– By Debbie Millikan, Director of Sustainability
People – their passion and participation – are at the heart of any successful sustainability initiative, particularly at a large organization like Punahou. Against this backdrop, I will be writing a regular column in the Punahou Bulletin to highlight the many members in our buff ’n blue community who are championing the School’s long-standing commitment to sustainability. We decided to title it Partnerships in Sustainability because it encapsulates the inarguable fact that achieving high-impact sustainability goals is not something that happens with one person working in a vacuum. We need the power of the collective, otherwise this work is just policy on paper.
I’m excited that Nate Armour, our newest director of Physical Plant, is committed to finding ways to substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, achievement of net-zero energy, and sustainable building designs. Take a short walk on campus with Nate and you are sure to be amazed by his depth of knowledge and passion for the many intentionally incorporated sustainability features that we often walk past without notice.
“Our students are a great resource for engaging and problem solving. Who better than the students themselves to help identify campus opportunities?” — Nate Armour, Director of Physical Plant
There are many vibrant examples of “green” infrastructure throughout our expansive campus: buildings with LEED Gold and Platinum designations, a sheep-grazing solar farm, a battery storage site, and even a Tree Campus designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. Having joined Punahou’s physical plant team shortly after contributing to the construction of the Kosasa Community, Nate knows that buildings are not just structures but living examples of sustainable architecture. From renewable energy sources to energy-efficient design and low-impact materials, they transform our campus buildings into environmental showcases.
Nate takes great pride in his role. “I love knowing that our students walk through these sustainable buildings every day,” he says. “Our students are a great resource for engaging and problem solving. Who better than the students themselves to help identify campus opportunities?”