State University student senate voted 17 to 1 October 26 2011 to use $5000 of the student Green Fee towards two new COLDTUB™s for the athletic department.

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The Green Fee was initiated Fall of 2008 in an effort to empower students to make BSUs campus environmentally friendly. The green fee is a $5 fee paid by all students at the beginning of every semester.

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According to the Huffington Post students are more “willing to self-impose a green fee, to help the environment and purchase renewable energy.” There are currently 14 schools with a mandatory green fee. Bemidji State University is the only Minnesota school with the mandatory fee as of 2009.

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BSUs sustainability office is always looking for ways to reduce energy and save water.

“This project is amazing”, said Baily-Johnson.

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“The water saving is huge!” The current stainless steel COLDTUB™s are using 200 gallons of water daily. With the new energy and water efficient tubs, only 120 gallons of water would be used every four months.

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Over the span of four months it would be using only 480 gallons of water, compared to the approximated 24,400 gallons of water the COLDTUB™s currently use in a four month time period.

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Athletic Department will be purchasing two new COLDTUB™s with help from the green fee.