CER Update
The Committee for Environmental Responsibility (CER) had a very productive fall semester. I’d like to share some of the highlights.
Desiderata for new Tritton Dorm. In anticipation of the new dorm CER proposed the following features.
- Ground Source heat pump HVAC system
- Integrated Smart Metering
- Dual flush toilets to help conserve water
- Green Roof
- Grey water reuse
- Sustainable landscaping
- Covered bicycle parking
- Incorporating recycling work flow into plan
Green Plan for managing and reducing waste on campus. With assistance from an outside consultant, CER devised a plan that would eventually shift the campus-wide waste management and recycling practices toward more sustainable methods.
- Provide for on-site composting of Dining Hall food waste.
- Develop a plan to double Haverford College’s recycling rate and implement programs that would allow Haverford to materially benefit from the increase in recoverables.
- Revise waste collection practices to reduce amount and frequency of trash removal from campus.
Preliminary approval has been given to purchase a Vegawatt Power System which turns waste vegetable oil from food service operations into electricity with a 5kW generator.
Student Farm/Garden proposal. Students got approval to expand the current student garden at HCA. Historically, farming has been a part of Haverford College and CER students would like to resurrect this tradition.
CPGC: Walking the Walk. CER has joined with the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (CPGC) to help them “Go Green”.
- CPGC has agreed to higher costs for using sustainable products for their cafe events.
- Educating the college community on recycling.
- Composting food scraps from the cafe.
- Buying “Green” office products.
- Buying offsets for business travel and visiting speakers.
Recycling.
- Encouraging , libraries, administrative departmentsto purchase recycled paper for all uses.
- Educating that recycling guidelines have changed. We can now recycle plastics 1-7.
- Recyclemania kicks off March 2010.
Tags: Composting, dual flush toilets, gray water, green roof, heat pumps, Recycling, student farm, travel offsets, vegawatt