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Campus Greening Committee

2010-2011

The Campus Greening Committee (CGC) is a group of dedicated and passionate Vermont Law School faculty, students, administrators, and staff. We establish environmentally sustainable practices and policies that advance the ideas inherent in VLS' mission as the top Environmental Law School in the country.

Our primary goals include:

  • Advocating for the adoption of campus-wide environmental policies fostering sustainability;
  • Developing campus-wide practices and systems that conserve energy, reduce waste, and encourage preservation of natural resources;
  • Informing the VLS community of these systems; and,
  • Encouraging an environmentally conscious campus life.

Campus Greening Committee Powerpoint Presentation

We welcome your ideas! Please join or contact us!

Meeting Time/Location:

Time: Every other Thursday, 12:45-2:00PM

Location: Hoff Lounge or the Environmental Law Center's Conference Room

Transportation Committee

Members: Leighanne Boone, Tom Nececkis, Jeff Guevin, Elizabeth McDonald, Peg Trombly, Allie Silverman, and Courtney Collins

  • Carpooling: build and utilize online bulletin, the TWEN site or other webpage
    • Daily carpooling
    • Fall, spring and summer break carpools
  • Stagecoach - shuttle bus (Randolph, Rutland, West Lebanon); New route from Montpelier to Vermont Law School will start the first day of classess for the Spring 2010 semester
  • Shuttle service to frequented local sites (gym, grocery stores, medical centers, theaters)
  • Send out the Transportation Survey to determine the needs of our community
  • Collaborative map (see carpooling bullet above)
  • Amtrak - Helen McCarthy

Recycling, Composting, and Waste

Members: Allie Silverman, Jeff Guevin, Scott Wold, Tom Nececkas, Jared Wellman, Catherine Peterson, and Shaina Shippen

  • Revamp Recycling system – signs (large and small), education, coordination with B&G
  • Create clear website page that answers FAQ
  • Create educational materials like videos
  • Organize end of the year goods collection
  • Educate on local recycling options and thrift stores
  • Textbook/book recycling
  • Techno Trash for recycling electronics in various locations around campus
  • Other Ideas: Big Belly Compactors; Paint Thinner, Batteries, Oil, Cleaners, Pesticides Recycling; Cleaning Products; Plants for Air Purification; Treehugger.com; Compostable trash bags and silverware; Call2Recycle Program; High School Senior Projects
  • Reestablish goods exchange on-line board
  • Collaborate with VLS dining staff and B&G to collect information and establish system needs
  • Work with VTC engineers to design and implement compost system
  • Determine the size, location, amount of waste (B&G and Cafe), determine if it is just campus waste or off-campus as well; determine what regulations we need to meet
  • Write proposal to administration AND get funding
  • Research legal issues around composting
  • Coordinate publicity and ribbon cutting events

Recycling

Many towns in Vermont have different standards for what can and cannot be recycled. Here in South Royalton, we are fortunate to have a very liberal recycling program – they take just about everything! The following can be recycled on campus in the recycling bins:

  • Plastics: All numbers (#1-#7). HDPE and PET.
  • Paper: White paper, newspaper, boxboard, magazines. Must be clean (not wet or soiled).
  • Aluminum cans.
  • Glass.
  • Corrugated cardboard: Place next to recycling bins. Break down boxes, please!

Remember: All bottle caps, food waste, and used paper products – e.g., napkins, plates – cannot be recycled! Please leave them in the trash bins.

Composting

As a modest start, we are composting the waste we generate on in the café!

Acceptable, compostable items include:
  • YES to ALL food waste – You can include meet, dairy, and greasy items!
  • You can also compost the soda cups.
Unacceptable items include:
  • NO to straws
  • NO to wrappers (butter, candy, energy bars, gum, etc.)
  • NO to plastic cup lids and all bottle caps.
We know that we all get stressed and crunched for time, but PLEASE take a couple of seconds to make sure that you are NOT CONTAMINATING the compost or the other recycling bins!

This summer we will developing a better bin and signage system to encourage composting and improved recycling. As you might have noticed during Earth Week these past few days, we have started an "Eco-Rep" program, where members of the CGC stand by the recycling bins in the cafeteria and promote awareness about what can and cannot be recycled and composted. We plan to continue this effort in the fall as well.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Campus Greening Committee members (for a list of members, go here) or a representative from the AMAZING Buildings and Grounds team!


1L/MELP Orientation

Members: Elizabeth McDonald, Allie Silverman, Catie Peterson

  • Establish presence at orientation/get on agenda
  • Develop materials to distribute and post online

Solar Thermal/Renewable Energy Committee

Members: Craig Pease, Jim Tracey, Carey Roser

  • Implement and update the Carbon Reduction Task Force Plan with Jim Tracy
  • Complete a Comprehensive Energy and Economic Analysis
  • Ensure "green" development for the South Royalton Legal Clinic Building with SBA Representative. Determine who this person is
  • Renewable Energy - quote for converting; ensure solar or wind is integrated. Wrote a 1 page memo on Why VLS should pay for renewable energy. See if GMP buys offsets or credits
  • Computer efficiency - Obtain Green Computing Policy

 

Green Building Development Committee (SRLC and Gym)

Members: Craig Pease, Carey Roser, Matt Harold, Elizabeth McDonald

  • Determine the results of the SBA Gym Survey for the next steps of the Gym Development
  • Look at our building protocol to create "green" Building Performance Standards (set of 15) for building development
  • Work with the new Facilities Director to make the standards and work with him on the building development
  • Meet with Ferck Building Committee to determine which architects to hire and ensure that development occurs in an environmentally friendly manner
  • Look into greener cleaning products
  • Look into recycled toilet paper

Bigger Picture

  • Increased presence of CGC work and achievements on campus
  • Encourage greater participation and respect for programs/efforts
  • Suggestion box
  • Separate email for CGC and logo
  • Establish a more formal sustainability policy grander-scale green vision for VLS
  • Create clearly detailed, informational CGC/VLS website
  • CGC social time

Current Members:

Staff:
Jim Abbott
Courtney Collins (Staff Co-Chair)
Jim McGrath
Jim Tracy
Peg Trombly
Jared Wellman (Co-Chair)

Faculty:
Craig Pease (Faculty Advisor)

Students:
Alice Baker
Lisa Campion
Alice Bennet
Stephanie Duryee
Paul Furlong
Jeff Guevin
Elizabeth McDonald
Tom Nececkas
Catherine Peterson
Nolan Riegler
Carey Rosser
Karen Schmidt
Shaina Shippen
Allie Silverman (Student Co-Chair)
Scott Wold
 

VLS Campus Carbon Reduction Plan (2008)

CGC Meeting Minutes: 10-6-09; 10-20-09; 11-3-09; 11-17-09; 12-1-09; 1-21-10; 2-4-10; 3-4-10; 4-15-10; 9-30-10; 10-14-10; 10-28-10; 11-11-10