Location: Carleton College
Time: 1:30 pm
Present Richard Strong, Laila Parker, Laura Hmelo, Dale Jamieson, Norm Vig, Phil Camill, Max Wilson, Wayne Beierman, Dennis Easley, Ani Kameenui (later)
Secretary: Rachel Smit
(NOTE Ö means action to be taken)
Agenda Items:
New Busines
3.1 Student Housing Resolution – additional changes/final draft
Ö It was decided that this particular resolution should be released to Facilities (Keith Covey); Barbara Johnson in the future.
ð Agreed that in the future, the committee should decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not to release such resolutions to the Carletonian, Currently at Carleton, etc. The concern is that publicly releasing resolutions might create tension with the deparments responsible for deciding whether or not the resolution can be practically implemented at this point in time.
3.2 (2.3) Updates on Student Housing, considering these appliances: stoves; venting; washers and dryers; low-flush toilets; shower settings
ð Refrigerators: Beierman has decided to order Whirlpool refrigerators (Model ET18HP*H*O*), which are EnergyStar rated and have an estimated kWh/yr. of 514. See handout from Beierman. The initial cost of these refrigerators was comprable (slighly more expensive) to the Amana refrigerators which are the current norm in college housing. However, there is an estimated payback period of 5.14 years. The most energy-efficient appliance on the market, a Maytag MTB1956DE, was not chosen because the kWh/yr. is not dramatically lower than the Whirpool, and the initial cost is significantly more. The estimated Payback period is 20.94 years. For the near future, these refrigerators will be considered a regular replacement in student housing, because Facilities likes to standardize as much as possible. Jamieson pointed out that technology is constantly changing and we should think-out about re-evaluating our appliances with regards to energy-efficiency every 2-3 years. Especially since refrigerators have a 7-10 year lifetime.
ð Stoves: There are no EnergyStar ratings for stoves. However, they have ordered gas stoves which are far more energy-efficient than electric stoves
ð Venting: Vents will be internal, and internally circulating. Strong asked if the motors were known to be energy-efficient. Beierman said that they asked the company for energy-efficient motors
ð Washers and Dryers: Beierman said that they are still looking for washers and driers. He asked the students if they thought that students would be willing to pay more for laundry in student houses, if the appliances were more energy-efficient. Vig pointed out that we should be paying more for a lot of things, that this represents voluntary efforts at internalizing the environmental costs of energy. Kelly pointed out that there is a convenience factor as well that students should be willing to pay for. Strong wondered if the energy savings to the college might not off-set any increase in student costs. It was agreed that the calculus needs to be done to see what the price should be for the students, to make sure that they are paying the college for an energy rebate. Hmelo said that she thought most students would be fine with paying a little more.
ð Publicity: Parker said that she thought if students knew what was going on, why the prices had gone up, they would be fine with it. Parker asked what the publicity surrounding the green features of the new housing would be. Jamieson said that he hoped that in all of President Lewis’s speeches about the new housing, he would mention these features. Kelly said that he thought that would be the case.
ð Toilets: Beierman said that low-flow is code these days
ð Shower settings: Beierman said that he would look into the possibility of getting the type of shower adjustment where the water temperature can be set, but the water flow can be turned on/off independently (as in first floor of Chaney house). Smit said that with an advertising blitz, students would start to use this feature.
ð Over-head Lighting: Fluorescent (T8) lighting will be used in the overhead lights in the rooms and the College currently requires that they be energy efficient.
Ö Task-lighting: Smit asked if the college might be able to provide compact fluorescent light bulbs for task lighting. Currently, the policy is that students provide their own task-lighting. Wilson pointed out that many students get incandescent light-bulbs from their dorm floor janitors’ closets. Parker suggested that we talk to the bookstore and ask them to carry compact fluorescents. Jamieson suggested that it might even be cheaper for us just to provide them to all first-years. Smit suggested having Alumni Annual Fund pass them out with the recycle mugs. Easley said that we might be able to get them cheaper in bulk. Kameenui said that NSP does provide grants for such things, she will track down more information. Kelly said that we should all work together on this. Strong suggested a bulb exchange where students bring in their old incadescents and get a new compact fluorescent, as a way to raise awareness.
