It has been the mission of Creighton’s Energy Awareness Committee to promote Earth Day each year and continue to make the event bigger and better. This year, they certainly didn’t disappoint, adding multiple activities and facets to the Earth Day celebration in an effort to raise awareness about the environment.

This year’s event, which took place in the Skutt Student Center, included many events highlighted by a voting process for Campus Tree of the Year — a project to teach students about Creighton’s quest to become an arboretum. Other events included giveaways in the form of shopping bags and eco-friendly pens, carpool information from MetrO!, Rideshare, and MAPA, Echo Light’s display of LED and other energy-saving light bulbs, a clothing drive and Facilities Management’s own electric truck and GEM Car.

The Energy Awareness Committee is a non-sanctioned committee that was formed in 2001. George Tengeman heads the committee as part of the Facilities Management department. The concept for the committee came in light of natural gas shortage issues and the need for campus support to help control the rising costs of utilities. Their main focus is to not only raise the level of awareness of the problem but to hopefully create a desire in all employees to do their part in the process.

“We would like more student involvement with the Energy Awareness Committee and with Earth Day activities,”  Tengeman said. “This is the students’ future and the future of Creighton University.”

As always, the mission for the event and committee was to increase awareness and help students be more environmentally conscious. Mary Duda, who is also on the Energy Awareness Committee, noted numerous ways that students could conserve energy and stay involved.

“There are lots of opportunites to get involved with sustainability groups in CCSJ, IRHG, CSU and the GreenJays,” Duda said. “And then simple things like turning off the lights, unplugging electronics or bringing your own mugs for discounts at the dining facilities.”