President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

University of Dayton students recognize that the future of the planet is in all of our hands. That’s why it was so fitting that four undergraduates had front-row seats at the news conference in Kettering Labs on Earth Day at which a plan was announced to bring carbon-free power to the entire campus and student neighborhoods. 

This pioneering partnership with AES Ohio, Tallgrass, and Kanin to recover waste heat and turn it into electricity will shrink our carbon footprint by an eye-popping 71 percent overnight. Moving ALL of UD’s electricity (yes, that’s right: A-L-L of it!) to a renewable source is more than noteworthy; it’s a point of pride for the entire University and all those who have worked diligently on sustainability initiatives at UD over the years. It’s a significant move toward becoming a zero-carbon campus, and for our students, such welcomed news.

“Is it possible to power the things we love and green the planet at the same time?” asked Tom Raga, president of AES Ohio, at the event.

UD students would acknowledge that it’s not only possible, but also imperative to find and invest in renewable energy solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This project is a big step toward the shared goal of a cleaner planet for all,” said Liesl Carter, a junior mechanical engineering major with a concentration in energy and systems management.

Amelia Dougherty, a junior sustainability major and an energy analyst fellow for the city of Dayton’s Office of Sustainability, called the initiative “a step forward towards a long-term renewable energy solution” for UD, but urged us to do more.

“The decarbonized power project will curb a significant portion of the University’s carbon footprint, but we must continue to work towards energy efficiency and reducing consumption through sustainability education and awareness on campus. It’s a collective effort, and this is just the beginning,” she observed.

More than a decade ago, UD signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledging that the campus would become carbon neutral by 2050. With a $12.5 million gift from the Hanley Foundation, we established the Hanley Sustainability Institute to create a more sustainable campus and become a leader in sustainability education and research.

Today, thanks to the dedicated efforts of students, faculty, and staff across disciplines, programs, and divisions, we have become known as one of the most environmentally responsible universities in the nation. Our students have heard — and are responding to — the call of Pope Francis to take care of “our common home” and leave the world a better place.

At spring commencement I will award degrees in sustainability to a dozen undergraduates and acknowledge another 32 students who’ve earned minors. I’ve discovered that students from a diversity of majors want to be good stewards and are passionate about protecting the environment. Many have taken courses in sustainability, and all will graduate from a university that proudly stands at the forefront of change in reducing our carbon footprint.

With these students, we are leading the way to a better, more just, and sustainable future.