The University Staff Senate met Wednesday morning to discuss several upcoming issues and to hear a presentation from representatives of campus sustainability.The Senate heard from Denise Newell, manager of facility development, and Andres Harris, facility services manager, about the University’s 2010 sustainability goals.Newell informed the Senate the University would begin tracking its carbon footprint next year and reporting on greenhouse gases.She also brought forward plans developed this year to help power down computers at night when they aren’t being used.Newell said a test study of 150 computers on campus using new software to trigger sleep mode showed the University could save $25 per computer per year.She said it could amount to savings of almost $100,000 a year.”We want to show it’s possible to save money through sustainability — it’s achievable,” Newell said.Newell also discussed consolidating classes into fewer buildings to save on air and heating expenses.And she announced “Easy Streets Part II,” which would create designated bicycle lanes on campus to encourage increased ridership.Harris discussed increasing University recycling and gave a report showing how he plans to increase total recycling next year to 25 percent of campus total waste.Harris said the recent efforts to recycle in Tiger Stadium following home football games have been largely successful. He said he wants to expand the program to other sports facilities — like the PMAC and the New Alex Box Stadium.Harris said the success of Fall Fest recycling and composting could be largely improved by next year’s festival. He said the overall University population is more aware of sustainability efforts than it was last year.”If we compost at the level I want to see, we pretty much don’t have any trash left,” Harris said.- – – -Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]