Monday, September 15, 2008
Declaration of Independence from Bottled Water
Head of School, Mike Henriques, officially signed PEA's Declaration of Independence from Bottled Water today. This is the crowning achievement of last year's hard work.
We, the students and faculty of Proctor Academy, hereby declare the end to the purchase and distribution of bottled water. We believe that water is a basic human right and should not be bought and sold for profit. We believe that the manufacture, distribution, and disposal of plastic bottles is responsible for the unnecessary and wasteful use of precious fossil fuel resources, the destruction of natural habitats, and the pollution of our air, which in turn contributes unnecessarily to global climate change. We believe that it is more important to spend our time, money, and energy on securing clean, safe, and dependable public water systems than it is to support companies who take advantage of these same public water systems to sell us our own water for a profit. In short, we believe that buying bottled water is unwise, and that Proctor Academy, as a forward-thinking educational institution, has an obligation to choose tap water over bottled water on campus and in all school-sanctioned activities.
We, the students and faculty of Proctor Academy, hereby declare the end to the purchase and distribution of bottled water. We believe that water is a basic human right and should not be bought and sold for profit. We believe that the manufacture, distribution, and disposal of plastic bottles is responsible for the unnecessary and wasteful use of precious fossil fuel resources, the destruction of natural habitats, and the pollution of our air, which in turn contributes unnecessarily to global climate change. We believe that it is more important to spend our time, money, and energy on securing clean, safe, and dependable public water systems than it is to support companies who take advantage of these same public water systems to sell us our own water for a profit. In short, we believe that buying bottled water is unwise, and that Proctor Academy, as a forward-thinking educational institution, has an obligation to choose tap water over bottled water on campus and in all school-sanctioned activities.
Proctor Academy Declares Independence from Bottled Water
By Alan D. McIntyre, Proctor Academy's Environmental Programs Coordinator, member of the Andover Recycling Committee
If you happened to attend graduation at Proctor Academy this past June you may have noticed the absence of bottled water. That is simply because as an institution Proctor Academy will not buy it anymore. Why? The student body called the question last year of why should we drink bottled water here in NH? This launched a yearlong investigation that transformed into a full throttle campaign to cut bottled water from campus events, functions and daily activities. The Proctor Environmental Action club investigated why people drink bottled water. The club, one of the largest on campus, broke into working groups to investigate the complicated life cycle of water extraction, bottling, packaging, distribution, consumption and disposal of the typical water bottle brand.
When they compared the life cycle findings on bottled water with tap water, the differences were startling. Tap water is generally localized, whereas the average distance bottled water travels, (from bottling plant to the shelf) is about 150 miles. Which is equivalent to 3,000 lbs of CO2 per shipment. Tap water typically consumes little to no fossil fuels to get to your faucet (usually several pump houses). Bottled water requires extraction, production and disposal of plastic bottles (a petroleum product) whereas tap water requires no bottling. Also plastics are getting some serious scrutiny due to suspected leaching of toxins that act like estrogen (a female hormone) and can disrupt hormone production. In particular studies on one toxin, Bisphenol A, is showing clear links to cancer. Finally, the students analyzed the cost. Tap water costs roughly 4.50 per 1000 gallons or roughly a half a cent per gallon, to treat and pump to users. Bottled water costs $1.29 for 16 ounces or 1.59 for a gallon of Poland Springs water.
So why do people buy bottled water?
Student research revealed that people purchase bottled water because of taste, health, and/or convenience. So the working groups investigated if bottled water was in fact tastier, healthier or more convenient than water drawn from the tap.
Tastes Great!?
Students discovered that, according to several studies, the water inside Dasani brand water bottles is no different than the tap water. So why buy tap water prepackaged from another place? Is it for the taste? Many feel that bottled water tastes better than tap water. But when Good Morning America ran a blind taste test of water, they discovered that New York City tap water tasted better than Evian, Poland Springs and oxygenated water O2. So the PEA students decided to perform their own blind taste test. The results were that 4 out of 34 taste testers preferred bottled water, the other 30 gave tap water the thumbs up. So maybe taste isnít the reason for bottled water.
Is it healthy?
