Critical issues: U-Med District fights climate change head-on.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: ENVIRONMENT

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As the fight against global warming becomes one of the most universally uniting causes in history, and efforts to integrate sustainable business practices moves from being cutting-edge to commonplace, business, government and industry are realizing that cooperative efforts are the first step toward finding new opportunities for affecting climate change and that by working together they can be more effective and efficient in their efforts to tackle this critical issue.

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), responsible for leading by example in the community and meeting its social mandate by helping create a thriving, ethical and civil society, has taken this top-of-mind green awareness a step further by spearheading the development and implementation of the U-Med District, the state's first and only green district. A collaborative effort that includes eight other Anchorage businesses that are mostly concentrated in the same east Anchorage neighborhood, procurement representatives from these various entities share ideas and approaches that will save each of them money while reducing their environmental impact.

"As we look at how to sustain the university, since we all live and work so close together, it makes sense for all of us to work cooperatively," says Bill Spindle, vice chancellor for UAA Administrative Services. "It is something that is important to all of us and the team focus means the sum of what we can accomplish is greater than the parts."

GOING GREEN

Along with UAA, the U-Med Green District participation agreement was signed by the Municipality of Anchorage, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Alaska Pacific University, the Anchorage School District, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Green Star program, Southcentral Foundation, Alaska Psychiatric Institute, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).

Boundaries for the U-Med District run from DeBarr Road to Tudor Road, and Lake Otis Parkway to Boniface Parkway, and it is in the center of what UAA economics professor Scott Goldsmith describes as the "knowledge economy," referencing the education sector, and is one of the fastest growing centers of employment in the state. UAA alone employs more than 3,200 faculty and staff. Providence Health System, the largest private employer in Alaska and just across the street from the campus, has a work force of more than 4,000 employees, with most being in the U-Med District. ANTHC has 1,500 people on...