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The Green Team of the University of Maine told students there’s plenty they can do to go green without working hard during an energy independence rally held Thursday in Neville Hall.
Former president of the Green Team Walter Lazarz spoke about the concern of global warming and a climate bill in the Senate. The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will push for better daily routines to lead to climate sustainability.
“The current Senate bill advocates renewable energy, cleaner transportation, emissions reduction goals and emissions market policies,” Lazarz said. “Maine Representatives Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud each supported the House version of the bill. However, the word is that Maine Sens Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are looking to hear what the public thinks about this climate change bill.”
Lazarz thinks the public is not responding because many people are unaware of the problem.
“I feel like there’s a general lack of knowledge on this topic,” Lazarz said. “This is the real deal, and those options to fix it are here.”
Paul Wilson, vice president of the Green Team, said it is easy for students to contribute, no matter how busy they are.
“There are a lot of things you can do without really committing too much time. You can recycle. You can try to conserve energy, conserve resources by turning off lights, turning off water. You can always support bills in congress and other initiatives that promote environmental responsibility, and that doesn’t have to take long. Usually you can just sign some sort of petition or even write a brief letter to your representative or congress member just indicating that you support it,” Wilson said. “There are all kinds of ways to help out. It’s not that hard to change your everyday life just a little bit to try to be more ecologically friendly.”
Lazarz said it is not just the students who are going to be key contributors toward energy independence. He also talked about the university, which has a campus plan dedicated to carbon neutrality.
“The University of Maine is currently using the Master Plan as the key to UMaine’s energy future. However, in recent speeches, President Robert Kennedy has mentioned Campus Sustainability Coordinator Misa Saros’ draft plan for the University of Maine to begin moving toward its commitment of carbon neutrality,” Lazarz said. Greg Edwards, president of the Green Team, said UMaine has been putting in the effort toward that carbon neutrality commitment.
“I know Wells [Commons] is looking to install hot water heating from solar panels, and I know the gym is now a LEED-certified building that uses all renewable energy as its power source,” Edwards said.
Lazarz said, in the end, it is all going to be a team effort.
“We’re all going to have the same end goal of seeking climate change,” Lazarz said.