ð Cooling: Instead of having individual air conditioners on all the units, the college invested in bringing chilled water over from the power plant. While the initial costs are tremendous, there is a seven year pay-back because of energy costs and maintenance costs. The units will not be cooled when they are not in use.
ð Landscaping: Vig asked if landscaping would be used for shading effects (trees, for example). Easley said that many considerations were being taken into account with landscaping because of need for vehicle movement, the steep grade, etc. He said that they were trying to be as “green as can be.”
3.3 Publicizing -what is being done on Housing; Resource webpage
Ö Facilities website will have links to green features; resources; links to EAC home page on ENTS website.
Ö Camill suggested having links to St. Olaf’s buildings too.
Ö Parker asked how students should find out about these things. Currently at Carleotn, Carletonian, and the periodic mass-mailings of the Construction updates were all suggested. Jamieson said there should be an article in the Carletonian about this first thing in the fall. Smit suggested a bathroom campaign.
3.4 Vending Machine Lighting (communication with CSA)
Ö Kameenui and Cook ’03 (observer) reported that CSA voted unanimously to turn off the lights in the vending machines. Wilson said that they should probably talk to Campus Activities about it, because they were the ones in contact with the vendors.
ð Parker asked about the CSA Environment committee. Kameenui said that there wasn’t one, because they thought it would be redundant with the EAC. Cook (observer) suggested that the EAC page have a link to the CSA pages.
3.5 Rec Center Lighting and other issues
ð Parker reported that she has received complaints from two groups of students: Farm House and star-gazers on the Hill of Three Oaks. The lighting from the Rec Center is at a disruptive level. She asked if curtains, like the ones in front, all the way around the building would be feasible. Kelly said that the cost is prohibitively expensive.
ð Easley said that we need to decide if the problem is actually indoor lighting or if it is the site lighting. There are safety issues involved. However, the wall -washers are quite bright and could probably be replaced with lower-wattage bulbs. The shoe-box fixtures could replace the globes, but it will be expensive. Easley said that there is no standard for lighting levels with regard to safety. However, we do tend to get hammered by parents for not having enough safety lighting. A committee should come up with standards
ð Jamieson pointed out that there is not conclusive evidence that lighting actually improves safety, although it makes people feel safer. Easley reiterated that these things should all be taken into account by some committee. Jamieson said that possibly SOAN students could be recruited to do a literature review for the committee (for a class project).
ð Jamieson suggested that less lighting initially is preferable to over-lighting initially, since lights can be added later. Lights are expensive to install only to be dismantled later.
3.6 (2.2) Parking Updates
ð Since time was running out, Smit asked everyone to read her report on parking lots and Easley’s information on current parking capacity.
ð Highlights: Total parking on campus is 688. The number of permitted student cars is approximately 215. 1100 permits have been issued this year to 700 individual faculty/staff. The new parking lot across from the new student housing on division will have 70 spaces and will service the new housing (100 beds); Hall, Prentice, Allen, Wilson, and Dow (53 beds total); provide some event parking for the stadium.
3.7 Green Zoning Ordinance with City
Ö Strong will discuss the possibility of creating special zoning ordinances for college development zones when he meets with Northfield’s Design Advisory Board on June 6.
3.8 Summer plans – Mission Statement?
Ö The committee decided that it will mostly be inactive during the summer, but will communicate via email about environmental mission statements, and in the case that something major comes up.
3.9 (2.4) Styrofoam cups at the Snack Bar
Ö Wilson said that he would email the committee with an update after a meeting with Demas, Chapin ’03, and the Snack Bar Manager.
Meeting Adjourned