Pearse said. "It takes the guess work out of it."
Ostrander also helped introduce microfiber cleaning materials that pick up dirt more effectively, thereby reducing the need for water and soap. Because of that, cleaning materials do not need to be washed as often, and the unions no longer need a laundry service.
The unions' successful recycling program, which has reduced the monthly garbage bills by $400 to $700, was another factor in the award.
The faculty award was presented to Susan Stagg-Williams, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, and Ilya Tabakh, a doctoral student in environmental engineering, for their involvement in the KU Biodiesel Initiative. The project involves the operation of a reactor that converts used cooking oil collected from a campus dining facility into biodiesel fuel. Through the initiative, Williams and Tabakh are creating research opportunities in alternative fuels, developing fuel-testing methods that will support local industry and generating a useable fuel source out of materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste. For more on the effort, visit www.oread.ku.edu/2007/august/20/biodiesel.shtml.
The student award was presented to 11 participants in the KU Hillel Everett Tzedek Social Action Project in spring 2007. The project promoted the values of sustainability throughout Hillel programming.
The group also produced a short film that explored local awareness of global climate change.
The awards ceremony was followed by a reception featuring organic and all-natural snack items provided by KU Dining Services, highlighting its MarketFresh pilot concept available at the Market in the Kansas Union. MarketFresh celebrates sustainable farming techniques and educates customers about the importance of sustainable food systems.
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