Many people feel that tap water is dirty or unclean. Why? Is this a perception created by the market or the science? Water health is determined by a number of different tests. Tap water and municipal water is regularly tested and monitored for containments and other factors. DES and the EPA are agencies that set those regulatory standards. But what about bottled water? Believe it or not the Environmental Protection Agency doesnít regulate bottled water, the Federal Food and Drug Administration does. When students reviewed the FDA standards and tests for bottled water they discovered that there are not as strict as the EPA tests. To be specific, FDA performs annual tests while the EPA requires weekly and daily tests. Basically, the bottled water that you paid $1.29 for has not gone through the same rigors to eliminate microbes and other water containments as your tap water. So which one is cleaner and healthier? The good news is that many studies state that 40% of all bottled water comes from a tap water source any way. However, this can be bad because we are paying for tap water ñ of which you have already paid for through your taxes. Why pay twice?
Paying for convenience?
Many students and adults like the convenience of bottled water. However many more adults and students tote a refillable water bottle. Is buying water as convenient as refilling a bottle? This comes down to individual choice. But refilling a bottle does save money and reduces pollution.
Where is your water from?
With 40% of the major bottled water brands actually using tap water as their source, it makes you wonder why more of us donít drink from the tap. Obviously not all water sources are deliciously equal. If you have been to Florida and tried the tap water you know what bad tap water tastes like. New Hampshire has very good and clean water. Letís consider Andoverís source - Bradley Lake. A pristine forested landscape dresses the watershed and helps in managing a clean water reservoir. Treatment and testing of the water is done often and rigorously. However, tastes alter from building to building based on the piping. Some of NH folks draw from underground sources. Whether it is a reservoir or ground water, each has the potential to taste horrible. So is bottled water a better choice? Students did a cost analysis of bottled water versus filtration and found that filtering water made better economic sense. Why? Less waste. Filtration units last for months whereas #1 PET plastic bottles last a day at best. Plastics are recyclable, but about 12-20% of all plastic is actually recycled. The rest we inhale. Yep ñ once it lands in the trash it eventually goes up in smoke at the incinerator. Although the smokestacks have scrubbers the EPA allows some trace amounts to be released every day.
Solutions
After the yearlong investigation, the students wanted to not only present their findings but offer solutions as well. The students created posters (see poster photo) to increase awareness and had assembly presentations to empower change. The students sold Siggs water bottles and managed water cooler stations for the Spring Parents Weekend and graduation. PEA drafted a document on their findings to push for a cultural shift on campus. The result was a ìDeclaration of Bottled Water Independenceî. This declaration stated the facts of costly nature of consuming bottled water and asked the school to cease and desist with the purchase and sale of bottled water on campus. They presented the pledge to the head master, Mike Henriques. His reaction was positive and supportive. ìThe work the students did was tremendously heartening. It felt to me like the work PEA had done was seeping down to the student body.î Henriques, as well as many of the faculty and staff transformed the findings into action. ìWhen something like this comes from the student body it has real traction. Reducing our use of bottled water is the direction we all need to go in. It makes sense,î said Henriques. ìPart of our mission statement is graduate college bound students that go on with their lives to demonstrate honesty, compassion, respect and responsibility. It is our responsibility to educate students to make wise choices that support sustainability and not the short view of convenience.î
The last few cases of bottled water will be used up in the next two months. The policy bans sale and purchase of bottled water institutionally. But does not restrict the student or staff member for making a choice. The policy demonstrates the philosophy that schools should serve as places that teach and demonstrate ways to solve problems. Proctorís virtual ban also demonstrates the ethic of the school, in hopes that it will empower wise decisions of the individual.
If you happened to attend graduation at Proctor Academy this past June you may have noticed the absence of bottled water. That is simply because as an institution Proctor Academy will not buy it anymore. Why? The student body called the question last year of why should we drink bottled water here in NH? This launched a yearlong investigation that transformed into a full throttle campaign to cut bottled water from campus events, functions and daily activities. The Proctor Environmental Action club investigated why people drink bottled water. The club, one of the largest on campus, broke into working groups to investigate the complicated life cycle of water extraction, bottling, packaging, distribution, consumption and disposal of the typical water bottle brand.
When they compared the life cycle findings on bottled water with tap water, the differences were startling. Tap water is generally localized, whereas the average distance bottled water travels, (from bottling plant to the shelf) is about 150 miles. Which is equivalent to 3,000 lbs of CO2 per shipment. Tap water typically consumes little to no fossil fuels to get to your faucet (usually several pump houses). Bottled water requires extraction, production and disposal of plastic bottles (a petroleum product) whereas tap water requires no bottling. Also plastics are getting some serious scrutiny due to suspected leaching of toxins that act like estrogen (a female hormone) and can disrupt hormone production. In particular studies on one toxin, Bisphenol A, is showing clear links to cancer. Finally, the students analyzed the cost. Tap water costs roughly 4.50 per 1000 gallons or roughly a half a cent per gallon, to treat and pump to users. Bottled water costs $1.29 for 16 ounces or 1.59 for a gallon of Poland Springs water.
