Worth His Weight in Green
Q&A
Think GREEN. Not the color green, the movement -- the desire to change a lifestyle that damages our environment, earth and economy every minute, to protect our planet for future generations. On Earth Day, RedBlue sat down with Lon Huber, a public policy junior who is actively involved in university sustainability and going green in Tucson. He has worked with members of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, as well as interned for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Tucson City Council Member Nina Trasoff.
RB: What does it mean to "go green"?
Huber: I think "going green" simply means developing consciousness of your relationship with the Earth. From there, you can incorporate different measures of your life that reduce your footprint on Earth. For example, this includes riding a bike, carpooling, recycling water bottles. It’s more of a mindset than anything.
RB: Do you see anything that disappoints you in regards to student behavior?
Huber: Well I can’t get hung up on the little things, you know. It’s funny to see the giant lack of political engagement into the politics of climate change. That’s what gets to me. Showing some interest into it, or just even knowledge, would be so beneficial. It will eventually affect everyone down the road! There are too many people who want to avoid these issues because they think these issues don’t apply to them. Become aware! I understand people don’t want to become involved, but knowledge is the key to a better future.
RB: What are some everyday tips students can use to become greener?
Huber: We are in the desert -- don’t let the water run the whole run while brushing teeth, shaving legs, etc. Turn it down a little bit more. Wash clothes in cold water because warm water takes energy to heat up. Tucson uses 96 percent of its energy from coal. Whenever you use anything, just imagine pieces of coal going to waste, dropping out of the source. We waste water using electricity as well. Just be aware that we are in a desert environment. Think about what you can do to help solve this. Be responsible. Little things can make a big difference. Becoming engaged is what it’s all about.
RB: What are your goals for this campus in the near future?
Huber: We are trying to get the campus to reduce its footprint and become more sustainable, looking at a practical scope to implement some of these things and trying to act fast. There has already been a proposal released to get solar energy for a lot of the buildings. In a few years, we’ll have a possible two megawatts of solar around campus. We made a survey to ask students about what they think. We want to establish funds to implement more awareness campaigns, more recycling bins, etc. Hopefully, if anything, we can get students to become more aware about this issue.