Imagine driving a car that averages over 60 miles to the gallon. Actually, it’s not that hard to imagine; a fuel-efficient superstar vehicle might not be too far away for the average American consumer.
Several days ago, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency announced that Washington is considering tougher standards for fuel economy that will be implemented in the near future.
According to a recent Arizona Republic article, the standard fuel economy expectations for new vehicles are likely to fall between 47 to 62 miles per gallon by 2025.
The deadline for tougher standards might appear to be rather far into the future, but adjusting for large-scale changes in auto manufacturing takes time, human capital, equipment and financial backing. Assuming there is adequate time for manufacturing processes to change, the fuel efficient cars of today may well become even more commonplace down the road.
Why is fuel efficiency even a policy concern in Washington? A number of factors, including dollars and cents, have pushed sustainability and environmental stewardship to the forefront of U.S. politics. From the debate over global warming to the conflicts over American dependence on foreign oil, the environment plays a significant role in the daily lives of all who call this country home, whether via domestic politics or international relations.
Even college students can’t escape the reach of the environment. Sustainability and environmental stewardship may be only buzz words to you, but they still mean something. Environmental stewardship covers how limited or scarce resources are used or allocated, and sustainability addresses how the natural resources of the present day can be preserved for the generations of tomorrow.
ASU recently made the Princeton Review’s Green College Honor Roll as one of 18 schools in the nation with maximum ratings for sustainability. ASU’s School of Sustainability was the first program of its kind at a U.S. college, and our University has the most energy-providing solar panels on any domestic college campus. Harvard also made the list for its composting and recycling efforts.
Since 2005, ASU has extended its focus on sustainability to new construction on campus. The University is committed to designing all of its new buildings to meet certain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. In the case of the Fulton Center, 25 percent of the construction materials came from recycled resources.
The research power of ASU also comes into play with sustainability. LightWorks is an initiative to conduct cutting-edge research in renewable energy fields that leverage ASU’s strengths to help lead the way in the “green revolution,” which has been coined by the likes of President Barack Obama and writer Thomas Friedman, among others. Based on the principle of comparative advantage or playing to your strengths, it makes sense for ASU, among other institutions in our state, to take a careful look at light-based renewable energy. After all, the average city in Arizona gets at least 100 days of clear, bright skies each year, according to the Western Regional Climate Center.
Sustainability can be viable for a small business, too. Engrained Café in the Memorial Union on the Tempe campus features a unique menu and ambiance, in addition to a commitment to reduce waste. By incorporating tray-free dining into the operations of the restaurant, management estimates that Engrained saves annually over 400,000 gallons of water and 77,000 pounds of food, according to its website. And judging by the buzzing crowds at lunchtime, ditching the trays to lend a helping hand to the environment appears to have done no harm to the café’s social scene.
While the world turns, political debates and scientific questions regarding the environment and the allocation of scarce resources still linger. But, as members of the ASU community, we might all have roles to play in the green revolution.
Send your green ideas to Isaiah at isaiah.mccoy@asu.edu