So why do people buy bottled water?
Student research revealed that people purchase bottled water because of taste, health, and/or convenience. So the working groups investigated if bottled water was in fact tastier, healthier or more convenient than water drawn from the tap.
Tastes Great!?
Students discovered that, according to several studies, the water inside Dasani brand water bottles is no different than the tap water. So why buy tap water prepackaged from another place? Is it for the taste? Many feel that bottled water tastes better than tap water. But when Good Morning America ran a blind taste test of water, they discovered that New York City tap water tasted better than Evian, Poland Springs and oxygenated water O2. So the PEA students decided to perform their own blind taste test. The results were that 4 out of 34 taste testers preferred bottled water, the other 30 gave tap water the thumbs up. So maybe taste isnít the reason for bottled water.
Is it healthy?
Many people feel that tap water is dirty or unclean. Why? Is this a perception created by the market or the science? Water health is determined by a number of different tests. Tap water and municipal water is regularly tested and monitored for containments and other factors. DES and the EPA are agencies that set those regulatory standards. But what about bottled water? Believe it or not the Environmental Protection Agency doesnít regulate bottled water, the Federal Food and Drug Administration does. When students reviewed the FDA standards and tests for bottled water they discovered that there are not as strict as the EPA tests. To be specific, FDA performs annual tests while the EPA requires weekly and daily tests. Basically, the bottled water that you paid $1.29 for has not gone through the same rigors to eliminate microbes and other water containments as your tap water. So which one is cleaner and healthier? The good news is that many studies state that 40% of all bottled water comes from a tap water source any way. However, this can be bad because we are paying for tap water ñ of which you have already paid for through your taxes. Why pay twice?
Paying for convenience?
Many students and adults like the convenience of bottled water. However many more adults and students tote a refillable water bottle. Is buying water as convenient as refilling a bottle? This comes down to individual choice. But refilling a bottle does save money and reduces pollution.
Where is your water from?
With 40% of the major bottled water brands actually using tap water as their source, it makes you wonder why more of us donít drink from the tap. Obviously not all water sources are deliciously equal. If you have been to Florida and tried the tap water you know what bad tap water tastes like. New Hampshire has very good and clean water. Letís consider Andoverís source - Bradley Lake. A pristine forested landscape dresses the watershed and helps in managing a clean water reservoir. Treatment and testing of the water is done often and rigorously. However, tastes alter from building to building based on the piping. Some of NH folks draw from underground sources. Whether it is a reservoir or ground water, each has the potential to taste horrible. So is bottled water a better choice? Students did a cost analysis of bottled water versus filtration and found that filtering water made better economic sense. Why? Less waste. Filtration units last for months whereas #1 PET plastic bottles last a day at best. Plastics are recyclable, but about 12-20% of all plastic is actually recycled. The rest we inhale. Yep ñ once it lands in the trash it eventually goes up in smoke at the incinerator. Although the smokestacks have scrubbers the EPA allows some trace amounts to be released every day.
