The purpose of this essay is to evaluate Arizona State University (ASU) sustainability efforts by focusing on economic, environmental, social, and educational contexts. However, measuring sustainability is a complex process among many organizations (Lozano, 963). The author proposes that the focus should be on economic, environmental, social, and educational contexts.
ASU remains a regional model for sustainability activities and practices. As a result, the institution has made major contributions in many areas. It emphasizes reduction of consumption, enhancing efficiency, and reevaluating products and actions. ASU instills sustainability efforts in the entire university through its business practices and policies. The institution appreciates efforts of all its partners in sustainability practices.
Generally, it has focused on areas of energy, water, transportation, food services, carbon neutrality, buildings and grounds, waste and recycling, and purchasing.
These practices and activities fall within the four critical areas that ASU has identified. These include “climate neutrality, zero waste, active engagement, and principled practice” (ASU Annual Review 2012 2). Economic, social, environmental, and educational aspects of sustainability efforts reflect a complete evaluation tool for universities.
Economic
Some of ASU’s sustainability efforts focus on direct economic impacts on students, public, staff, providers of capital, and other external stakeholders.
For instance, Energize Phoenix is a sustainability effort that has received “$25 million funding from the US Department of Energy Better Buildings Neighborhood Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ASU Driving Economic Development 5). The project would save energy, create jobs, and improve many neighborhoods along the Metro light rail.
ASU has also joined forces with other industries to develop the economy by creating jobs, new technologies, and highly educated employees. This is a way of improving the quality of life of the public, communities, and business.
Some sustainability ideas in sustainable high-energy and low-cost initiatives have resulted in the creation of spin-out companies, which have reduced power outages and dependency of the US on foreign oils.
ASU has developed one of the largest solar systems in Arizona. This is a sustainability effort that uses natural resources and teaches students about sustainability. The institution has changed some of its campuses into a solar laboratory for generating electricity.
Social
ASU creates knowledge through research for sustainability, which is critical for making informed decisions for positive impacts on society and advancing living social and economic status of the public.
ASU has focused on user-inspired studies to address societal and global challenges. This is evident in the institution’s effort to reduce waste and conserve energy and environments.
Further, the university engages in transdisciplinary research, which focuses on communities beyond its staff and students to include the diverse aspects of society.
Environmental
ASU has decided to reduce waste by diversion and aversion (ASU Sustainability 1). For instance, ASU has reduced wastage of water by utilizing “efficient fixtures, improved water management, and wastewater for automatic and irrigation systems” (ASU Sustainability 1).
The University diverts solid waste for the landfill for “recycling, repurposing, reusing, and composting” (ASU Sustainability 1).
ASU averts wastes by reducing consumption. By 2015, the University intends to reduce 90 percent of solid wastes from the landfill from its institutions (ASU Sustainability 1). Also, it also aims to gain carbon neutrality by constructing green buildings, which will reduce emissions by 2025 and make carbon level neutral by 2035.
ASU constructed the largest solar project in Arizona. The project supplies nearly 30 percent of the energy required during the day by the institution. The University has been able to develop this project through donation and external supports.
The Sustainable Cities Network assists local communities in tackling their daily challenges by looking for sustainable solutions. It was a collaborative initiative that involved the city, ASU, county, and tribal leaders who came together to connect research focus and major challenges of sustainability. The US Environmental Protection Agency recognized the work of the network and its effort in promoting sustainable development in the state in March 2013.
ASU aims to reduce the power required and lessen the discharge of toxic gases. Today, ASU works on a technology that would reduce the urban heat island (UHI). This technology will improve the absorption of the day’s heat from streets, concrete, and other structures and increase temperatures during the night.
It has become a major concern in a large city like Phoenix. Specifically, ASU professors have focused on reducing UHI by introducing low, dense construction materials, using additives that could reduce surface heat released on streets and by concretes.
Educational
Today, ASU conducts staff evaluations to determine their involvement in sustainability efforts (ASU Sustainability 1). It is the first institution to introduce “sustainability criteria in employee evaluation by Sustainability Literacy Program” (ASU Sustainability 1).
The Global Institute of Sustainability is ASU’s sustainability hub. The hub aims to promote research, education, and business initiatives that modernize the globe. ASU School of Sustainability has developed a curriculum that provides transdisciplinary degree courses, which aim to find workable solutions for public, financial, and environmental issues. The hub has received substantial support for its sustainability efforts.
Table 1: ASU’s Sustainability Efforts: SWOT
Works Cited
ASU. Annual Review 2012: Sustainable Efforts. 2012.
—. Driving Economic Development. 2013. Web.
—. Sustainability. 2012. Web.
Lozano, Rodrigo. “A tool for a Graphical Assessment of Sustainability in Universities (GASU).” Journal of Cleaner Production 14 (2006): 963-972. Print.