WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Nov. 12, 2014 — Green efforts in higher education are more important than ever, as tight budgets make conservation not just eco-friendly but business-smart.
Recently, West Liberty University professor, Dr. Vishakha Maskey received a Green Apple Day of Service Award for her efforts in demonstrating how much can be saved on a college campus by conservative use of energy, even for one day.
An international award, the Green Apple was created to praise individual or group projects dedicated to bettering the community in an eco-friendly way.
“On September 27, the WLU maintenance department agreed to turn off the chillers in Main Hall, the Student Union, the Chapel and the Media Arts Center for 24 hours as we work towards sustainable energy consumption here on campus. Through this demonstration the university saved 159 kilowatts of energy and $1,019,” Maskey said.
Chief of Operations Patrick Henry was responsible for turning the chillers off in the four public buildings.
“Participation in projects like this provides awareness in energy efficiency and aligns with WLU’s current direction towards sustainability. We are always looking for good ideas to further develop our strategy towards sustainable consumption,” she said.
“It’s amazing that you can save that much in one 24-hour timeframe. If we as a campus did this more often, we could save even more money.”
Dr. Maskey chairs the environmental sustainability committee, a sub-committee of the President’s Council on Sustainability that meets regularly to find ways to encourage more of an eco-systems approach that blends economics and environment on the Hilltop.
“Currently, recycling and energy efficiency are the group’s focal points, when saving both the environment and money is the key,” Maskey said.
Maskey is an associate professor of environment, sustainability and management at WLU and has been a member of the faculty for seven years.
She earned a doctoral degree in Natural Resource Economics from West Virginia University and also holds an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Post-Doctoral Bridge to Business Certificate from Tulane University. Her research interests are in the area of organizations and natural environment, sustainable enterprise, historic preservation, cross-cultural business and corporate social responsibility.