RU recognized for reducing its carbon footprint… via laundry

Radford University has a goal: to reach carbon neutrality by 2040.

Many campus-wide programs are in place to achieve this goal. One of those carbon-reducing programs is aimed at the way students wash and dry their clothes.

In the past few years, RU has partnered with ASI/Mac-Gray Campus Solutions, a company that provides RU and other colleges and universities with high-efficiency laundry machines that aid the mission to significantly reduce carbon output.

"We're very proud to be the laundry facilities partner with Radford University," said Steve Baumer, Mid-Atlantic regional manager for ASI/Mac-Gray. Baumer was on campus Thursday to present RU with a Carbon Neutral Certificate of Recognition, noting the university's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing its overall sustainability.

Baumer presented the certificate to RU's Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration, Lisa Ridpath, and to RU Recycling Coordinator Pavan Muddanna. The presentation opened the Virginia CBORD Users Group Conference being held on campus in Heth Hall. CBORD provides technology for the ASI/Mac-Gray laundry machines to interface with the university's one card system.

Lisa Ridpath, Pavan Muddanna, and Steve Baumer

Lisa Ridpath (l) and Pavan Muddanna (center) received the Carbon Neutral Certificate of Recognition from Steve Baumer of ASI/Mac-Gray Campus SolutionsASI/Mac-Gray Campus Solutions.

Before the presentation, Baumer said the certificate was to recognize RU for its "firm commitment to operating environmentally responsible laundry rooms."

In 2009, RU President Penelope W. Kyle signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment pledge, which binds RU to evaluate its carbon emissions from greenhouse gases.

As of fiscal year 2012, RU is at 35,309 equivalent metric tons of gross greenhouse gas emissions, Muddanna said. "By 2040, RU will have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions all the way to zero, which includes GHG inventory totals from any new construction and renovations, curriculum, energy and water, recycling, grounds and habitats, transportation, purchasing, food services and investments" he noted.

"We are in support of President Kyle's signing of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment pledge, and the sustainability action plan objectives to be climate neutral," Baumer said before the presentation.

Baumer said ASI/Mac-Gray is partnering with Carbonfund.org "to purchase carbon offset credits for over 2,100,000 pounds of carbon. What this does is fund verified carbon reduction or carbon destruction programs, and that is making the program here carbon neutral laundry rooms. That's the first in the state of Virginia. And we're very proud to be a part of it."

Mar 18, 2014