Environmental Council Meeting--September 20, 1012
1) Expand Recycling
- What is recycled paper content in DH napkins-need new dispenser so only one comes out?
- Somerset is leading effort with Green Team students to collect batteries and CF bulbs and improve collection system and signage in White Barn.
- SCAPE students can send email about what and how we recycle.
2) Improve Energy and Resource Conservation
- Pushpage on cutting bottled water use got good responses. Activities Team Leaders are asking students to not buy bottled water on school-sponsored shopping trips.
- Receipt of funding to put more filtered water fountains in dorms. Student involvement needed.Dish wash liquid and brushes given to dorms for washing of canteens.Need data from Mrs. Fuller on comparing paper use of last school year to the previous year.
- Good examples of community using less paper: Mrs. Blayney’s example in not printing Facebook and request to double-side.
- Students’ double-side printing in dorms is not going very well. Mr. Lewis is willing to visit dorms during Sat. morning dorm meetings and install the dorm printer onto their computers. Ashlyn will send double-side printer instructions that she used at Brown this summer.
- Student printing guidelines were shared in English classes.
3) Promote Green Building design on campus—in new buildings and in renovation
- Work of the Carbon Neutrality Planning Group. We would like student membership.
- Plan a large-scale renewable energy project; PPA solar farm and Client Rep are on the table.
- GHG inventory and help from grad student from Bard Climate Science and Policy program.
4) Raise Awareness of environmental impacts of food in Dining Hall
- Meatless Monday-Pushpage to parents; Support in science classes and from Dorm Leaders; Supper menu needs improvement; Food Committee notes sent to EC.
- Silamar Farm tomatoes in the DH and Red Barn approved as local vendor.
- Composting needs education and support. Drew Belotti will help on Tuesdays so Lyuda can take students to harvest potatoes. SCAPE students will harvest potatoes next Thursday. SCAPE will send email and make announcement about composting. Drew Belotti will help with composting. We will look into moving the main composting area close to the garden and far enough away from DH to be possible and into building a simple, three-part wooden composting set up and organize a Sunday afternoon compost area building event.
- Green Thumb grant application to raise money for Green Team Community Garden is almost done.
5) Educating for Environmental Stewardship/Sustainability
- Possible student trip to GreenBuild Conference, Nov 14-16 in San Francisco.
- III Form Nature hike on Sep 15; III Form at Zoo Community Service; III Form English Class Life of Pi tour of zoo. All of these green activities w/III Form went or are going well.
- Letting Nature In Faculty Class. First meeting an evening picnic at Eco Hut.
- 100 ft buffer zone is required in NY State for any wetlands over 12.5 ft.
- Attendance at EC is important. Please commit to attend meetings and email if you cannot attend.