Solutions
After the yearlong investigation, the students wanted to not only present their findings but offer solutions as well. The students created posters (see poster photo) to increase awareness and had assembly presentations to empower change. The students sold Siggs water bottles and managed water cooler stations for the Spring Parents Weekend and graduation. PEA drafted a document on their findings to push for a cultural shift on campus. The result was a ìDeclaration of Bottled Water Independenceî. This declaration stated the facts of costly nature of consuming bottled water and asked the school to cease and desist with the purchase and sale of bottled water on campus. They presented the pledge to the head master, Mike Henriques. His reaction was positive and supportive. ìThe work the students did was tremendously heartening. It felt to me like the work PEA had done was seeping down to the student body.î Henriques, as well as many of the faculty and staff transformed the findings into action. ìWhen something like this comes from the student body it has real traction. Reducing our use of bottled water is the direction we all need to go in. It makes sense,î said Henriques. ìPart of our mission statement is graduate college bound students that go on with their lives to demonstrate honesty, compassion, respect and responsibility. It is our responsibility to educate students to make wise choices that support sustainability and not the short view of convenience.î
The last few cases of bottled water will be used up in the next two months. The policy bans sale and purchase of bottled water institutionally. But does not restrict the student or staff member for making a choice. The policy demonstrates the philosophy that schools should serve as places that teach and demonstrate ways to solve problems. Proctorís virtual ban also demonstrates the ethic of the school, in hopes that it will empower wise decisions of the individual.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Winter Recycling Schedule
Weekend Duty for 12/1 & 12/2:
Brenda Godwiin, Josh Norris, Sue Rochon, Peter Southworth, Anne Swayze, Tom Morgan
Weekend Duty for 12/8 &12/9:
Morgan Salathé, Matt MacKenzie, Terry Stoecker, Bill Wightman, Karl Methven, Patty Pond
Weekend Duty for 1/5 & 1/6:
Lynne Kenney, Brenda Godwin, Michael Littman, George Emeny, Chris Bartlett, Alan McIntyre
Weekend Duty for 1/12 & 1/13:
Alejandra Young, Bev Berton, Jim Cox, Tom Eslick, Kathy Noble, Scott Allenby, Dani Lejnieks
Weekend Duty for 1/19 & 1/20:
Michele Koenig, Chris Young, Ian Hamlet, Sarah McIntyre, Drew Donaldson, Tom Morgan
Weekend Duty for 2/2 & 2/3:
Erik Cole-Johnson, Kris Johnson, Kyle Tremblay, Sue Houston, Mike Henriques, Patty Pond
Weekend Duty for 2/9 & 2/10:
Greg Allen, Mike Koenig, Sarah Whitehead, Sarah Will, Ted Mastin, Alan McIntyre
Weekend Duty for 2/16 & 2/17:
Eric Viandier, Ross Young, Patty Pond, Alan McIntyre, Nancy Schoeller, Dani Lejnieks
Weekend Duty for 2/23 & 2/24:
Daved Pilla, Sue Eslick, Jane Barban, Brooks Bicknell, Patrice Martin, Tom Morgan
Brenda Godwiin, Josh Norris, Sue Rochon, Peter Southworth, Anne Swayze, Tom Morgan
Weekend Duty for 12/8 &12/9:
Morgan Salathé, Matt MacKenzie, Terry Stoecker, Bill Wightman, Karl Methven, Patty Pond
Weekend Duty for 1/5 & 1/6:
Lynne Kenney, Brenda Godwin, Michael Littman, George Emeny, Chris Bartlett, Alan McIntyre
Weekend Duty for 1/12 & 1/13:
Alejandra Young, Bev Berton, Jim Cox, Tom Eslick, Kathy Noble, Scott Allenby, Dani Lejnieks
Weekend Duty for 1/19 & 1/20:
Michele Koenig, Chris Young, Ian Hamlet, Sarah McIntyre, Drew Donaldson, Tom Morgan
Weekend Duty for 2/2 & 2/3:
Erik Cole-Johnson, Kris Johnson, Kyle Tremblay, Sue Houston, Mike Henriques, Patty Pond
Weekend Duty for 2/9 & 2/10:
Greg Allen, Mike Koenig, Sarah Whitehead, Sarah Will, Ted Mastin, Alan McIntyre
Weekend Duty for 2/16 & 2/17:
Eric Viandier, Ross Young, Patty Pond, Alan McIntyre, Nancy Schoeller, Dani Lejnieks
Weekend Duty for 2/23 & 2/24:
Daved Pilla, Sue Eslick, Jane Barban, Brooks Bicknell, Patrice Martin, Tom Morgan
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Spring Recycling Schedule
Saturday March 31
Dani L., Mike K., Patrice M, Heide Johnson, Annie McKenzie, Chris B , Ted M
Saturday April 7
Tom M. Dani H, Doug H., Sue R., Megan H., Bert C., Kris J., Phil Goodnow
Saturday April 14
Alan, Mike W, Scott A., Ale Y., Mike H, Dave K, Sarah M, Sue Houston
Saturday April 21
Tom M, Lindsay A., Kathy N, Steph K, Lynne M, Bill W, Brian K, Eric V
Saturday April 28
Dani L, Ross Y., Robyn A., Sue E., Micheal L, , Sarah Will, , Chuck Reid, Swayze
Saturday May 5
Tom M, Kyle P, Bert H./ Mark T., Dave Pilla, Jane B, Karl M., Matt M, Patty P
Saturday May 12
Alan M, Chuck W, Drew, Christina D, Josh N, Gregor M, Sue R., Brenda G, Pete S
Saturday May 19
Dani L. Sarah Wh, Tom Eslick, Lee C, Phil H., Patrice M, Nancy S, Michele K.
