<b>Environmental Council Meeting -- April 13, 2006<br>Agenda & Minutes</b>
Environmental Council—Agenda & Minutes
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Attending: Mr. Schnoor, Mr. MacKenzie, Mrs. Meigs, Mr. Hardy, Ari Watlington
1)Improve/Maintain Recycling Programs
• Report on recent IRN pickup…This went well, but it would be good to get a little advance warning from IRN next time.
2) Promote Green Building design on campus—in new buildings and in renovation
• Green Building Design for MASC—Discussion of wattage produced by solar panel
• EC, MASC, architect/engineers visit solar installation at EBM Services
We discussed the fact that it is now possible to get 12 watts/sq ft from solar panels, rather than the 4 watts figure that was originally offered up by the architects/engineers, who have subsequently revised their figures. Jane mentioned the possibility of using Jon Harkness of EBM Services as an energy consultant to our building projects. Jon was on campus for two hours on Friday afternoon, April 14, consulting with two of Jane’s students: Brett on a day lighting policy and Ashley on solar options for Millbrook. He was very generous with his time and is highly qualified.
3) Raise Awareness of environmental impacts of food in Dining Hall
• Earth Day Supper & Trustee meal--sustainable, local, organic theme w/grilled chicken as “condiment”
• “Sustainable Menu” search on Google…first hit was ARAMARK—The next Trustee meal is very likely to have a local, sustainable focus….
• Follow up on recyclable disposable plates and cutlery—current paper plates 50% pcw—Greg hopes to get samples of starch-based recyclable disposable plates and cutlery. Drew C. has asked that disposable plates be sturdy.
• Grier’s suggestion to get healthy vending machine through Stonyfield—still pending.
4) Improve Energy and Resource Conservation
• Day Lighting in Classrooms—Brett Serrell will consult w/Jon Harkness of EBM Services
• Green Team Community Service—Amy will report next time, but she has written a proposal for this new community service and she would be the advisor. She hopes to incorporate composting and a garden to the service.
• Sending reports and letters to parents via email—There was agreement that this could be a good option for some parents and would certainly save paper….
• Meeting Agendas on white boards rather than paper
• Main Meter kilowatt use comparisons for 2004-05 and 2005-06—Martha’s statistics class.
Other comments re. energy conservation…. Barry noted that he would like to see Millbrook standardizing to about 10 types of light bulbs, rather than the current 60. Jane will add this to the Sustainable MBK document. There was also some discussion to consider an annual bulb replacement plan for building like Holbrook. Ari noted that hallway lights are left on in Abbott all the time, day and night. We wondered if lights could be activated by motion or photo cells and if these lights should be off in the daytime. This could save some energy and money. Also consider lowering wattage in Cupola of Abbott.
5) Educating for Environmental Stewardship/Sustainability
• Recognition Dessert Party for green students & faculty—May 3, 6:30 at the zoo.
• Sustainable Millbrook—Three-Year Plan If you haven’t already done so, PLEASE READ AND CONTRIBUTE YOUR COMMENTS AND IDEAS TO THE ‘SUSTAINABLE MILLBROOK-3 YR PLAN. I’ve gotten feed back only from Barry and Amy so far.
• Earth Day Events report—Jono will call Barry with Roadside Cleanup planning info.
• Support SCAPE’s Table Parents’ Weekend—Buy renewable energy, pansies, organic FT tshirts
• Palm Oil and Orangutan Conservation Petition—Please sign this for Earth Day!!
• Integrated Pest Management—Barry discussed the unfortunate fact that we have to spray our athletic fields in June to deal with a grub infestation. The drought of last summer contributed to the severity of this problem. He will alert the community when this happens. Jane has handouts about this chemical treatment if anyone wants details.
• Survey of environmental stewardship in curriculum—All faculty asked, through departments, to let us know of “green” topics/projects they have used in their classes recently—Pending getting responses….
• Jane’s meeting with Cristin Rich of Hotchkiss—sharing ideas and progress
• Millbrook in sustainability workshop through NYSAIS at Rye Country Day on April 27
• Environmental Stewardship—New Student Award at Prize Night?
• Gwyneth to include sustainability article for new faculty?
6) New/Ongoing ideas, questions, etc.
• Request for small budget for EC functions—for education, speakers, recognitions, supplies.
• Request creation of a new job at Millbrook—Energy Conservation Coordinator w/Compact
• MBK sports uniforms be non-sweatshop produced—Jane’s research
• Professional Development—NAIS Institute for Leadership in Sustainability, June 25-29; Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education Course, July 10-14;
Please consider going to one of the above sustainability workshops this summer!! It would be very helpful to our work.
• Earthwatch Educators Fellowships—Jane has details on how to apply for this for summer 2007
• Proposal--In-Service Day for Faculty during Environmental Stewardship Core Year—Kathy H is investigating this possibility
• Eleven student inquiries so far from joining Environmental Council
• Bill suggested that we make a list of graduates who have chosen environmental careers and studies.
