This post was written by Hatchet Staff Writer Kara Dunford.
University President Steven Knapp stressed the importance of recognizing the University’s progress in sustainability Monday morning at a celebration of the first anniversary of GW’s green roof, located on the roofs of the 1959 and 1957 E Street buildings.
Knapp and Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz celebrated the green roof’s first birthday by eating cake and talking to students and fellow administrators.
“When we put it in, I don’t think any of us had an idea of how beautifully it was going to turn out,” Knapp said. “It’s good to stop and celebrate every once in a while when you’re making some real progress.”
One year ago, 35 faculty members, students, staff and alumni, along with the help of an industrial crane, braved the rain, wind and cold to install the green roof. The roof was the idea of master’s of business administration student Brett Kaplan, a member of Net Impact, a student organization dedicated to use business to create a better world.
Knapp said the “roof-breaking” project is an example of the practical implementation of GW’s dedication to sustainability.
“It’s a symbol of our very deep commitment to sustainability here at the University,” Knapp said. “It was one of the first. Our students have been very much involved in it, along with faculty and administrative offices. It’s a good example of the whole community coming around the issue of sustainability.”
The green roof works by capturing and filtering water that would normally contribute to runoff and pollute rivers. The plants on the roof absorb the filtered water and prevent it from overflowing as sewage.
Katz said the project has incited campus-wide involvement towards the goal of sustainability.
“It’s absolutely the right kind of project. It’s not just a project, everybody got involved. This is really kicking off how we’re trying to get everyone engaged in sustainability on campus,” Katz said.
Meghan Chapple-Brown, director of the Office of Sustainability, explained that the anniversary event helps those involved with the project remember some of their first efforts to achieve sustainability goals, and helps motivate other students to get involved in upcoming projects.
“It helps us remember that it took a lot of courage and effort when we started this to take that risk and to celebrate the fact that it is a successful outcome,” Chapple-Brown said. “Whenever you are trying to make changes within a big organization, it sometimes is a little scary. This helps us remember that it was successful and we can make other changes towards sustainability in the future.”
Senior Jacob Schubert, president of the 1959 E Residential Advisory Council, said he enjoys living in a building that contributes to GW’s sustainability efforts.
“For me, it’s a source of pride that my building is contributing to cleaner D.C. and cleaner GW,” Schubert said. “[This event] provides focus that this is something GW is doing which looks good in the greater college community. It’s good to see that the Elliott School and 1959 E Street is getting attention.”
