URI taking extra steps to go green

KINGSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - URI is taking some extra steps to go green.

The University has just hired its first Sustainability Officer.

It's Marsha Garcia's mission to get the campus as green as possible.

"I think it's a responsibility of all universities, especially URI, to make sure that our study of any discipline can handle the issues of global importance," Garcia says.

Garcia also says the campus needs to engage in practices and principals of sustainability, and that now begins during the freshman year, but will cross over to faculty and staff.

"Our biggest project right now is transportation," says Garcia.

Garcia says most of the cars coming into URI are single occupancy and with 16,000 to 18,000 people on campus, that comes out to a lot of cars.

"We are looking at ways to reduce that number to bring greenhouse emissions down and also create a better community.  More people, less cars," Garcia says.

Garcia is encouraging the use of public transportation and car pooling.

In addition, with her climate action plan, she is focusing on energy saving projects to reduce carbon emissions.

"And we have another strategic plan which is an all inclusive plan that looks at curriculum at URI, making sure students have an opportunity to learn about sustainability," says Garcia.

All freshmen are now required to read a book about sustainability, setting them up for a learning process about the practice.

"And to help the students, faculty, and staff understand what it is like to be a solid community and work together," Garcia says.