Associated Students has teamed up with the Green Campus Program to make eight UCSB buildings more energy efficient in the next three years.
A.S.’s “net zero” campaign aims to not only create more energy-efficient buildings, but also to curb high energy costs. Inspired by the environmentally-friendly construction of the Student Resource Building, A.S. plans to install photovoltaic solar panels on more campus buildings as a waste control method and implement other sustainable modernizations, as well.
A.S. External Vice President of local affairs Clay Carlson, a fourth-year environmental studies major, said utility bills for the eight buildings in question currently total to over a million dollars each year.
“By installing the solar panels, we are eliminating utility bills so the money can go right back to student services,” Carlson said. ”If we do it now, we will start saving immediately.”
The Divison of Student Affairs has already donated $3 million towards the projected $9 million needed to launch the project, Carlson said.
Representative-at-Large Mike Hewitt said acting now would be the best way to yield a long-term solution.
“With the “net zero” campaign, Student Affairs will never have a utility to pay again,” Hewitt said. “This will give the saved money right back to the students.”
If unable to collect the remaining funding from outside donors, A.S. has requested that student lock-in fees between four and seven dollars per quarter be applied towards this “net zero” campaign, with a sunset date of 10 years. However, the measure’s passage would require a majority vote from the student body.
SickeningOK, so I’m reading this article about how Student Affairs has committed $3 million toward installation of "photovoltaic solar panels on more campus buildings as a waste control method," and it turns my stomach. As if paying a dollar or two per kilowatt-hour is the smart and green way to eliminate electric bills where you’re now only paying 9 cents. And now SA and AS are acting just like sub-prime mortgage lenders … agitating the students body to pursue their green dream by trading their excellent low rent apartment for a mortgage of student fees for greenery that is beyond… Read more »
There’s already a Student Lock-in Fee for thisAnd it’s called TGIF. It costs students $2.60 each per quarter and is supposed to pay for exactly these types of projects. Why do you need another one? According to this article http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=18762 TGIF was used (in a year period) for these projects (I’m just copy/pasting): – $5,000 budget to reduce the amount of junk mail received by mail services – $15,300 allotted to the “Real Food Challenge,” which ensures local, ethically produced, ecologically sound and humane food is used by campus dining services – $8,000 was awarded to the Associated Students Dept.… Read more »
Cost-Benefitkcpike, Hard to tell whether they’ve sized up the pros and cons of asking for a lock-in. And are they asking for a new lock-in, or asking for a portion of existing fees to be re-directed to this for 10 years? Nexus, please help here. On the cost-benefit of the solar projects AS has previously done, maybe the RecCen solar installation can provide some useful info. On the costs and benefits AS claimed for that project, I found this item from a Nexus article earlier in the year (http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=18624): "Although the $1.5 million price tag seems steep, Jurich said the… Read more »
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Furloughed (I think you’re the same person with the blank username on the above post too?) — you should write to the Nexus about this issue and voice your information if you have not already. Good stuff.
Thanks dliuYou made my (furlough) day. Yes, it was me, "Furloughed", who wrote the comment above … I don’t know why the Nexus’s comment system blanks me out sometimes, but it could be that my comments take too long to compose and submit. In a different reality, I would submit an article to the Nexus with my real name. But, I’m sorry to say that being 50 something, and struggling with a furlough pay cut, and being scared of layoff and starting over …. I just have to look after my family, and stay anonymous, while offering my honest opinion… Read more »