Higher education institutions seem to have been left out of government funding for campus sustainability projects, according to three higher education groups. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported June 21 that three organizations: the National Association of College and University Business Officers, sustainability in education group Second Nature, and the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, all seek increased government funding for sustainability.
The government offers incentives to businesses who take steps toward improving energy efficiency and renewable energy, but none have covered not-for-profit colleges.
In a report released June 21, according to the Chronicle, the three groups offer policy proposals to the government that would create incentives for higher education institutions who would like to, for example, retrofit laboratories or power their campuses with renewable energy. Suggestions include extending existing tax benefits and creating new benefits for supplies of renewable energy sources, and establishing federal loan-guarantee programs for energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects.
Colleges see sustainability as not only essential to fulfilling their moral obligations, but also to improving student environment, sources told the Chronicle.
Follow Anna Schumann on Twitter @ASchumannCMN.
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