University of Notre Dame
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Heather Christophersen, Director of Sustainability at the University of Notre Dame serves as the co-chair of the Green Ribbon Commission. The Green Ribbon Commission is a policy-advisory group formed to support the City of South Bend in its efforts to reduce local contributions to global-warming pollution, to propose policies to reduce community energy costs and consumption, and to recommend sustainable practices for adoption by the city government, private businesses and local citizens. The Commission's more than 60 members represent a broad cross-section of the community, such as scientists, engineers, environmentalists, business leaders, architects, neighborhood leaders, educators and government officials. The Green Ribbon Commission has created an inventory of South Bend's local carbon footprint, recommended emissions-reduction goals and timetables and presented best practices that will improve efficiency and quality of life.