In keeping with its leadership in sustainability, Middlebury's Vice President for Academic Affairs, Alison Byerly, announced that the College has adopted a policy to use 100% recycled content (aka post consumer waste - PCW) , process chlorine free paper (PCF) in all printers and copiers and outsourced publications. The College has begun purchasing 100% PCW-PCF paper in place of the 30% PCW-PCF that it previously used for printers and copiers. The shift will see Middlebury reducing its consumption of trees, water and electricity by 300% compared with the 30% recycled content paper it has been using. The increase in cost would be as little as $100. This small difference in cost could be easily offset by a 1.5% decrease in current usage.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - At a dedication ceremony on Friday, May 23, Middlebury College's environmental center was renamed the Janet Halstead Franklin '72 and Churchill G. Franklin '71 Environmental Center at Hillcrest. The afternoon event took place in the Orchard, the lecture hall on the first floor of the center. A reception followed the half-hour ceremony.

The dedication included remarks from Middlebury College President Ronald D. Liebowitz, who recognized the Franklins for their longtime service and commitment to Middlebury, and noted the importance the environmental center has for the college. "It is a reflection of our determination to incorporate environmental stewardship into every part of our curriculum and all of our practices on campus," said Liebowitz.
 
                                                ....more

On April 19th-21st, 2008 hundreds of high school and college students from across Vermont will converge on Middlebury College 's campus for the Power Shift Vermont conference. On Monday, the group will subsequently travel to Montpelier to demand climate solutions from legislators in the statehouse and Governor Douglas' office!

Power Shift Vermont 2008 will focus on providing Vermont college and high school students with the knowledge and tools they need to take action and find climate solutions. Through informative panels, interactive workshops, intense discussions, speeches by distinguished leaders, and our Action Day in Montpelier , we will take important steps towards a securing clean energy future and continuing sustainability efforts in the Green Mountain State .

Originally the vision of a former student, the Food Mapping Project  is a cooperative effort between the Environmental Studies Department, Geography Department, Dining Services & the Middlebury College Organic Garden. The primary goal of the project is to help people visualize connections of their food system to the environment and help understand that the choices they make during meals everyday has an impact not only on the environment but also the local and national economy.

...more