Vote for the environment: Congress should put sustainability fee renewal on Feb. 10 ballot

Student Congress should vote in favor of placing a renewal of the sustainability fee on the Feb. 10 ballot.

The sustainability fee initiated in 2003 and last renewed in 2005 is a way for students to improve the University's impact on the environment.

At $4 a year it is a small price for students to pay to receive tangible environmental benefits.

Money from this fee has been used to install solar panels to the roof of Morrison Residence Hall in 2007 and to fuel P2P buses with biodiesel in 2005.

Although these initiatives have been small steps in the University's real effect on the environment they show UNC students that they collectively have the ability to slow the world's environmental crisis.

After Congress votes Tuesday in favor of putting the renewal of this fee on the ballot all students should pass the $4 fee renewal when they vote on Student Central the following week.

The funds generated by the sustainability fee are managed by Congress' renewable energy special projects committee which aims to move toward more energy efficiency projects and environmental education initiatives.

With the University's commitment to sustainability in mind these are initiatives we all should get behind.