Saturday May 26
Alan M., Greg Allen, Ian H, Dave K, Morgan S., , Terry S, Erik Cole-J, Laurie Z.
Dani L., Mike K., Patrice M, Heide Johnson, Annie McKenzie, Chris B , Ted M
Saturday April 7
Tom M. Dani H, Doug H., Sue R., Megan H., Bert C., Kris J., Phil Goodnow
Saturday April 14
Alan, Mike W, Scott A., Ale Y., Mike H, Dave K, Sarah M, Sue Houston
Saturday April 21
Tom M, Lindsay A., Kathy N, Steph K, Lynne M, Bill W, Brian K, Eric V
Saturday April 28
Dani L, Ross Y., Robyn A., Sue E., Micheal L, , Sarah Will, , Chuck Reid, Swayze
Saturday May 5
Tom M, Kyle P, Bert H./ Mark T., Dave Pilla, Jane B, Karl M., Matt M, Patty P
Saturday May 12
Alan M, Chuck W, Drew, Christina D, Josh N, Gregor M, Sue R., Brenda G, Pete S
Saturday May 19
Dani L. Sarah Wh, Tom Eslick, Lee C, Phil H., Patrice M, Nancy S, Michele K.
Saturday May 26
Alan M., Greg Allen, Ian H, Dave K, Morgan S., , Terry S, Erik Cole-J, Laurie Z.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Green Cup Challenge
This month Proctor Academy is involved in the interscholastic Green Cup Challenge. The goal of the Green Cup Challenge is to see which school can reduce its electricity load the most during the coldest month of winter. This is the second year of the Green Cup Challenge.
If you want to find out more about the challenge CLICK HERE
If you want to view the videos that each school made for the Green Cup Challenge CLICK HERE
Here's a still shot from Proctor's entry, featuring Tommy Chester and Alex Tierney
If you want to find out more about the challenge CLICK HERE
If you want to view the videos that each school made for the Green Cup Challenge CLICK HERE
Here's a still shot from Proctor's entry, featuring Tommy Chester and Alex Tierney
PEA Recycling
In the past few months, PEA has transformed the recycling system on campus. We no longer mix our recycling, but asked the community to sort their bottles, cans, aluminium, and glass. We have also decided to pick up the recycling allover campus ourselves, taking on more of the responsibility and reducing the work load on the maintenance department. These new changes save the school a great deal of money, while providing students and faculty the opprotunity to get involved with a necessary community service project.
Here are some pictures from this week's recycling crew. Each week, the process gets a bit smoother.
Here are some pictures from this week's recycling crew. Each week, the process gets a bit smoother.
Energy Efficiency Brainstorm
A few assemblies ago, the whole school brainstormed a list of things that we could do to reduce energy consumption around campus. Typing up the list, I was impressed at the level of seriousness and creativity expressed by the student population. Here's the list:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY BRAINSTORM
JANUARY 2007
THINGS PEA IS WORKING ON
• Install light sensors in buildings
• Using non-toxic cleaning supplies
• Instituting rolling brown outs around campus (dorms during the day, other buildings at night)
• Installing clothes lines at each dorm
• Sponsoring a light bulb buy back program
• Off-setting the carbon from Blackwater Ski Hill
• Changing over outdoor lighting to make it more efficient.
THINGS INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
• Turn off hallway and other unnecessary lighting
• Close classroom doors, so magnets aren’t activated.
• Turn lights off
• Walk or run to the ski hill
• If it’s yellow, let it mellow
• Use powerstrips and switch them off when not using them
• Turn off lights in Music Studio
• Play hockey on the pond (at least every once in a while!)
• Turn off the 2nd floor dining room lights during lunch
• Close lights when not in room
• Unplug microwaves and TV during the day
• Take quick showers
• Don’t use hair dryers
• Lower thermostats at night
• Hang laundry to dry
• Wash clothes in cold water
• Use a real coffee mug, not a disposable one
• Don’t buy bottled water
• Use direct lighting instead of many lights when studying
• Don’t throw away old clothes; give them away, instead
• Walk or ride or skate or unicycle… But don’t drive around campus!
