Concerns for global climate change have led to political activism advocating proposals to mitigate, eliminate, or adapt to it. There seems to be much disagreement and dissension among representatives at the federal level, which has thrust much of the burden of concern on individual states, research institutions and private agencies.
Auburn University has emerged as a research institution that is committed to leading the nationwide charge against global climate change. Through various environmental sustainability programs and climate change initiatives, the groundbreaking research and educative awareness ongoing at Auburn is forcing people around the country to take notice. These innovations won’t solve the nation’s crisis immediately, but the results of the research and awareness being raised could have a vast effect on the way communities and governments address the issue of global warming in the future. 

Auburn University President Jay Gogue said students are beginning the initiative.

“Auburn’s leadership on alternative sources of energy starts on campus,” Gogue said.

Highlighting Auburn’s efforts to promote sustainable development is the Auburn University Sustainability Initiative. Led by program director, Dr. Lindy Biggs, an associate professor of history, the purpose of the sustainability initiative is to educate about sustainability, to promote sustainable practices both on and off campus, and to provide resources and support for people who wish to incorporate sustainable practices into their work and life. The organization is responsible for a variety of sustainability initiatives, including the Lug-A-Mug, AUBike, AU Recycling and Haley green roof projects. 

The Lug-A-Mug program was established to encourage young people to go beyond just recycling and actually commit to waste reduction. The program offers discounted travel mugs which give the holder reduced prices on drinks on campus and at participating vendors in and around the Auburn area. The effort is aimed at reducing the accumulation of waste from individual drink cups and bottles. 
 
The AUBike program strives to promote the use of alternatives to single-occupant vehicle transportation. The Campus Bike Committee is a group of students and staff who are dedicated to increasing bike usage and facilities on campus through education, planning and event coordination.

The group is also currently hosting a “Green Lunch” seminar series, open to all members of the Auburn community, in an effort to raise awareness and offer informal, non-technical talks by Auburn University faculty and staff on a wide range of sustainability-related topics.
Auburn University has also joined the Focus the Nation global warming educational initiative, which is responsible for coordinating nonpartisan discussions on climate stabilization at schools around the country. 

In addition to campus and community sustainability initiatives, there are efforts on campus aimed directly at examining the subject of climate change. Auburn researcher Allen Hitch, a PhD student in wildlife biology, has completed research documenting the changes in bird migration patterns due to changes in global climate. Hitch’s analysis of 56 bird species over a 26-year period was actually designed to identify factors other than climate change contributing to the northward shift of breeding ranges. 

“It was important to determine whether climate change was the likely cause of the range shift,” Hitch said. “Our results add to an increasing body of scientific research documenting the effects of global climate change.”

Hitch’s research is important not only in considering whether or not the shifting ranges could be harmful to some of the species of birds, but also in understanding whether these shifts will lead to the eventual extinction of local populations of bird species.

Auburn University continued its efforts to lead the charge against climate change as it unveiled its new “green” Tiger Transit bus fleet this fall. The fleet is still composed of the same 40 orange and blue vehicles used last school year, but the buses received a major overhaul. Beginning this fall, all 40 buses made the switch from using regular diesel fuel to a cleaner burning, renewable biodiesel fuel made from soybean oil. Auburn University is the first university in the state to make the switch and its efforts will encourage future usage of renewable fuels with businesses and universities around the state. 

“Tiger Transit’s switch to biodiesel illustrates our commitment to improving energy security for the United States and promoting economic growth through development and use of renewable bioenergy,” Gogue said. 
The change in fuel sources comes at a time when Tiger Transit ridership is at an all time high. AU Director of Parking and Transit Services, Dave George, said that there are many additional benefits of the switch to using biodiesel other than the obvious environmental benefits, including cleaner engine insides and a reduction in exhaust fumes.
“There is hardly any odor as compared to the smell of regular diesel fuel and we will get better fuel mileage with biodiesel compared to regular diesel,” George said. 

Clarence Cobb, operations manager for Groom Transportation, the contract provider of the transit fleet said they are excited about the change.
“A lot of people just do not realize how Tiger Transit is helping the city by keeping cars off the road,” Cobb said. “And now the buses will be doing that while burning cleaner fuel.”

Tiger Transit currently averages nearly 230,000 passengers a month and operates 20 routes in and around the university’s campus.

In addition to renewable energy sources like biodiesel, much research has been done at Auburn promoting the use of ethanol. Dr. David Bransby, professor of agronomy and soils, has received much acclaim nationally for his work with alternative fuel sources, particularly swithchgrass. He met with President Bush and was a guest speaker at a 2006 fuel alternatives conference in Hoover, Ala. 

“Auburn University is committed to playing a leading role in the Advanced Energy Initiative,” Bransby said at the conference. “We have a 20-year history of research with switchgrass and other biomass materials for energy. The challenge is to convert switchgrass to ethanol at the same efficiency as oil is converted to gasoline, but with focused efforts scientists and engineers at AU are confident that it is possible in the relatively near term.”

Auburn is an ideal location for Bransby’s research, as Alabama has an abundance of biomass renewable sources and is the largest switchgrass producer in the nation. Bransby’s work has the capability of benefitting the entire nation and President Bush took care to acknowledge the importance of Bransby’s research.

“The federal government has committed to spending a fair amount of your money to research other ways to make ethanol,” Bush said in a Auburn University press release. “One such place where such research is going on is right here in Alabama at Auburn University.”

Other efforts ongoing on Auburn’s campus include the work of Dr. Claire Crutchley, an associate professor of finance, who is working on a project to understand why some companies employ “green” strategies while others do not. In another study, Claire Crutchley, Harris Hollans, an assistant professor of finance, and Michael Robinson, an associate professor of architecture, are working on a case study valuing LEED certified commercial buildings. 

Dr. Sushil H. Bhavnani, alumni professor of mechanical engineering, is working with the Auburn University Solar Car Team to design their next car as a concept vehicle proving that solar vehicles can be designed for today’s automotive consumer. The project, named TIGER (Transportation Integrating Green Energy Resources), combines biofuels with solar technology to provide a vehicle with the average American in mind in regards to cost, performance and environmental friendliness. The car is scheduled to be completed in mid 2008.

Dr. Ronald A. Putt, associate research professor of chemical engineering, is currently researching the uses of algae as a renewable energy source.
“If we had a million acres in (algae) ponds, we could produce 100 percent of the fuel for the state,” Putt said.  “No other state is looking at algae as a renewable energy source except Alabama, so if researchers can pull it off, Alabama will be the first to do it.”
Auburn researchers and students have shown a true commitment to excellence and are effectively addressing the emerging problem of global climate change through innovation, creativity, and technological advancement. 

Justin Saia is a future U.S. Politician. The next time you see his name, he’ll be asking for a campaign contribution.