Gone Green

This week, as we celebrate the university’s worldwide impact on learning, it’s important to look at the impact we’re having on the environment here and at all Temple campuses.

In 2004, the university teamed up with nine other schools in the state to form the Pennsylvania Green Growth Partnership – aimed at promoting green technology in the stae and beyond.

According to the PAGGP Web site, the consortium’s goals can be surmised in four categories: to attract new green building opportunities, help Pennsylvania’s businesses to stay relevant through green products, facilitate new green technologies through Pennsylvania’s universities, and create new jobs by connecting local businesses with emerging markets.

Here at Temple, work is being done in the fields of engineering and sustainable communities. Dr. David Kargbo of the engineering department, one of Temple’s representatives in the partnership, works primarily in the field of stream management. Pennsylvania’s streams are among the most polluted in the nation due to heavy damage from mining.

Dr. Jeffry Featherstone of the Ambler Campus’ Center for Sustainable Communities is the university’s other representative, focusing on the importance of green building.

With such renowned talent on campus,
isn’t it about time the university
used its own assets?

Throughout this semester, we’ve focused on Temple using its top-notch academic talent to benefit its public relations initiatives. Whether it’s community service, branding or sustainability, Temple has yet to take full advantage of its resources.

In the last 15 years, there have been upwards of 10 new building projects on Main Campus alone. None of these projects have made an effort toward green technology – let alone the work done by Temple researchers.

This week, the university is showing how much it can have an impact around the academic world – now it’s time to show what we can do for the whole world. The green growth partnership is a step in the right direction. Let’s give our graduate students and professionals a chance to showcase what Temple can do to help the environment.