PULLMAN – The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department launched a commuter survey last month to collect data and develop models to better estimate and eventually reduce WSU carbon emissions.According to WSU’s Climate Action Plan, transportation is one of the four greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction focuses developed by the sustainability and environment committee as the university works to meet the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment as well as comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington Department of Ecology greenhouse gas and climate change regulations.
EHS e-mailed the survey to WSU faculty, staff and students statewide in its first attempt to understand commuting to WSU and its GHG emissions on a holistic scale, said Marty O’Malley, an environmental health specialist at EHS. O’Malley said he is hoping for a large number of responses by the time the survey closes on Feb. 11 so that, by May, WSU will have more accurate and comprehensive GHG emissions data to report.
“This information will help us focus our energies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as we strive toward carbon neutrality… We want to go green, and we want to do it right,” he said. “If we can show what our highest emissions are and reduce those, we’ll get the most bang for our buck.”
Bridgette Brady, director of WSU Parking and Transportation Services, said the PTS also could benefit from the data.
“Any information (EHS) can gather to help us better manage our transportation services is welcome. We’ve never had a direct relationship with the environmental committee, but I envision a relationship after this info comes in, and we can collaborate.”
Click here to take the 5-minute survey.