A.S. Government Resources

Resolution in Support of a CSU Sustainability Policy (Draft 1)

WHEREAS, The California State Student Association is the official voice of the 414,000 students of the California State University; and

WHEREAS, The Associated Students of San Diego State University advocates sustainability for all CSU campuses and has worked on sustainability and green university as policy agenda items for a number of years; and

WHEREAS, Our university is a training ground for future leaders, a laboratory for cutting edge research, a place to develop solutions to our biggest challenges, an economic engine for the San Diego region, and, as an institution, has tremendous influence over environmental, economic, and social policies in the Southern California and the rest of the State; and

WHEREAS, The Talloires Declaration of 1990, an official statement by California State University administrators supporting environmental sustainability in higher education, articulates the urgency of these environmental problems: local, regional, and global air and water pollution; accumulation and distribution of toxic wastes; destruction and depletion of forests, soil, and water; depletion of the ozone layer and emission of greenhouse gases that threaten the survival of humans and millions of other species; the integrity of earth and its biodiversity; the security of nations, and the health and rights of future generations ( HYPERLINK "http://www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html" www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html); and

WHEREAS, Executive Order D-16-00, signed by Governor Davis, promotes the integration of sustainable and cost-effective building design and construction within the State ( HYPERLINK "http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases/ 2000_releases/executive_order_D1600.html" www.energy.ca.gov/releases/2000_releases/ executive_order_D1600.html); and

WHEREAS, The US Green Building Council developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System as a voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven building rating system based on existing proved technology that evaluates environmental performance from a “whole building” perspective over a building’s life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a “green building,” with the convergence of these primary objectives: implement high energy/water efficiency, conserve natural resources, and create healthy indoor environments, all resulting in substantially lower operating, maintenance, and healthcare expenses and higher occupant productivity ( HYPERLINK "http://www.usgbc.org" www.usgbc.org, HYPERLINK "http://www.buildinggreen.com" www.buildinggreen.com, HYPERLINK "http://www.greenbuild.com" www.greenbuild.com); and

WHEREAS, The energy conservation and efficiency features that are designed into LEED buildings offer the most cost-effective means of reducing the cost and environmental impact of providing energy services; and

WHEREAS, LEED Silver-rated buildings cost no more than non-LEED buildings when the appropriate design concepts, technologies, and materials are incorporated at the beginning of the design process ( HYPERLINK "http://www.rmi.org/images/other/GDS-WhyBuildGreen.pdf" www.rmi.org/images/other/GDS-WhyBuildGreen.pdf, HYPERLINK "http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/greenbuilding/Design/ CostIssues.htm#Cost&Benefit" http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ greenbuilding/Design/CostIssues.htm#Cost&Benefit); and

WHEREAS, There exists a great opportunity to enact a CSU policy of responsible, cost-effective, development and consumption of resources as demonstrated by the design, construction, and use of LEED standards ( HYPERLINK "http://www.esm.ucsb.edu/about/donald_bren_hall.html" www.esm.ucsb.edu/about/donald_bren_hall.html); and

WHEREAS, Global warming of the earth by greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere occurs when fossil fuels are burned, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to act as a shield to trap heat inside the atmosphere; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing consensus in the scientific community that human-driven global climate change is not only a real threat, but may be the greatest environmental threat of our age, presenting grave and documented threats to the coasts and low-lying countries of the world; to the world’s agriculture and its economy; and to all of Earth’s ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, The California legislature has declared that global warming is a matter of increasing concern for public health and the environment and that control and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases are critical to slow the effects of global warming ( HYPERLINK "http://www.leginfo.cal.gov/pub/bill/ asm/ab_14511500/ab_1493_bill_20020722_chaptered.html" www.leginfo.cal.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_14511500/ ab_1493_bill_20020722_chaptered.html); and

