mason creates $100000 patriot green fund  
an initial investment $100000 set aside university support initiative patriot green fund administered masons office sustainability directed committee comprised students faculty staff majority membership style=font family verdanasans serif> 
this represents unprecedented opportunity students make viable direct impact sustainability george mason university says lenna storm university sustainability manager showcases commitment administration masons campuses surrounding communities sustainability climate neutrality encourages students directly involved style=font family verdanasans serif> 
storm notes university agreed establish patriot green fund direct result recommendations environmentally minded style=font family verdanasans serif> 
the patriot green fund represents milestone series initiatives help mason achieve goal becoming climate neutral 2007 mason president alan merten set institution path signing american college university presidents climate commitment that year established office sustainability began incorporating topic sustainability academic style=font family verdanasans serif> 
other initiatives include
 siemens building technologies energy savings performance contract saving university minimum $23 million annual energy costs
 academic majors minors relating energy style=margin left 05in family verdanasans style=font style normal variant normal weight normal size 7pt line height normal size adjust stretch normal> smithsonian institution provide students opportunity live study zoos 3200 acre conservation research center royal va
 members campus community automobile transportation options
 southside dining hall 96 percent waste free composting trayless dining aggressive recycling
 number sustainability related courses available students
 future construction projects leed silver style=font family verdanasans serif> 
for information masons overall sustainability efforts  
george mason university innovative entrepreneurial institution global distinction range academic fields located northern virginia near washington dc mason provides students access diverse cultural experiences sought internships employers country mason offers strong undergraduate graduate degree programs engineering information technology organizational psychology health care visual performing arts mason professors conducting groundbreaking research areas climate change public policy biosciences george mason university leading example modern public university george mason university innovation tradition 