Contingent from UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College attend UH System sustainability summit
This year’s summit is focusing on internal, collaborative practices of the 10-campus UH System so that UH can collectively become more sustainable and “a smarter, more effective institution.”
The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College have sent a contingent to the 4th Annual Hawai‘i Sustainability in Higher Education Summit held this week in Honolulu. The annual event provides a platform for leaders in sustainability across the state to share best practices, network, and engage with the university.
This year’s summit, being held March 10-12 at the Hawai‘i Imin International Conference Center, is focusing on internal, collaborative practices of the 10-campus UH System so that UH can collectively become more sustainable and “a smarter, more effective institution.”
The summit and working sessions are focusing on indigenous ancestral wisdom, sharing best practices, peer networking, leadership in sustainability, and national and international perspectives and experiences from which UH can learn.
Two half-day working sessions are being convened by invitation-only to advance the university’s work on campus sustainability planning, sustainability curriculum coordination, student leadership and strategic energy management.
UH Hilo, with its Energy Savings and Sustainability Committee, is already moving in the direction of sustainability, here are some examples:
- Auxiliary Services is implementing a campus-wide LED retrofit project, one building at a time. Existing light fixtures in classrooms, offices, and hallways are being replaced or retrofitted with energy efficient LED lights.
- The Local First program is a big success—UH Hilo is the only UH campus that serves 65 percent locally produced food in the campus dining rooms.
- The energy reduction program reduces plug load energy consumption, increases machine and electronic operational efficiency, and reduces peak-hour demand.
- The electrical systems of the new Student Services Building were designed to ensure energy efficient operations and earned LEED Silver certification.
Next week, Ryan Perroy, professor of geography who is attending the summit, will share with UH Hilo Stories his thoughts on the summit, takeaways, and what it means for UH Hilo. Watch this space for follow-up story.
- UPDATE— Now published, March 22, 2016: UH Hilo contingent brings home invaluable takeaways from summit on sustainability in higher education.
About the writer of this story: Susan Enright is a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
