The University of Idaho began down the path of sustainability some 20 years ago with a couple of ground breaking initiatives.  In 1979 it was discovered that the aquifer supplying the city of Moscow and the University of Idaho with water was declining at an alarming rate.  The University of Idaho decided to act proactively in order to curb this rapid decline by using wastewater effluent for landscaping purposes instead of aquifer water.  Today the university uses grey water for 90% of campus irrigation needs, saving up to 120 million gallons of aquifer water per year. 

In the mid-1980’s the university continued down the path of sustainability when one of the gas-fired boilers used to provide the university with heat broke down.  Instead of just buying a new gas fired-boiler the university decided to act progressively and purchased a wood-fired boiler.  This investment ended up being an incredible success, and today 90% of the campus heating needs are filled by a renewable resource. 

Today the University of Idaho continues its journey down the path of sustainability with actions being taken by students and administrators.  In 2006 the student run and student funded University of Idaho Sustainability Center (UISC) was formed in order to “create an active culture of student responsibility for sustainability on campus and in the community through environmental stewardship, collaboration across disciplines, entrepreneurial innovation, and community service that enhances understanding and utilization of sustainable design and lifestyle.”  The UISC has become a leading research and financial resource for students and faculty spearheading creative sustainable projects including feasibility studies to power electric cars with wind, assessing the campus’s energy consumption and designing a green roof for rainwater harvesting.  To learn more about the projects and initiatives being undertaken by the UISC visit www.uisc.uidaho.edu. 

In addition, students are supported with administrative leadership in the area of sustainability.  In March 2007 President Tim White signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, which commits the University of Idaho to work towards the goal of climate neutrality.  Another major step was taken with the hiring of a full-time sustainability coordinator in the summer of 2007.  This hiring has lead to the creation of a variety of committees on campus working toward different sustainability initiatives. 

Explore some of UI’s sustainable student projects, past and present:

http://www.uisc.uidaho.edu/Projects.html

http://www.uidaho.edu/ecodorm/

National Institute for Sustainable Transportation- student led projects supporting advancement in sustainable transportation technologies http://www.webs1.uidaho.edu/niatt/index.htm

The Sustainable Idaho Initiative- Through the Department of Environmental Science Sustainable Idaho is an effort to bring together students, administration and faculty to encourage research and development of sustainable projects http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/envs/sustainability.htm

In addition to these projects NWSEED is currently working with a student intern at UI who is undertaking a feasibility study for the construction of renewable energy sources at the University of Idaho.