Maryland Gangs Up On Climate Change

How many colleges does it take to change a light bulb?

The University System of Maryland has decided that the magic number should be all 13 of its universities and research centers, and that they will not only change their light bulbs, but a bit of the world too.

USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan (pictured) recently launched a sustainability and climate change initiative aimed at sharply cutting his schools' energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, developing green building guidelines for new construction and major renovations, strengthening academic and research programs on the environment, and improving the environment of Maryland. Each of USM's schools--which range from the many campuses of the University of Maryland to Towson University--will be building out its own sustainability program and initiatives.

Kirwin named Donald Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to be USM's vice chancellor of environmental sustainability. USM has already set up a Web page on its sustainability initiative. You can get more information on its many green undergraduate and graduate degrees here .

Image credit: The University System of Maryland