As the campus community celebrates Earth Month, Lydia Knox discusses the state of sustainability and explores how the University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032.
What does it mean for Syracuse University to invent and demonstrate cutting-edge sustainability initiatives?
It means reducing the University’s environmental impact responsibly by identifying, promoting and implementing practices that will meet our current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. And it includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through wisely managing energy efficiency projects.
Projects like the recently completed improvements to the mechanical systems at the Center for Science and Technology, a multi-year initiative that resulted in a 25% reduction in steam use in 2023 and an annual emissions reduction of over 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). Or the recent replacement of the Lally Athletics Complex arena lighting, an effort expected to reduce carbon emissions by 141 metric tons per year.
“Sustainability encompasses a lot, but I think in the most basic sense it’s trying to really have a positive impact on the community and on the environment, and to just make sure that the practices we’re putting forth each day are both benefiting us now at this current moment, but also will have a benefit to future generations of students, faculty and staff here at Syracuse University, and on a larger level, the whole Syracuse community. This is not one fix-all. It’s going to take a lot of people,” says Lydia Knox G’22, the sustainability project manager in the Sustainability Management Office.
During April, the campus community is coming together to celebrate Earth Month. On this ‘Cuse Conversation, Knox discusses the state of sustainability at Syracuse University, the wide range of Earth Month efforts occurring on campus, how the University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032, how you can get involved with these initiatives and why she left her career as a television meteorologist to pursue her passion for sustainability and preserving the Earth.
Check out episode 162 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Knox. A transcript [PDF] is also available.
We only have one planet and I don’t see why we wouldn’t want to preserve it, protect it and make it a great place to live. We’re only here for so long and we want to have a positive impact on our planet. And if you have kids, you want to make sure they’re able to live and enjoy this planet as much as you did.
I would say they’re accelerating. It’s an exciting time because I feel like we’re really making strides and we have some great plans for the future, along with effective projects that have already been completed. We’ve already started to see some of the benefits to those efforts, some of the energy reductions on campus and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which is one of the biggest focuses of our department.
New LED lighting fixtures are shining bright in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex arena.
Being carbon neutral means that we have to counteract whatever carbon emissions we’re emitting into the atmosphere by reducing or offsetting those emissions. That could be through sequestering carbon through our forest, carbon offsets, renewable energy credits or other things.
We just updated our Climate Action Plan within the past month and have this two-phase approach. Our biggest focus is on energy efficiency projects. We’ve particularly looked at our buildings because heating and cooling buildings account for the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions through the steam and chilled water used to heat and cool our buildings. We’ve already calculated what the emissions reductions will be like in the future years and we’re going to combine that with phase two strategies like forest sequestration or on-site renewable generation.
Then there are external influences through the state like the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which aims for a transition to zero-emission vehicles which will help us reduce emissions. It’s going to take a combination of efforts to help us reach that goal of carbon neutrality by 2032.
Lydia Knox
The biggest thing is reporting any problems you see, whether a window in your classroom is left open in the winter and the heat is going right outdoors, the lights are always left on in a room or there isn’t a recycling bin in your office. Report those problems. Don’t be silent. If you really are passionate about something or feel there’s something wrong, let us know because we can address the issue and work through it with you. When people don’t bring those issues up, they go unnoticed and nothing gets fixed. So please reach out. Go to the sustainability website or email us. Little changes add up to make a big difference.
For Sustainability Month, we’re going to have a lot of events on campus to give people a chance to volunteer in Pete’s Giving Garden and also interact with students about our sustainable initiatives. We’re going to have a composting event where we highlight how we compost in the dining halls and how composting is used on campus. We’re holding a tabling event on the Einhorn Walk at the end of the month, and we’re going to have an online webinar on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce our emissions. Lastly, we’re going to have a tabling event on the importance of bats as pollinators. There’s a variety of activities planned.
