LOYOLA LINKS

• February 13, 2012
• 12:01 am
• Jessica Reynolds
• one comment

Directing campus sustainability

Aaron Durnbaugh joins Loyola University Chicago as the new Director of Sustainability, after most recently serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Environment for the City of Chicago, where he headed the Natural Resources and Water Quality Division.

A native of Elgin, Illinois, Durnbaugh is acquainted with the land and resources of the greater Chicagoland area. Durnbaugh earned a bachelor’s of science in environmental studies and biology at Manchester College in Northern Indiana, and eventually pursued a master’s degree in geography from Northeastern Illinois University. Currently serving as the vice-chair for Chicago Wilderness and a member of the Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests Task Force, Durnbaugh has worked for the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance and the Northern Ireland Children’s Holiday Scheme, a charitable organization that facilities friendship and reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic youth in Belfast.

Durnbaugh recently spoke with Inside Loyola about his personal and professional background, his excitement for working with Loyola’s leadership, and to preview his goals for the University’s sustainability work.

What sparked your interest in natural resources and environmental sustainability?
I’ve always had an interest in the outdoors and natural areas. Growing up in the Fox River Valley, there were a lot of great areas to explore… forest reserves, parks, and other habitats. I spent a lot of time playing in those places. As an early foray into ecological economics in elementary school, I would go catch crayfish in a local creek and sell them at a nearby pet shop.

As Deputy Commissioner of the Environment for the City of Chicago, what were some of your job duties?
I oversaw policy and programs protecting natural resources and maintaining water quality citywide. Specific programs included Greencorps Chicago, the city’s community gardening program, and the Chicago Conservation Corps, the city’s environmental volunteer program that works in schools and with community leaders to spark conservation action locally, like doing energy-efficiency, community-food, or water- or air-quality projects.

I also managed the Chicago Center for Green Technology, which serves as a training ground for green buildings and sustainable technologies, and the Calumet Initiative which rehabilitated and revitalized the landscape and biodiversity of the Calumet Open Space Reserve.

Other programs dealing with urban nature and ecosystems included Sustainable Backyards program, educating and encouraging people to plant trees, native plants, and create compost bins or barrels through rebates and other incentives and the Urban Forest Agenda, which worked to coordinate the stewardship of the nearly four million trees growing in Chicago.

In a 2011 article from The New York Times, you illustrated some of the changes Chicago must undergo due to global warming. Could you again explain how the city has — and continues — to prepare?
Most recently, I was very involved with the Chicago Climate Action Plan, the City of Chicago’s sustainability plan, coordinating the city’s climate adaption work. This includes considering and preparing for both gradual climate changes and more extreme weather and the impacts this will make on infrastructure, ecosystems, and people. Many people are aware of the forecasted increase in more large rain or snow events and heat waves and we worked with emergency response personnel to make sure they have the resources they need.

The gradual impacts of climate change involve increased temperatures over a longer period of time, which wear and tear on infrastructure. There are opportunities to consider different construction materials and practices, as well as how we monitor and maintain buildings, roads, and other heavy infrastructure.

My role was to bring city, county, state, and federal departments together with researchers who could provide climate forecasts and facilitate discussions on how to adjust management accordingly.

How will you construct the University’s Sustainability Plan?
I want it to be a process everybody has a voice in, so we can create solutions together. I hope everyone feels like they have influence in what those changes can be. Ultimately, that’s what sustainability is – a very transparent and open process that includes all the stakeholders and their long-term goals. There is strong support from President Garanzini and University leadership, as well as lots of great work underway by staff, faculty, local community, and student-led groups.

What are the little things someone can start doing now to lessen their impact on the environment?
In the Chicago area, a building’s energy use is to blame for 65 to 70 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions so everyone can be more intentional and reduce our energy use. Turn down the thermostat a few degrees, and turn the lights off when you leave a room. Plug appliances into power strips and turn the strip off when you leave the room. Use more efficient light bulbs, equipment, and appliances.

There are lots of other opportunities to be thoughtful and actively care for creation. Visit the Office of Sustainability’s website at LUC.edu/sustainability as we will be updating it with opportunities and tips for a sustainable Loyola.