With a $25,000 grant made possible by the Verizon (News - Alert) Foundation, Maryland’s Bowie State University (BSU) will launch an Energy Conservation and Sustainability Campaign that will garner support for an initiative aimed at reducing on-campus energy consumption by 20 percent over the next three years.

Bowie State’s sustainability efforts will include a campus “climate commitment” website, promotion of alternative transportation modes, and application of new energy conservation technologies. In addition, the university will pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications from the Washington, DC-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the new student center, which is currently under construction, and the natural sciences building, which is scheduled to break ground in 2014.

"This funding from Verizon comes at just the right time and will move us closer to achieving our energy conservation goals," said Bowie State President Mickey L. Burnim.  "When it comes to sustainability, we want to lead by example.  Our goal is to engage our students, faculty and staff; and expand outreach to the community so we can have a real impact on the environment."

Anthony A. Lewis, Verizon's Mid-Atlantic Region vice president of State Government Affairs, commented: "Sustainability is an issue that Verizon is passionate about.  From continuing to find ways of reducing our impact on the environment, minimizing the carbon footprint, buying hybrid automobiles as part of our fleet, and more, we are constantly focused on our corporate responsibility.  Successful sustainability initiatives require real partnerships. We are pleased to stand with Dr. Burnim and invest in the great work that the students and faculty of BSU will complete."

Aisha N. Braveboy, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, said: "There is great importance in our historically black institutions creating partnerships with the private sector and joining the national conversation on sustainability.  Through Verizon's generous support of this new sustainability program, it looks like Bowie State University has successfully done both.  I'm excited to see the Verizon-Bowie partnership and applaud Verizon for investing in one of our many great educational institutions."

The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the American broadband and telecommunications company's innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, healthcare and energy management.  Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live. 

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