Going Green @ Haverford

We’ve been busy this summer. Not only did we draft a green office program, but we’ve revamped the Sustainability Worker position. Starting with the title. Sustainability Worker always sounded a little awkward, it’ll now be known as the Sustainability Assistant . We also made our first hire.

Meet Steve Griffith.

Steve, Class of 2012, is from Waterbury, Vermont and the youngest of three boys. He majors in Growth and Structure of Cities, minors in Economics, and has played Men’s Varsity Soccer during his 4-year academic career at Haverford.  Steve’s resume and interests are impressive. He spent the summer of 2010 writing grants for Vermont’s largest affordable, sustainable housing project-Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. In spring 2011, Steve worked as an intern for the American Academy in Rome, Italy creating a digital database for archaeological materials and most recently went on an athletic excursion to Sweden and Denmark with the Men’s Soccer Team.

There’s a good chance you’ll get to meet Steve this fall. He’ll be visiting different departments promoting the green office program. Hopefully he can talk you into becoming a “Green Squirrel.”

Mike Startup and Charlie Jenkins

For those of you who have never set foot on Haverford’s campus, and I know there are a few of you out there, this campus is beautiful! Stunningly beautiful!! The first time I drove through the main gate 16 years ago, it took my breath away.  It took me five years to land a job here and every once in awhile, usually sometime in May, it still does.

All waxing aside, I’d like to tell you about a new blog. Horticulturist Mike Startup, joined us six years ago after being downsized from Longwood Gardens. Their loss, our gain. Mike is a true plants man and puts the “wow” in every project he takes on. He came up with the idea of blogging about the arboretum and has just posted his first blog. I encourage you to take a look.

blogs.haverford.edu/arboretum/

A couple years ago, the Director for the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, Parker Snowe, approached me with the idea of greening the CPGC. He described it as wanting to “walk the walk” when it came to sustainability. Of course I was intrigued, I’m always up for suggestions on how to make Haverford more sustainable. The seed that CPGC planted several years ago has grown into a program that CER is proudly launching this fall. The Green Office Program.

Departments that sign up are given a checklist and ways to make their offices more sustainable. You could go for Silver or Gold Squirrel Certification or the granddaddy…”Green Squirrel.” For more information and how to get started, visit the Greening Haverford website.