Gordon College Wins Prestigious Energy Solutions Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2009
 
MEDIA CONTACT
Jo Kadlecek
Office of College Communications
978.867.4752
[email protected]

WENHAM, MA-The Scientist-Evangelical Initiative, a group of leading environmental scientists and evangelical Christians, were convened by the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. With the goal to explore humanity's degradation of the global environment and to help lessen its impacts, they announced their new Energy Solutions contest, inviting a number of Christian colleges and universities to submit ideas about how to make their campuses "greener." The prize? An energy consultation with Terrapin/Bright Green, the architectural/engineering firm whose principal partners recently designed the world's "greenest" skyscraper.

After Terrapin/Bright Green evaluated all of the contest's applications, it determined that Gordon College had the strongest application, citing its ongoing commitment to improving the campus through numerous conservation efforts. They were particularly impressed with the idea of working on Lane Student Center to improve air quality, water conservation, waste reduction and energy efficiency. Later this month the firm will conduct an initial energy audit and recommend ways to make Lane the greenest building on campus. 

"Based on the information we received, we think Lane Student Center has the best opportunities to identify green building improvements and provide educational opportunities for the entire college community," said Chris Garvin of Terrapin Bright Green. 

Gordon College already recycles approximately 35 percent of its daily trash on a yearly basis and won the 2008 Massachusetts Recycling Coalition Award for the best recycling program in the public sector. Gordon purchases B20 diesel fuel in appropriate seasons and has converted 95 percent of its buildings to natural gas heating from heating oil and electricity. Such steps have greatly reduced emission of greenhouse gases and keeps the groundwater safe from possible heating-oil tank leaks. 

"Creating an environmentally friendly campus has been a part of Gordon College's commitment for many years," said Paul Helgesen, director of Gordon's Physical Plant. "To be selected for this award from such a prestigious group reinforces for us that our hard work has been on target. Because of Terrapin/Bright Green's excellent engineering skills, their recommendations will be incredibly helpful." 

For more information on the Scientist-Evangelical Initiative, please visit their website. For information on Gordon College contact the Office of College Communications at 978.867.4752.

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