CU Signed a Commitment to Green Chemistry. What Are They Doing Differently?

By Mariah Rosensweig

Six months ago, the chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder signed the Green Chemistry commitment, initiated by a nonprofit called Beyond Benign, that commits universities across the nation to incorporate Green Chemistry into their curriculum. Programming in the CU Boulder Green Labs program, managed by Dr. Kathy Ramirez Aguilar since 2009, has spearheaded efforts towards reducing waste and utilizing resources efficiently in labs across the campus.

Dr. Ramirez Aguilar and Jules Immonen, an undergraduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder, spoke with KGNU about significant water-saving efforts utilizing recirculators for cooling during chemical reactions in teaching labs. “[This] is leading to water savings of about 145,000 gallons per year,” shared Dr. Ramirez Aguilar. “Another way to look at that is if you’re familiar with the buffalo pool at the rec center, that’s the equivalent of nearly two buffalo pools worth of water each year.”

Efforts in the Green Labs program are directly connected to CU Boulder’s Climate Action Plan, such as Lab Space Optimization. Green Chemistry educational efforts have been successful and have potential for wide-reaching impacts. “About 2,000 students alone take the general chemistry and organic chemistry classes at CU Boulder each semester,” Immonen said. “We have a duty to make sure that we are being sustainable in our practices.”

Learn more about current efforts on Green Chemistry Education and the CU Boulder Green Labs Program.
 
This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.