To further promote sustainability awareness among educators and students, the first Sustainable Schools West Virginia Summit will be held at the Waterfront Place Hotel on April 19-20.


The summit aims to promote discussion and networking among academic leaders, administrators and elected officials to help schools increase earth-friendly initiatives on their campuses. The event is sponsored by West Virginia University, the state Department of Environmental Protection and Siemens Building Technologies Inc.


Sustainability is a journey,said Clement Solomon, director of the WVU Office of Sustainability.We are hoping that this summit will bring together leaders from academic institutions across the state to demonstrate our collective commitment to sustainability and acknowledge the new reality and profound responsibility that is placed before us in shaping out future.


This event is not just about sustainability at WVU , but a forum to solidify our shared vision and explore the economic, social, environmental benefits of adopting sustainable policies and practices,he added.


The summits agenda at http://wecan.wvu.edu/ cites that a sustainable school promotes energy, water and waste conservation and teaches students to care for the health and well-being of themselves and others from different cultures or generations.


The summit will commence at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 19, with a reception and remarks from green building technology experts; Robert J. Dixon, senior vice president and global head of efficiency and sustainability for Siemens Building Technologies; and Rachel Gutter, education sector senior manager for the U.S. Green Building Council.


On Monday, April 20, interim WVU Provost E. Jane Martin will give welcoming remarks at 8:45 a.m., followed by the keynote address by Gov. Joe Manchin. Other speakers include Randy C. Huffman, state Department of Environmental Protection cabinet secretary; Solomon; and James Platz with Siemens Building Technologies.


Its an impressive conference that is geared more toward the stewardship end of sustainability rather than research and policy,said Lisa Saurborn, engineering manager for WVU Facilities Management who helped plan the sustainability summit.


Saurborn said Morgantown was selected as the site for the summit by the state Department of Environmental Protection because of successful conservation efforts like the Universitys recycling program.


We are hoping that this conference will continue for years to come and branch out to different locations throughout the state,she said.