News Archives - 2007

Augsburg College has a commitment to environmental consciousness that goes beyond the average campus. Nestled within the bustle of the city of Minneapolis, the campus’ concerns for keeping a compact environmental footprint are even greater due to the close quarters of an urban setting. Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow has stated, “The Augsburg College community is deeply committed to what it means to build a sustainable urban environment.”

Ways that Augsburg is making an impact include:

Aggressive recycling and waste reduction. Recycling bins are everywhere on campus and have risen to nearly a 75% capacity this year. Light sensors and steam system upgrades have been put in place to reduce energy usage. Augsburg is looking into the installation of solar panels on college grounds.

Transportation. Deeply discounted bus passes are available to students, faculty, and staff and Augsburg is the new neighborhood hub for HOURCAR-a hybrid vehicle that can be rented for short periods of time.

Greener cleaning.  Safer chemicals that are less caustic to people and the environment are being continuously introduced around campus.

Community gardening efforts. This spring Augsburg will be breaking ground on a community garden space which will serve the neighborhood. This is space that could have easily been given over to parking or less-sustainable landscaping.

The college has discovered that these measures are not only eco-friendly, but they save the college money as well. Visit www.augsburg.edu/green to learn more.