EEAC Minutes for Tuesday 2/13, 7-8:00, Leeds Gallery

People in Attendance: Katy Nicholson, Lisa Kadel, Sarah Egolf, Tracy Jordan,

Brook Kramer, Elizabeth Johnston, Daniel Hunter, Coco Shea

BRAINSTORMING OF CAMPUS WIDE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:

As mentioned earlier we devoted this weeks meeting to filling a request from Michael Eck to discuss the campus wide environmental issues as we see them, and come up with things that we would like to see on an Earlham Environmental Policy.

The ideas remain in a pretty rough draft form, and we realize that there are some items that are long term, and maybe only in our dream world, while many of the ideas we would also like to see happen right away. In interest of clarifying this order, all members are asked to bring copies of this list to the next meeting numbered in order of when you would like to see things happen.

For those of you who did not make it to the last meeting, feel free to add things and bring them to the next meeting or e-mail them to one of us.  Thanks, here we go:

-It got pretty long, and needs a lot more work, but I am going to leave it as is for now and we can work on it later

· Institutionalize composting and recycling

· We also need to develop a composting/recycling position

· We need to look into pesticide use on campus and find ways that we can stop the use of harmful pesticides throughout campus.

PAPER AND FORSEST RELATED:

· We feel that recycled paper should be used throughout campus. Currently recycled paper cannot be purchased for use in the copy machines, we feel this should be changed so that recycled paper is the only paper purchased, with a minimum of 40% post consumer waste.

· People should be increasingly encouraged to use both sides of the paper when copying, both in computer labs and individual printers. It should be known that all teachers will accept papers on 2-sided paper.

· Earlham should not by products made from virgin wood.

LIGHTING:

· Some dorms currently are using incandescent light bulbs and maintenance is working on doing a complete switchover. They currently do not have lots of support which is needed, and we see that the highest technology of energy efficient light bulbs should be placed throughout campus.

· It should be a policy to use only what light is needed and when. Do we need the whole wellness center tower lit at night? Light sensors is

another idea that was mentioned.

· It should be widely encouraged for students to turn off lights when not in use. We might be able to have energy saving contests with prizes.

· We see a possible need to enforce light pollution laws on campus, and make it policy to never install lights that open up into the sky, and to put a reasonable light feet limit on the types of light that is bought. We are not sufficiently educated on this, but I am aware of similar policies being installed.

ENERGY:

· All dorm rooms should be able to control their heat, and people should be encouraged to keep the heat down.

· We need to explore alternative energies- look into “the green college”

· Solar panels could be installed on the tops of dorms

· The new building could save lots on energy costs if it was built on a 180 degree turn. We should look into this possibility.

· This new building should also have the newest energy/water/heating technology, and composting toilets

· All buildings built on Earlham campus from now on should be built with alternative energies and building materials such as earth ship or straw bale.

· Insulation should be checked on all buildings and windows and should be the best possible to save energy.

SAGA

· Policies should be written into our contract with saga so that our food is organic, local farmers (including local meat), less processing, from perma culture, and generally sustainable.

· Should have student gardens

· Landscaping should use all native plants.

· A fund needs to be created just to help school environmentally

· Many colleges are currently breaking many EPA laws, and it should be looked into if Earlham is also.

· Campus vehicles should be electric or another form of hybrid vehicle.

· WE SHOULD BRING IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS TO PERFORM A COMPLETE PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF HOW EARLHAM COLLEGE CAN IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTALLY. 

We feel this would also give us numbers of how much we would be saving financially by switching to environmentally sound alternatives.

· We should develop policies for waste (chemicals) produced by art departments and chem./ bio. labs

· We would like to see Earlham give more support to the clear creek co-op

· We see a problem with the massive amounts of coffee shop waste with easy ways to cut back: people should be encouraged to bring their own cups, a possible encouragement might be to charge a small fee for cups, and since most people eat there the coffee shop could even save money and provide reusable containers.

· A dumping policy should be installed, for example the cemetery is currently dumping back campus, and we have noticed other in appropriate dumping sites being used.

· We find it desirable for the school to purchase environmentally safe chemical cleaners- laundry detergent, and the whole scope of cleaners.

· We see the desire for more environmental science classes.

· Support for environmental studies/ science majors

· Cut down on junk mail (that Earlham send out to students and affiliates)

· Get Dick Smith to be environmentally aware, and to back this policy. Could have a group to watch his actions and help him be aware of the environmental implications of his actions

· Computers: they should be turned off, and students should be encouraged to turn off their own machines, we need to crush the myths that it wastes more energy to turn computers on and off than leaving them on.

· Give credit to students involved in student organizations

· Cooperation with miller farm, EEAC, environmental house

· We could create a maximum amount of waste that the school can produce per day

· Encourage/ require landscaping to use compost

· Earlham should make it a point to be aware of the politics of the companies we buy from

WATER:

· Low flow toilets

· Install low flow shower heads

· Set water temperatures to a low, but decent temperature

· constantly check that faucets are not dripping

· SIMPLICITY

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EEAC Minutes for Tuesday 1/23, 7-8:00, Leeds Gallery

People in Attendance: Katy Nicholson, Lisa Kadel, Sarah Egolf, Tracy Jordan,

Marina M., Coco Shea, Elizabeth Johnston, Gary Hornsby

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