WHEREAS, Renewable energy is created not by burning fossil fuels but by tapping into clean sources such as solar, wind, and waves that produce little or no pollution and generate power from energy sources that are in plentiful supply and virtually never run out; and

WHEREAS, California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, SB 1078, mandates that 20 percent of the State’s energy generation be renewable by December 31, 2017 ( HYPERLINK "http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1078_bill_20020912_chaptered.pdf" http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1078_bill_20020912_chaptered.pdf); and

WHEREAS, The State of California Energy Action Plan, passed by the California Energy commission, the Consumer Power and conservation Financing Authority, and the California Public Utilities Commission states that the State is aggressively implementing SB 1078, “with the intention of accelerating the completion date to 2010” ( HYPERLINK "http://www.energy.ca.gov/2003_energy_action_plan/2003-05-08_ACTION_PLAN.PDF" http://www.energy.ca.gov/2003_energy_action_plan/2003-05-08_ACTION_PLAN.PDF); and

WHEREAS, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Environmental Policy Agenda stipulates that 20 percent of all electricity sold on the grid come from renewable energy sources by 2010, with 33 percent coming from renewable energy sources by 2020 ( HYPERLINK "http://www.joinarnold.com/en/agenda/#D1" http://www.joinarnold.com/en/agenda/#D1); and

WHEREAS, The Los Angeles Community College district recently adopted responsible development policies requiring that all 40-50 new Proposition A buildings be LEED Silver or higher with at least 15-25 percent renewable energy standard and with at least 10 percent being generated on site with energy from the sun
( HYPERLINK "http://www.cleanenergynow.org/media/ pressreleases/07122002.html" www.cleanenergynow.org/ media/pressreleases/07122002.html); and

WHEREAS, One year ago the University of California used no clean energy and had no standards for green buildings, yet the UC Board of Regents passed a sustainability policy in July 2003 committing to the installation of 10 megawatts (equivalent to power used by 5,000 homes) of renewable energy across the 10 campuses; the purchase of 10% of the university’s utility purchased energy from clean energy sources immediately and ramping up to 20% by 2017; and the reduction of system wide energy use to 10% below 2000 levels by 2017, with a commitment to build all future UC construction to LEED equivalent standards; and

WHEREAS, A CSU energy portfolio with a higher percentage of clean, renewable energy generated within the state and on our campuses will increase safety and security by reducing dependence on corporations and on other states and nations for energy; lessen pollution and our contribution to global warming; create many skilled jobs; and keep more energy sector profits and taxes in California ( HYPERLINK "http://www.calpirg.org/reports/renewableswork.pdf" www.calpirg.org/reports/renewableswork.pdf); and

WHEREAS, A CSU energy portfolio with a higher percentage of clean, renewable energy generated within the state and on campuses will increase safety and security by reducing dependence on energy firms and other state organizations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Associated Students of San Diego State University calls upon the CSU Board of Trustees to adopt a policy that all new and renovated buildings at CSU campuses be designed and built to a LEED Silver rating or higher (without binding the CSU to actually pursue LEED certifications); and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Associated Students of San Diego State University calls upon the CSU Board of Trustees to direct that energy use per CSU student be reduced by 20 percent by 2014 and 40 percent by 2024, as compared to 2003-2004 figures, through energy conservation programs, energy-efficient building design and use of high-efficiency equipment and systems; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Associated Students of San Diego State University calls upon the CSU Board of Trustees to direct that 25 percent of energy use in the CSU system be from renewable sources by 2014 and 50 percent from renewable sources by 2024, at least half of which will be generated onsite incorporating sources such as solar, wind and biomass; and be it further

RESOLVED, That distribution of this resolution include, but not be limited to, the California State Students Association, the CSU Board of Trustees, the 23 campus presidents, student body presidents, the Statewide Academic Senate, and Chancellor Charles B. Reed.

 

Passed by the Associated Students Council on Wednesday, February 25, 2004.

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Juanita Salas, Associated Students President