• Shut off bathroom lights when not in use
• Recycle
• Close microwave door
• Avoid paper or plastic disposable cups, plates, utensils
• Open shades instead of turning on lights
• Don’t block windows in rooms
• Shut off power in dorms and buildings (2am – 6am)
• Un-plug lava lamps when not in use
• Carpool if you are a day student
THINGS WE NEED FACULTY TO COMMIT TO
• Drive buses only when full. (faculty)
• Assigning paperless assignments (faculty)
• Having class without lights, when bright enough
• Faculty shouldn’t drive around campus
• Switch off faculty room computers
IDEAS TO LOOK INTO
• Circuit breaker shut off in
• Making a commitment to buy only hybrid and/or alternative fuel vehicles
• Installing low flush and/or composting toilets
• getting rid of the faculty room computers
• Installing solar water heaters
• posting more lights out signs in dorms/buildings
• Install water filters around campus
• Generating power from exercise equipment
• Solar and wind and micro hydro power
• Less Lawn!
• Using push mowers when possible
• Only buy printers that can print double sided
• Once and for all, fix the heat in the dorms!!
• Supplying every student room with two power strips
• Lights out at in room time!
• Making sure ski hill lights are necessary every time they are on
• Check light bulbs around campus… Make sure all are compact florescent
• Off-setting the carbon the school uses
• Wind power on Ragged or Blackwater
• Increasing South-South-East windows
• Decreasing North-North-West windows
• Sell more power strips and other ecofriendly products at the bookstore
• Look into how efficient washers and driers are.
• Conducting a nighttime audit
ENERGY EFFICIENCY BRAINSTORM
JANUARY 2007
THINGS PEA IS WORKING ON
• Install light sensors in buildings
• Using non-toxic cleaning supplies
• Instituting rolling brown outs around campus (dorms during the day, other buildings at night)
• Installing clothes lines at each dorm
• Sponsoring a light bulb buy back program
• Off-setting the carbon from Blackwater Ski Hill
• Changing over outdoor lighting to make it more efficient.
THINGS INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
• Turn off hallway and other unnecessary lighting
• Close classroom doors, so magnets aren’t activated.
• Turn lights off
• Walk or run to the ski hill
• If it’s yellow, let it mellow
• Use powerstrips and switch them off when not using them
• Turn off lights in Music Studio
• Play hockey on the pond (at least every once in a while!)
• Turn off the 2nd floor dining room lights during lunch
• Close lights when not in room
• Unplug microwaves and TV during the day
• Take quick showers
• Don’t use hair dryers
• Lower thermostats at night
• Hang laundry to dry
• Wash clothes in cold water
• Use a real coffee mug, not a disposable one
• Don’t buy bottled water
• Use direct lighting instead of many lights when studying
• Don’t throw away old clothes; give them away, instead
• Walk or ride or skate or unicycle… But don’t drive around campus!
• Shut off bathroom lights when not in use
• Recycle
• Close microwave door
• Avoid paper or plastic disposable cups, plates, utensils
• Open shades instead of turning on lights
• Don’t block windows in rooms
• Shut off power in dorms and buildings (2am – 6am)
• Un-plug lava lamps when not in use
• Carpool if you are a day student
THINGS WE NEED FACULTY TO COMMIT TO
• Drive buses only when full. (faculty)
• Assigning paperless assignments (faculty)
• Having class without lights, when bright enough
• Faculty shouldn’t drive around campus
• Switch off faculty room computers
IDEAS TO LOOK INTO
• Circuit breaker shut off in
• Making a commitment to buy only hybrid and/or alternative fuel vehicles
• Installing low flush and/or composting toilets
• getting rid of the faculty room computers
• Installing solar water heaters
• posting more lights out signs in dorms/buildings
• Install water filters around campus
• Generating power from exercise equipment
• Solar and wind and micro hydro power
• Less Lawn!
• Using push mowers when possible
• Only buy printers that can print double sided
• Once and for all, fix the heat in the dorms!!
• Supplying every student room with two power strips
• Lights out at in room time!
• Making sure ski hill lights are necessary every time they are on
• Check light bulbs around campus… Make sure all are compact florescent
• Off-setting the carbon the school uses
• Wind power on Ragged or Blackwater
• Increasing South-South-East windows
• Decreasing North-North-West windows
• Sell more power strips and other ecofriendly products at the bookstore
• Look into how efficient washers and driers are.
• Conducting a nighttime audit
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Top 10 Green Schools
One of our goals for this year is make significant gains toward becoming one of the nations top 10 Green Schools. The first step in this process is to understand the criteria and the competition. Click Here to see an article on the Top 10 Green Schools in the country. The PR team will be finding out more about this list—the specific criteria, what hoops we have to go through to be considered for the list, etc. Any questions about the list can be fielded by the PR Crew (Ali, Raf, Lucy, Olivia, and Jaelyn).
