Scottsdale Community College: Building a Sustainable Campus

You cannot go anywhere these days without hearing about “sustainability,” and Scottsdale Community College is getting involved by instituting new recycling standards and new “green” building.

According to the Brundtland Commission, a worldwide group convened by the United Nations and concerned about preserving the environment, defines sustainability as “...the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

One of the lead people involved in this movement on the SCC campus is Thomas Williams. Since 2006 he has directed the recycling program, which was only active in certain administrative offices, and made it a campus-wide effort. Williams is the administrative secretary for the Community Center and the SCC Green Club coordinator.  He is also on the Equality Maricopa Board, and is a member of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.

Williams said it is important for “society to sustain itself” and for people to be “conscious of resources in regions.”

SCC recently renovated some buildings on campus. This is a perfect example of working with what you have to make things better. The renovated buildings offer more natural light and a comfortable working environment. Also, new on campus is the Natural Science Building that was designed after the LEED Silver Standard, which is a building code that abides by certain policies including recycled materials, water and energy efficiency, and design. This building is much more energy efficient and offers a learning environment for future green researchers and scientists.

Brett Nachman, a journalism student and president of the SCC Green Club, said it is very important for people to live green and to “be aware of consumption.”

For a lot of people turning off lights and leaving the thermostat at a reasonable temperature is common sense. For others, it is a challenge. Being aware is one thing but only taking action will make a difference.

Interested students are urged to visit SCC’s Sustainability Resource Site, www.scottsdalecc.edu/green, and get involved in one of the many sustainability projects and programs campus.