EMS Steering Committee

Meeting Minutes

Discussion Record
January 15, 2008

I. Environmental Stewardship Indicators Five ES Indicators were presented to the Board of Trustees at their October meeting. Copies were distributed to the Committee.

Energy Use	- BTU/sf
	- bar chart by year with each year broken into thermal     and electrical and indicating 'credit' for cogeneration.
Greeehouse Gas (GHG) Emissions	- graph total emissions by year and source
	- include goals for 2010 and 2020
Waste Management	- bar chart of  % recycled
Campus Land Use	- pie chart of land use categories
Stormwater Management	- % of campus areas for which storm water runoff goes through a     retention structure
Committee suggestions included:	- Include total waste produced as a measure of waste reduction
	- Discuss the woodlands contribution to our greenhouse gas footprint

II. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies

In 2004, Mount Holyoke signed a partnership agreement with Clean Air-Cool Planet in which the College agreed to set a target for GHG reductions consistent with those established by the 2001 Regional Climate Action Plan. The Plan established short-term goals of reducing emissions to 1990 levels for 2010 and to 10% below 1990 by 2020.

A model showing options for meeting those goals was presented and discussed. As of 2007, we are 18% above the 2010 goal.  Reduction strategies fall into three categories: projects (e.g., lighting retrofits, insulation), programs (e.g., campaigns to change behavior) and offsets (purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) or offsets). To date we have used RECs as incentives for programs (Million Monitor Drive) and we will be purchasing RECs for two years of electricity for the new residence hall as a LEED initiative.

Program contribution is considered a constant as our experience is, we have to continuously renew our effort to reinforce conservation behaviors. The model shows various funding level scenarios for projects and the resultant need to purchase offsets to meet the goals.

The Committee made several suggestions for correcting and enhancing the model, including updating data to include FY 2007, labeling lines, checking against GHG chart used as environmental indicator. We will make corrections and continue to refine the model prior to bringing it to senior staff for discussion this semester.

III. Focus the Nation

Focus the Nation (FtN) is January 31, 2008. FtN is a national teach-in on global warming solution in America. A number of faculty will be addressing the issue in their classes. There are three panel discussions planned: activism, campus stewardship, and a speak-out. To take advantage of the raised awareness, a Focus the Campus campaign will asked each office, department, and student org to look at their operations and develop three goals for reducing their environmental footprint. 

IV. RecycleMania

MHC will be participating in the nationwide RecycleMania competition again this year in both per capita recycling and waste reduction. One event being planned is a no ‘to go’ cup day or week for dining facilities.

V.  Announcements

Dining Services plans to look at distribution of water bottles in addition to or replacing their current mug program.

Facilities Management will be distributing compact fluorescent light bulbs to each residence hall for student use. A great Focus the Campus initiative.