ECE grad student leads Student Sustainability Committee

The University of Illinois is home to numerous groups, committees, and organizations. Among these, few have the level of responsibility of the
Student Sustainability Committee. This committee is charged with evaluating and recommending projects to receive funds from two student fees: the sustainable campus environment fee and the cleaner energy technologies fee.

ECE graduate student Suhail Barot serves as the committee chair. “There are a lot of campus committees that people can sign up to be a part of,” he said, “and it is great to be on one of these committees because it is a chance to see how the University works and you get to play a role in what we do.” Once recommended by the Student Sustainability Committee, projects are then submitted to the Office of Sustainability and Facilities and Services for final campus approval.

The Student Sustainability Committee provides support to campus organizations interested in improving sustainability on this campus. “We fund energy-efficient projects, green roofs, a bunch of occupancy centers for lighting, those kinds of things,” Barot said. “We’ve given money to the Solar Decathlon project and several others.”

The committee is made up of 10 students and 10 faculty or staff members. This group oversees a large pool of money. “Together these [fees] bring in money somewhere in the range of $550,000,” said Barot. “There’s a lot you can do with it on this campus.”

Among the projects the committee has previously recommended for funding is the installation of the solar panels on the new Business Instructional Facility. Barot said that the idea of the committee is to use the money to make change and set an example on campus and for the University.

This year they have already had nearly 30 proposals, an increase over previous years. Barot said that this increase is due to publicity that they’ve gotten and the fact that there is less money for these types of projects from other campus organizations. “Partly our challenges are how to stretch this money as far as possible,” said Barot, “and to do it in a way that the student body will support, because it is their money.”

As the committee chair, Barot runs the meetings, is the primary contact, and represents the committee at different coalitions and presentations. He also has had to keep an eye on all the different proposals, and he works with groups that are trying to receive funding to help them get organized.

Barot’s commitment to the work of the committee comes easily, as sustainability has always been an interest of his, and he really enjoys putting this interest to use on the Illinois campus.

“It’s just really great to work with the senior administration on campus and to have access to so many people trying to get work done as well as a great learning experience as well,” said Barot. “I would tell any student to work on a committee here, but mine is the best.”

To learn more about the Student Sustainability Committee, visit its Web site.