Happy reading,
Tom
Happy reading,
Tom
Friday, November 03, 2006
PEA Meeting Times (Nov. 3, 2006)
This is the first week of small group reports. So far only the Waste and Energy Crews has submitted a report. I'd like for each group to give me this kind of report each week. Go Waste and Energy!! Thanks.
This is the Waste Crew's Report:
- Recycling- We are still trying to figure out the new recycling system and how to streamline it. Tucker is going to write some fool-proof instructions for advisors for community service to try to make it run smoother on the weekends. We also want to sit down with Alan and figure out his master plan for recycling. We will probably need to sit down with the PR group soon and have you guys present something.
- Eco-friendly whiteboard markers- There is a free sample kit of AusPens on the way. They are made from recycled aluminum and are refillable from non-toxic ink. Dani is in the process of figuring out how/when to present to faculty (she will call on the PR group when she figues that out), and how the buying should work.
-Water waste toilet project- Paddy is working on writing an email to faculty suggesting this for a community service idea. He will the coordinate their responses and help them organize this project. They would go around and put bottles in the toilet tanks to reduce the amount of water each flush uses.
- Swap Shop- Irene and Ashley are in the beginning stages of trying to organize and on campus swap shop, to eliminate waste from the construction dumpster among others. Their first step is to talk to maitenence to figure out if we have a location to house donations, and how the drop-offs would work.
We have decided that our next meeting will be another brainstorming meeting, because we are hungry to find more waste solutions. If you have a brain that is stormy, come on over to King House Tuesday at 6pm.
Here is the Energy Crew's Report:
• CFB implementation (need to talk with Will Ames)
• Use of a “Wats Up” meter to identify energy consumption (in progress)
• Energy representatives will attend the Green Cup conference at PEA. (Daniel and Leah)
• Possible wind energy opportunities on Nov. 15th
• Meeting with John Penny in winter term to discuss the school’s energy audit (efficiency of steam plant, electrical use,
building envelopes, and general energy consumption)
• Get Lida to sell CFBs in the bookstore
This is the Waste Crew's Report:
- Recycling- We are still trying to figure out the new recycling system and how to streamline it. Tucker is going to write some fool-proof instructions for advisors for community service to try to make it run smoother on the weekends. We also want to sit down with Alan and figure out his master plan for recycling. We will probably need to sit down with the PR group soon and have you guys present something.
- Eco-friendly whiteboard markers- There is a free sample kit of AusPens on the way. They are made from recycled aluminum and are refillable from non-toxic ink. Dani is in the process of figuring out how/when to present to faculty (she will call on the PR group when she figues that out), and how the buying should work.
-Water waste toilet project- Paddy is working on writing an email to faculty suggesting this for a community service idea. He will the coordinate their responses and help them organize this project. They would go around and put bottles in the toilet tanks to reduce the amount of water each flush uses.
- Swap Shop- Irene and Ashley are in the beginning stages of trying to organize and on campus swap shop, to eliminate waste from the construction dumpster among others. Their first step is to talk to maitenence to figure out if we have a location to house donations, and how the drop-offs would work.
We have decided that our next meeting will be another brainstorming meeting, because we are hungry to find more waste solutions. If you have a brain that is stormy, come on over to King House Tuesday at 6pm.
Here is the Energy Crew's Report:
• CFB implementation (need to talk with Will Ames)
• Use of a “Wats Up” meter to identify energy consumption (in progress)
• Energy representatives will attend the Green Cup conference at PEA. (Daniel and Leah)
• Possible wind energy opportunities on Nov. 15th
• Meeting with John Penny in winter term to discuss the school’s energy audit (efficiency of steam plant, electrical use,
building envelopes, and general energy consumption)
• Get Lida to sell CFBs in the bookstore
PEA Meeting Times
PEA meets weekly in small groups and bimonthly as a large group. We meet 5:20 p.m. upstairs in the Dining Hall on Fridays.
Large group meeting dates:
• November 10, 2006
• December 1, 2006
• December 12, 2006 (Green Cup Meeting)
Small groups meeting schedule:
Food Crew:
Wednesday morning at 7:45 in the Dining Hall
Energy Crew:
Fridays in Dining Hall @ 1:00 p.m.
Waste Crew
Tuesdays in King House @ 6:00 p.m.
