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Sustainability encompasses far more than basic environmental concepts, said Amy Dvorak, who recently was named the first sustainability manager at Lewis & Clark College.

“It can be a difficult idea for people to get their arms around,” Dvorak said. “It’s not in my opinion entirely environmentally focused. It can also be economically focused. I think people don’t realize that you don’t always have to pay more or give something up to be more sustainable. Sometimes it can be a way to save money.”

For example, shrinking the size of a planned building can save money and energy, and installing recycled carpeting can be cheaper than buying it new, she said.

Dvorak has a master’s degree in environmental management from Portland State University. She had another offer on the table when she graduated, but she chose Lewis & Clark because she said she was impressed by the school’s dedication to the broader concept of sustainability.

“The one thing that seems pretty clear is that sustainability and environmental values are deeply embedded in the college,” Dvorak said. “It’s mainstream across the disciplines they study, the facilities and the operations here.”

As sustainability manager, Dvorak said she wants to increase involvement with environmentally conscious student groups, search for new ways to manage and gather environmental data, and find more ways to do education and outreach.