Sustainability in Motion and we got access to a lot of how much energy resources were being used. The numbers are extremely high, so I feel like there can be investments made, for example, in solar energy and other renewable types of energy.” Nov. 20, 2024 A s the world struggles with climate change, the question of how universities can deal with sustainability becomes even more dire. At the American University in Bulgaria, this question is met with concerns regarding sustainability practices during the ongoing campus expansion. AUBG has adopted several sustainability practices, such as recycling programs, energy-effi cient designs, and the switch from plastic to paper containers in the canteen. Opinions on the eff ectiveness of these practices range between staff and students. The president of the Sustainability Club, Amelia Delevski, expressed her frustration about the sustainability issues on campus: “We are defi nitely lacking and behind so many other universities. AUBG likes to align itself with a lot of Western values, but it seems like we are not really prioritizing sustainability.” Amelia said, “Meanwhile, on other college campuses across Europe and the US, this is a bigger topic that not only staff leadership is involved in, but students as well.” She emphasized the importance of assessing the university’s current environmental footprint, “Last week we had a sustainability expert come on campus and help us determine our greenhouse footprint, 6 Fall 2024 | AUBG Daily Recent expansions pose both challenges and opportunities for sustainability. While the infrastructure can be designed to be more green, the engagement of those on campus is equally crucial. Community involvement also remains essential to the university’s initiatives. Aelita Khusnutdinova, AUBG’s fi rst Presidential Fellow for Sustainability, shared that residents contribute to maintaining good sustainability habits on campus. “A few weeks ago we had a speaker from Canada who is a sustainability expert and one of the things she told us is that it is not just how the buildings are designed that plays a role but also the behavior of the residents,” she said. While the Sustainability Club plays an important role, creating a sustainable environment on campus requires the contribution of everyone. Engaging in daily practices like reusing bottles or simply remembering to shut off the lights can contribute to establishing a greener campus and reducing carbon footprint. Arlind Koci, the Sustainability Club vice president added that without fundamental assessments or improvements, the university will not have a meaningful goal. “A long-term goal would be to keep data, to keep track of how much we are using and how we are using it and how we can use it more effi ciently and more sustainably,” Arlind said. Cost often remains a signifi cant factor when trying to implement new measures. The reluctance to invest in expensive tools due to monetary concerns can lead to missed opportunities for long-term sustainability. “I think anything we do should use the latest and best available technology for energy savings and environmental protection. The extra money to do it right is worth it because we want to showcase that this is what can be done,” said Professor William Clark, an environmental science specialist. He highlights the value of sustainability initiatives and how they should outweigh their cost. Editors: Spasiela Gizdova and David Mitov St oy a F na ra nze n
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