The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees has made a serious commitment to lessen its environmental impact and to improve the quality of life for our community, by approving a Sustainability Plan at their January 19 meeting. The Plan is posted on the District website, and is accessible at http://sbccd.org/SustainabilityPlan.
Board President Carleton W. Lockwood, Jr. said, “This Plan represents both a vision and a roadmap for our District. The Board’s approval of this Plan indicates our long-term dedication to improving every aspect of our environment.”
SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron noted, “This Sustainability Plan establishes specific goals for how we will achieve sustainability. Through the Plan we can address sustainability in a holistic manner, while adapting sustainability principles to local conditions and needs. In order to make the Plan workable, we incorporated feedback from both the members of the District community, and from the community at large.
With the adoption of this Plan, we are moving forward with our participation with the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which requires very substantial actions. We have to demonstrate our commitment to these goals through our deeds.”
The Plan sets forth seven specific goals, each containing accountable and measurable steps towards accomplishment of the goal:
- Create a campus-wide culture of sustainability
- Incorporate sustainability into the development of new and renovated facilities
- Invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs
- Develop a more sustainable transportation system
- Develop a more sustainable system for the purchase of supplies and materials
- Enhance curricular educational opportunities for sustainability
- Establish a commitment to climate action
Baron explained that such items as the requirement of Energy Star™ appliance purchases within the SBCCD; the Omnitrans Ridership program for students; the pending LEED certification of buildings, including the Physical Sciences Building at San Bernardino Valley College and the Crafton Hills College Aquatic Center; and the Solar Farm at Crafton Hills College now under construction are all examples of specific accomplishments within the Plan that comply with the ACUPCC standards. “We are very proud of the steps we have already taken, particularly in such a harsh economic climate. The SBCCD is working toward making the environment better for not only our students and our employees, but for our community as a whole.”
SBCCD Facilities Project Manager Scott Stark said, “Approval of this plan by our Board of Trustees is a great start! Now, building awareness, which includes both an understanding of the implications of sustainability and a willingness to take action at the grass roots level of our campus communities; combined with support, encouragement, motivation, and authorization from the top, will make things happen and move us toward a more sustainable future.” Stark provided the Board with a presentation on the Plan and the completed and upcoming projects that addressed specific goals. The presentation is available on the SBCCD website at http://sbccd.org/SustainabilityPresentation.
In 2010, Chancellor Baron established a Sustainability Plan Committee under shared governance to begin the implementation of Board Policy 3580 - Sustainability. The development of the Sustainability Plan was the Committee’s first project, which was made available to the public for comment, and revised as a result of input from the community.