ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
October 16, 2006
Owyhee Room

ATTENDEES:   Jim Blick (chair), Paula Staight, Anne Forrestel, William Cresko, Charles Kainbach, Cathy Soutar, J.R. Gaddis, Steve Mital, Christine Thompson

The committee reviewed the charge, discussed membership and voting rights, and decided that the EIC would benefit from having designees named to represent ex officiosfrom Facilities Services, DPS, and Housing.  According to the practice over the past few years, it was agreed that ex officio members will continue to have voting rights.

The Campus Sustainability Day Webcast IV -- October 25^th in the Knight Library

Karyn Kaplan e-mailed Computer Energy Conservation information on October 12^th

Agenda Items for 2006-07

Eight topics were identified as priorities to work on this year:

Biodiesel

Steve and a group of environmental studies students are working on a biodiesel project.  He reported that 4,000 gallons of waste oil are produced on this campus per year.  One-quarter of this amount comes from the EMU, with 90% from Panda Express.  The other 3,000 gallons comes from Housing.  The oil can be collected in the same manner as compost materials. and it is easily converted into bio-diesel.  He hopes that it can be set up near Facilities Services where bio-diesel fuel is used.  Funds from fuel sale can possibly be used for ECAFF projects.  Steve requested EIC support to help expedite securing a site for the processor.  He will provide the proposal as soon it’s completed.

Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living  (CASL)

Cathy reported that two houses have been assessed as a possible demonstration house site. CASL is currently reporting to AAA.  The department will need to decide what support they can provide.  Cathy will be monitoring progress and will provide regular updates to the committee.

Green Dorm Room

Housing will need to designate one room before the green dorm project can move forward. 

Smoke Free Campus

The committee needs to follow up on recommendations submitted to Frances Dyke last year. Paula noted that Housing has agreed to remove the signs on benches that created smoking areas near residence halls.  She will remind Nancy Wright that these still need to be removed.

Transportation

The committee needs to bring focus once again to alternative transportation.  Steve offered to contact Tom Hicks about naming a delegate from DPS to help with transportation issues.

Campus Energy Program

Last year Karyn Kaplan asked the EIC to work on campus energy conservation education and the development of a campus energy policy in 2006-07. Steve mentioned that campuses across the country are signing up to participate in Focus the Nation, an event that will center on global warming, in January 2008.  .

Wind Energy Project

Last year Steve worked with a team of students to figure out the cost involved in purchasing wind energy per student living in dorms.  If they wanted to cover their average energy usage with green tags the cost would be $10 per year per student.  The group had everything in place to implement this project.  However in a meeting at Johnson Hall, Laura Hubbard with Resource Management advised that this would set a precedent for collecting fees and blocked its implementation.  Would the EIC consider asking Frances Dyke to review this project to see if a way may be found to move it forward?

New Construction and Renovation

Bill asked the committee to look into the need for a more comprehensive strategy to coordinate energy conservation and planning, especially in the science lab renovation projects.