Dealing With Being Green

An alternative energy conference, BuildingEnergy2008, was featured in Boston several weeks ago. The conference shed light on energy developments at YU.

Though the Orthodox and YU community may parry tikun olam as irrelevant to halakha, relegating it to the realm of Reform Judaism associated with wishy-washy self-gratifying puerile ideals, an Orthodox Jewish panelist at the conference stressed the importance of environmentalism based on the Divine imperative in Bereshit, le'Ovda u'Leshomra, 'to guard and keep [the world].' He mentioned Kanfei Nesharim, an organization which works to educate Orthodox Jews with environmental sensitivities based on Torah and divrei chazal.

Bracketing the discussion of whether or not conserving natural resources is an ideal in chazal, there are other reasons why energy efficiency and conservation is relevant to YU.

Sensitivity to the environment, pollution, and energy usage made conference participants conscientious about their actions and presumably will have similar effect on college students. In other universities, for example, energy consumption is monitored and publicly displayed so that students can track their usage. Integrating such a system at YU could likewise foster conscientiousness about energy conservation.

Another point emphasized at the conference was that universities that invest in renewable energy save money in the long run. Cognizance that YU is taking steps to become more energy-efficient, for example, would influence students to make individual lifestyle choices in concert with the endeavor. From turning the light off when leaving a room to unplugging a computer when not in use (even in 'sleep mode' it uses electricity), from recycling paper (YU is way behind in the inter-college recycle competition) to not buying drinks in plastic bottles (the conference deliberately offered no bottled water), making minimal lifestyle changes that add up to significant energy conservation and savings.

In addition to enhanced conscientiousness and saving money, becoming more environment-friendly could bolster a university's image. YU has a C- on the "Green Report Card" ("Going Green to Get Green: YU Improves to C- On Green Report Card" 11/5/07), a fact that embarrasses the university. This is in contrast to Harvard, Tufts, and Bowden College, each of which is equipped with state-of-the- art technology that saves energy. Now that YU is constructing a new building, this may be an opportune time to for purchasing energy-efficient appliances.

The YU administration has recognized this need by hiring an Energy Task Force. So far they have replaced an old boiler, which already saves energy and money. It is unclear what the Task Force has done since then. Similarly, their plans for the future of YU are not made public. Speakers at the conference who worked on making their universities more energy-efficient all stressed the importance of including students in the process. Students need to be part of the process so that they can direct results to something with which they are satisfied and become supportive.

There is a group of students at YU affiliated with the Environment/Energy Club who is pleading to be involved in the process of energy development at YU. Based on findings reported at the conference, it seems that the administration and YU as a whole would benefit by letting, if not encouraging, its students be part of the process of positive change and growth in integrating renewable resources and energy conservation programs.