April 18, 2008
Daily Lobo
Students should support UNM's sustainability plan
Editor,
I am a visiting engineering professor from Pennsylvania State University with a specialty in alternative energy. In the honors program, I'm teaching a course on climate change and its impact on New Mexico.
Every day I walk to UNM, I marvel at the brightness and intensity of the solar energy splashing down on me and the campus.
In my community, solar collectors are sprouting up despite cloudy weather, because it is making sense: Energy prices are rising rapidly, and the carbon dioxide emissions from our coal-fired power plants are damaging the Earth.
My home university has initiated a plan to reduce carbon emissions through building energy efficiency, wind power and alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen and biodiesel.
This week, I received an e-mail from the UNM president with a link to a document titled "Sustainability 2010."
It is an ambitious and absolutely necessary proposal, given the reality that New Mexico is one of the states that will be most affected by climate change.
Projections are that the temperatures in the state will be significantly higher by the year 2030. Less snow will fall in the mountains, resulting in lower water flows sooner in spring time. The adverse effects will have a tremendous impact on people, the ecosystems and the economy.
The president's proposal stated that students can become directly involved in UNM's efforts. This is so important because the reality is, this generation will potentially bear the brunt of the warming trend unless it's mitigated by conservation and alternative energy sources.
New jobs will be created for graduates to solve these problems.
I foresee UNM becoming the first solar university in the U.S. Schott Industries is moving to Albuquerque to start a large solar-panel manufacturing plant.
Home solar-panel construction is booming. The sun is shining brightly. It's time for students to take a leadership role in assisting the president to implement his plan to make UNM a leader in sustainability.
Earth Day is being celebrated at UNM on Tuesday. Check it out and see how you can become involved.
Jack V. Matson
Garry Carruthers Distinguished Chairman in Honors