Sustainability Goals
The college’s sustainability committee, composed of concerned faculty and staff, meets quarterly to devise ways of becoming more green. The committee met in late March and agreed to order recycling bins for residence halls and install new bike racks this summer. The committee will be carefully weighing the pros and cons of cement vs. permeable surfaces.
Nathan Means, assistant professor of biology and a fervent environmentalist, is a driving force on the committee. “Energy and water-use efficiency, xeriscaping [gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate irrigation, especially with native plants], a higher rate of recycling and better air quality are vital goals for the Columbia College campus and the planet,” he said. “And I think the development of a sustainability curricula is an exciting development I hope will come to fruition.”
Dr. Terry Smith, executive vice president and dean for academic affairs, is another driving green force. “I am very committed to this personally,” Smith said. “I'm a life-long green; my parents, sister and I were green before it had a name.”
Sustainability times 11
- New structures/renovations
- Utilization of energy-efficient design
- Installation of energy-efficient lighting
- Use of alternative and renewable energy sources
- Intra-education of projects and ideas
- Generation of a web page with tips, ideas and projects
- Energy efficiency/conservation – building and renovation projects
- Efficiency in lighting
- Efficiency in HVAC
- Use of utility company efficiency incentives
- Windows for Hughes Hall
- Waste/sewage
- Water use efficiency in restrooms
- Water use efficiency in residence halls
- Landscaping and other campus needs
- Proper disposal of hazardous materials
- Landscape
- Native plants
- Campus garden
- Minimal public exposure to pesticides
- Reducing noise, dust and exhaust from equipment
- Composting of leaves, grass and woody debris
- Food service
- Reduction of single-use dinnerware
- Purchase of local and organic foods
- Use of disposed food (for compost or livestock feed)
- Curriculum
- Specialized majors in sustainability curricula
- Sustainability diffused throughout curricula
- Sustainability-related faculty research/publications
- Integration of sustainability to freshman experience and education
- Lead through ECO (student organization) and implemented through the Introduction to Columbia College course
- Solid waste
- Attaining a high rate of recycling
- Maximizing paper recycling
- Waste minimization
- Procurement
- Purchase of recycled paper
- Using contracts to minimize environmental impact
- Level of campus awareness of role of purchasing
- Transportation
- Institution-owned vehicle fuel efficiency
- Accessibility of public transportation
- Avoidance of institution-owned fueled-vehicle use
- Indoor air quality
- Smoke-free campus
- Freedom from indoor pesticide exposure
- Regular replacement of ventilation filters