From a Feb 2. Cornell Chronicle article:
“The Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) has adopted a culture of sustainability that welcomes ideas from everyone in the organization.
“‘We are empowering people by giving them an opportunity to be a part of this [sustainability] cause,” said Mike Hoffmann, director of CUAES. “You have to offer all of the citizens an opportunity to do the right thing.'”
The right things — which will help the university meet its goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050 — include:
- Using a biodiesel blend in tractors.
- Retrofitting greenhouses with energy-saving lights.
- Planting 5,000 trees on a hillside instead of mowing it at the Homer C. Thompson Research Farm, in Freeville.
- Stabilizing a creek bank.
- Closing an underused building for the winter.
CUAES is also spearheading a pilot project to cut energy use and the carbon footprint for selected CALS buildings.