Next EC Meeting—Thursday, May 4 at 12:45 in the Zoo Education Classroom
Back
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Attending: Mr. Schnoor, Mr. MacKenzie, Mrs. Meigs, Mr. Hardy, Ari Watlington
1)Improve/Maintain Recycling Programs
• Report on recent IRN pickup…This went well, but it would be good to get a little advance warning from IRN next time.
2) Promote Green Building design on campus—in new buildings and in renovation
• Green Building Design for MASC—Discussion of wattage produced by solar panel
• EC, MASC, architect/engineers visit solar installation at EBM Services
We discussed the fact that it is now possible to get 12 watts/sq ft from solar panels, rather than the 4 watts figure that was originally offered up by the architects/engineers, who have subsequently revised their figures. Jane mentioned the possibility of using Jon Harkness of EBM Services as an energy consultant to our building projects. Jon was on campus for two hours on Friday afternoon, April 14, consulting with two of Jane’s students: Brett on a day lighting policy and Ashley on solar options for Millbrook. He was very generous with his time and is highly qualified.
3) Raise Awareness of environmental impacts of food in Dining Hall
• Earth Day Supper & Trustee meal--sustainable, local, organic theme w/grilled chicken as “condiment”
• “Sustainable Menu” search on Google…first hit was ARAMARK—The next Trustee meal is very likely to have a local, sustainable focus….
• Follow up on recyclable disposable plates and cutlery—current paper plates 50% pcw—Greg hopes to get samples of starch-based recyclable disposable plates and cutlery. Drew C. has asked that disposable plates be sturdy.
• Grier’s suggestion to get healthy vending machine through Stonyfield—still pending.
4) Improve Energy and Resource Conservation
• Day Lighting in Classrooms—Brett Serrell will consult w/Jon Harkness of EBM Services
• Green Team Community Service—Amy will report next time, but she has written a proposal for this new community service and she would be the advisor. She hopes to incorporate composting and a garden to the service.
• Sending reports and letters to parents via email—There was agreement that this could be a good option for some parents and would certainly save paper….
• Meeting Agendas on white boards rather than paper
• Main Meter kilowatt use comparisons for 2004-05 and 2005-06—Martha’s statistics class.
Other comments re. energy conservation…. Barry noted that he would like to see Millbrook standardizing to about 10 types of light bulbs, rather than the current 60. Jane will add this to the Sustainable MBK document. There was also some discussion to consider an annual bulb replacement plan for building like Holbrook. Ari noted that hallway lights are left on in Abbott all the time, day and night. We wondered if lights could be activated by motion or photo cells and if these lights should be off in the daytime. This could save some energy and money. Also consider lowering wattage in Cupola of Abbott.
5) Educating for Environmental Stewardship/Sustainability
• Recognition Dessert Party for green students & faculty—May 3, 6:30 at the zoo.
• Sustainable Millbrook—Three-Year Plan If you haven’t already done so, PLEASE READ AND CONTRIBUTE YOUR COMMENTS AND IDEAS TO THE ‘SUSTAINABLE MILLBROOK-3 YR PLAN. I’ve gotten feed back only from Barry and Amy so far.
• Earth Day Events report—Jono will call Barry with Roadside Cleanup planning info.
• Support SCAPE’s Table Parents’ Weekend—Buy renewable energy, pansies, organic FT tshirts
• Palm Oil and Orangutan Conservation Petition—Please sign this for Earth Day!!
• Integrated Pest Management—Barry discussed the unfortunate fact that we have to spray our athletic fields in June to deal with a grub infestation. The drought of last summer contributed to the severity of this problem. He will alert the community when this happens. Jane has handouts about this chemical treatment if anyone wants details.
• Survey of environmental stewardship in curriculum—All faculty asked, through departments, to let us know of “green” topics/projects they have used in their classes recently—Pending getting responses….
• Jane’s meeting with Cristin Rich of Hotchkiss—sharing ideas and progress
• Millbrook in sustainability workshop through NYSAIS at Rye Country Day on April 27
• Environmental Stewardship—New Student Award at Prize Night?
• Gwyneth to include sustainability article for new faculty?
6) New/Ongoing ideas, questions, etc.
• Request for small budget for EC functions—for education, speakers, recognitions, supplies.
• Request creation of a new job at Millbrook—Energy Conservation Coordinator w/Compact
• MBK sports uniforms be non-sweatshop produced—Jane’s research
• Professional Development—NAIS Institute for Leadership in Sustainability, June 25-29; Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education Course, July 10-14;
Please consider going to one of the above sustainability workshops this summer!! It would be very helpful to our work.
• Earthwatch Educators Fellowships—Jane has details on how to apply for this for summer 2007
• Proposal--In-Service Day for Faculty during Environmental Stewardship Core Year—Kathy H is investigating this possibility
• Eleven student inquiries so far from joining Environmental Council
• Bill suggested that we make a list of graduates who have chosen environmental careers and studies.
Next EC Meeting—Thursday, May 4 at 12:45 in the Zoo Education Classroom
