Environmental Advisory Committee
Minutes for January 26th, 2009
Present: Dave Bahr, Erika Bailey-Johnson, Scott Borchers, Carol Bennett, Mitch
Davidson, Nancy Haugen, Asher Kingery, Rich Marsolek, Crystal Middendorf,
Chinwuba Okafor, Amy Piekarski, Christine Sazama, Dave Souba, Andrew Spaeth, Jon
Utley, Rabi Vandergon, Derek Webb, Patrick Welle
Convener: Erika Bailey-Johnson
SFE report:
A. Do it in the Dark Results –Pine won and we saved about $900!
B. CERTS presentation on Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 1-4:30 (Green Campus Forum)
C. February 5th, National Teach on Global Warming Solutions
-solutions based
-science is done, now what?
-Webcast of “First 100 Days”
-Richard Lehman attending, John Quistgaard –pledges and next steps,
Mitch Davidson- technology, and Jason Edens of RREAL
-7:00 “The 11th Hour” narrated by Leonardo Dicaprio
-all in HS 100
Sustainability Coordinator report:
A. Conference on February 9th, “Renewing the Countryside”
-opportunity for local buyers and growers to meet
-Crying Wolf Room
-15 free spots for students
B. February 10th and 11th CERTS Statewide Conference
-How to create community wind
-How to fund these projects
C. MN Campus Energy Challenge-all of February-competition
-Between other schools and colleges
-comparing 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
D. Waste Management- Erika’s Intern is looking at other waste stream systems.
-where do their bins go?
-what do they contain?
Take bins out of classrooms, create recycle stations, will try for two weeks.
May implement in other locations.
Working with Seth Duncan on 1st floor HS
E. One person has submitted a proposal for the green fee.
-Sort junk mail in Sattgast-contact senders, and reduce waste!
-looking for ideas, students can approach staff with an idea or vice versa.
F. Wanted Ideas for Sustainability Website
-Christine will do design template.
-What’s envisioned on webpage?
-mission statements, form links (mini grant, sustainable employement, etc.), EAC link,
SFE, ACUPCC, Tallories Declaration, Campus Life link with Academics and
Community subtabs (explaining where to find local produce, environmental
organizations, etc.) AASHE/UMACS, FAQ’s, Waste Management/ Recycling,
Rideshare, FreeCycle, Biography, and Contacts.
Other ideas:
Events, Green Careers link, Sustainability blog, pollution report, Sustainability
“How To:” (we could have recipes for cleaning supplies, food choices on a budget, etc.)
and a section on the history and accomplishments of BSU.
G. Schools Cutting Carbon Grant
We can pick 3 buildings to have an Energy audit done for, then potential for
another $20,000.
-Hagg Sauer, Oak Hall, Bangsberg, Rec Center
-talked about waste of lights in the Rec Center in the morning. Could half or
more be turned off?
-Could we get energy generators on the bikes?
-Low-hanging fruit –can make big changes with a little money for now.
-Aramark chillers and air conditioning takes a lot of energy. Perhaps air
conditioning could be used smarter in the summer?
-In academic buildings, space heaters are often needed. Ventilation system is
inconsistent. Some areas cold with others hot. Sattgast and Hagg Sauer
mentioned. HS-too cold in summer.
* Mitch: Ways to save energy:
1. Conservation
2. Power trough alternative technology
-will meet with Pat Finnegan to talk about getting the computer lab onto
solar. Could use green fee and tech fee. Location needs to be figured out.
-Are there federal or state grants for it?
-haven’t found anything specific
-what do other colleges and universities do?
-Community Partnership grant-receive for working with
local government.
-Ottertail has not been contacted yet.
H. President’s Climate Commitment
1. Where to go with it? Where should our resources be focused?
-we have done first two steps already
-working on creating a course to further study BSU’s carbon footprint
We should initiate 1 or 2 tangible actions.
-F and G would be easiest to achieve
-E. should be close to reaching the goal of 15% with Union Tailwinds
-B would be a great goal-talk to purchasing
Goal: We are looking to be Carbon Neutral
-should we split into subcommittees?
-what direction does the president want us to go?
-opportunity for mini grants
-everybody needs to be on the same page
-We can provide background information to president and within subcommittees.
How does one equate GHGs in terms of actions?
Where do we attack first?
We can do offsets, but our footprint will be large either way.
Transportation really isn’t factored in yet.
-we’ll have to plant a lot of trees!
Wedge Strategy
-start with conservation, then efficiency, then offsets
Microlevel can mean big changes. Future will not be static
1-2% of carbon is currently from transportation, but could be much more
Start a conversation with President Quistgaard-what’s our partnership with
MNSCU?
-resistance from facilities in MNSCU
-state senate bonded buildings should reach LEED requirements
-don’t need actual certification
-bill failed
-budget constraints-competition for state bonds
Respectfully submitted by Crystal Middendorf