October 16, 2001

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Environmental Council Minutes

October 16, 2001

Present: Students-- Mandy Helwig, Erin Jensen, Steve Switzer, Dana Springmeyer, Caitlyn Hicks, Katy Saunders, Ben Wessler, Bryan Costa, Ben Brouwer, Andrea Hamre, Tim McCahill, Erika Holsman, Oren Frey

Faculty/Staff – Lori DelNegro, Helen Young, Charlotte Tate, Nan Jenks-Jay, Connie Leach Bisson

Absent: Jon Isham, Charlie Sargent, Mike Moser, Abiezer Miranda, Sarah Herrup, Valerie Benka, Kaitlyn Gregg

Announcements: Connie thanked Steve Switzer for selling books at the Amory Lovins lecture; Mike Moser for his prompt assistance with detailed data for the emissions inventory; Doug Dagan for diving in so quickly to the emissions inventory work; and kudos to the student(s) who chalked the BiHall boards with info about the environmental grants.

Minutes: Accepted as written.

Expanded Student Participation: 17 students have been appointed to the EC as members, alternates, and affiliates. The goal is to effectively involve everyone without increasing the size of the Council to the point that it cannot function efficiently. A new subcommittee will focus on education and outreach and will strive to work as liaisons with groups such as SGA's Facilities Management committee and EQ. An Environmental Council membership list is attached.

Committee Reports:

Carbon Neutral

Long-term goal is to reduce or offset carbon released by Middlebury College in order to achieve carbon neutrality.

Shorter term, the CN Committee plans to produce a report by mid-spring incorporating the emissions inventory and then gather feedback from the campus community. The Committee has three subcommittees:

Education (energy awareness & impact --Ex. of elevator vs. stairs, and a hypothetical pledge program – choosing a carbon neutral lifestyle);

Emissions Inventory;

Quantifying Offset Costs

Committee would like to send a team to participate in the College Climate Response at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon in February. Connie will get details.

Nan mentioned that in addition to documenting our past and present emissions, it will be important to project out several years. BiHall is an extremely efficient building but uses tremendous amounts of energy. In the next few years, Ross, the new library, a bubble over the Field House and Atwater may all add to the College's energy demand.

A question was asked about the status of Middlebury's involvement in the Earth Charter. Nan mentioned that she is working with University Leaders for a Sustainable Future on wording for the Earth Charter that could be compatible with the mission of higher learning institutions. EQ is working on ways to education the student body about the Earth Charter in hopes of encourage support of the Charter by the Administration.

Katy Saunders asked what the status was of utilities buying renewable energy. No one new specifics or whether night metering were available in Vermont?

Environmental Grants

Grants due on Friday. None received yet. The Committee will provide their funding recommendations at the next meeting.

Cup & Dish Collection

Rather than organize a door-to-door collection through the dorms, EC members supported working with Dining Services and the Commons to assist them in establishing an internal structure for making it easier to get the cups returned. Several mentioned that Hepburn has a collection station in the dorm and the bin is actively used by students. Others suggested having collection bins outside on the terrace in front of Proctor and Freeman so that students could return things in a more inconspicuous manner.

Tim McCahill offered to assist with this discussion with the Commons. EC members from different Commons include Tim- Wonnacott; Caitlin – Atwater; Steve – Ross; Andrea – Cook; Brainerd – on-going collection.

Environmental Fair

Scheduled for Thursday, November 15th in conjunction with the College's Thanksgiving dinner. Tim McCahill and Oren Frey are inviting organizations to be part of the Fair. Connie has reserved Woodstove Lounge.