Toxins Crew
Tuesdays in Dining Hall @ Dinner
PR Crew
Thursday nights @ ECO dorm
Large group meeting dates:
• November 10, 2006
• December 1, 2006
• December 12, 2006 (Green Cup Meeting)
Small groups meeting schedule:
Food Crew:
Wednesday morning at 7:45 in the Dining Hall
Energy Crew:
Fridays in Dining Hall @ 1:00 p.m.
Waste Crew
Tuesdays in King House @ 6:00 p.m.
Toxins Crew
Tuesdays in Dining Hall @ Dinner
PR Crew
Thursday nights @ ECO dorm
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Spudware in the Wise Center
Howdy all - You all had some great critical questions about funding the purchase of compostable cutlery (knives, spoons and forks) in the Wise.
I took your questions to Ed.
I talked to Ed again tonight about the lifecycle of knives, spoons and forks in the Wise. He cleared up any concerns about sustainability and economics.
Here is a paraphrasing of our conversation:
ALAN: Ed you mentioned that you have washed spoons before to save them. Why can't we simply purchase some flatware and wash them?
ED: Well, currently we are not using the dishwasher at all. We don't need it. Most of the stuff we wash we wash by hand. This saves use lots of money in electrical costs.
ALAN: Is it really that significant of a savings?
ED: Yes. Plus I don't want them. Flatware will end up in the trash, broken and lost. It won't be a one time cost.
ALAN: But how often will you have to buy new flatware?
ED: Anyone in the food service business is gonna tell you what I am telling you. Flatware is a major hassle- getting the flatware returned and cleaning them- I simply don't want to deal with it.
ALAN: Even when the spudware you are hoping to purchase is twice as expensive as plastic or flatware?
ED: Listen, you have to understand something. We don't use up much cutlery in general. These several cases are not really that expensive.
ALAN: Well that was my next question. How long do regular forks and spoons last?
ED: Do you mean how fast will I go through a case of 1000?
ALAN: Yeah.
ED (pulls out case of spoons) This case I ordered 2 years ago. I have about 250 left.
ALAN: So two years.
ED: No. That case was a case of 500.
ALAN: OK so how long does 1000 pieces last.
ED: It depends but most of will still be here by the time I retire.
ALAN (shocked): When is that?
ED: Around 8 to 10 years.
ALAN: Really?
ED: Yes. Most of our products don't need utensils. They are restricted with specific items. Spoons go with sundaes - which don't really sell that often. Knives with cream cheeses...
ALAN: Ed, this sounds like this purchase could be sustainable if you incorporate it into you next budget.
ED: It will take us so long to go through our inventory I can see why we can't accomplish that.
ALAN: Excellent.
I took your questions to Ed.
I talked to Ed again tonight about the lifecycle of knives, spoons and forks in the Wise. He cleared up any concerns about sustainability and economics.
Here is a paraphrasing of our conversation:
ALAN: Ed you mentioned that you have washed spoons before to save them. Why can't we simply purchase some flatware and wash them?
ED: Well, currently we are not using the dishwasher at all. We don't need it. Most of the stuff we wash we wash by hand. This saves use lots of money in electrical costs.
ALAN: Is it really that significant of a savings?
ED: Yes. Plus I don't want them. Flatware will end up in the trash, broken and lost. It won't be a one time cost.
ALAN: But how often will you have to buy new flatware?
ED: Anyone in the food service business is gonna tell you what I am telling you. Flatware is a major hassle- getting the flatware returned and cleaning them- I simply don't want to deal with it.
ALAN: Even when the spudware you are hoping to purchase is twice as expensive as plastic or flatware?
ED: Listen, you have to understand something. We don't use up much cutlery in general. These several cases are not really that expensive.
ALAN: Well that was my next question. How long do regular forks and spoons last?
ED: Do you mean how fast will I go through a case of 1000?
ALAN: Yeah.
ED (pulls out case of spoons) This case I ordered 2 years ago. I have about 250 left.
ALAN: So two years.
ED: No. That case was a case of 500.
ALAN: OK so how long does 1000 pieces last.
ED: It depends but most of will still be here by the time I retire.
ALAN (shocked): When is that?
ED: Around 8 to 10 years.
ALAN: Really?
ED: Yes. Most of our products don't need utensils. They are restricted with specific items. Spoons go with sundaes - which don't really sell that often. Knives with cream cheeses...
ALAN: Ed, this sounds like this purchase could be sustainable if you incorporate it into you next budget.
ED: It will take us so long to go through our inventory I can see why we can't accomplish that.
ALAN: Excellent.
Friday, October 06, 2006
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