May 8, 2003

12 noon to 1:30 p.m.

Wilcox, Private Dining Room
 

Committee Attendees: Michael McKay, Chair; Cathy Kunkel, Janet Gruschow, Robin Izzo, Kelsey Jack, Bill Jordan, Emmanual Kreike, Tom Nyquist , Leila Shahbender, Don Weston

Committee Members Absent: Andy Dobson

Other Attendees: Mary Banfield, Josh Blaine, Kai M. A. Chan, Rick Curtis, Jayatri Das, Nathan Gregory, Chad Klaus, S. Helen Labun, Meg Messina, Stu Orefice, Ed Seliga

1. Update on Environmental Intern Position

One candidate has been interviewed for the summer intern position. Helen Labun recommended two candidates from Project 55 for this position.

Kevin Lyons, Rutgers University, will meet on May 15th with Mike McKay, Robin Izzo, Chad Klaus, Janet Gruschow, Kai M. A. Chan, and Bill Jordan to discuss the benefits of hiring an environmental coordinator on campus.

2. Environmentally-friendly landscaping

Jim Consolloy, Facilities Grounds Manager, gave a brief summary of the landscaping program on campus. Jim and his 39-man crew are responsible for maintaining the paved surfaces and campus grounds – approximately 2300 acres of Princeton University property.

Jim discussed native and exotic plantings, water usage and irrigation, pesticides and fertilizers. Princeton uses a more friendly form of horticultural oil on campus rather than potent forms of insecticides.

As a result of current construction projects, approximately 800 trees will have to be replaced. The Princeton Regional Planning Board mandates the number of trees to be planted in an area based on the number of parking spaces (1 tree for every 3-4 parking spaces). Power equipment, use of electric vs. gas lawn mowers, and use of other power equipment were also discussed.

3. Miscellaneous Items

• Bill Jordan recommended a member of Greening Princeton and the Dining Services Director become permanent members of PEOC. The Committee will discuss in further detail at a later meeting whether other student groups should be represented.
• Don Weston reported recycled paper was tested on campus; 80 departments reported excellent findings using the paper. Only 9% of those who used the recycled paper reported problems. The test results will be posted on the PEOC website and a summary released to the Princeton Weekly Bulletin and Daily Prince in the fall. Don mentioned increased purchase of recycled paper throughout the campus will help to bring the cost down. Kai M. A. Chan reported he met with Chris McCrudden and Charles Kalmbach about recycled paper use on campus.
• Bill Jordan volunteered to look at ways to reduce the amount of paper used on campus, copiers w/doubled sided feature, and printers in clusters with instructions on how to “shrink” documents.
• Don Weston reported he attended an environmental conference recently at Rutgers. Don picked up quite a bit of information on products used in the grounds area. He will share this information with Jim Consolloy, Grounds Manager.
• Public Safety’s use of SUV vehicles during the spring, summer, and fall months was mentioned. Since these types of vehicles use more fuel, it would be more environmentally-friendly if these vehicles are used only during the winter months. Mike McKay will talk to Steven Healy, Director of Public Safety, about this situation.
• Janet Gruschow reported that Tom Saksy ’05, who developed the “worm project” (renamed to Terra Environmental Inc.), won a $1M grant for this academic project.
• Leila Shahbender will meet with graduate students and members of the AMG to talk about the goals of the PEOC.
• Kai M. A. Chan will be leaving Princeton University for Stanford in the fall. The Committee thanked Kai for his contributions to PEOC and the Greening Princeton Committee.
• Don Weston distributed information about new recycling containers for the campus. The next step will be to decide on the best product. Don will share the information with Jon Hlafter, Director of Planning, and Jon Baer, Director of Building Services, to determine the best product to purchase.
  
  

4. Plan for PEOC

Janet Gruschow, Executive Director of the Princeton Environmental Institute, volunteered to develop a list of priority projects/policies to be reviewed by the Committee and presented to Charles Kalmbach in the fall. Please email to Janet, gruschow@princeton.edu, items you think should be on the list.

5. Next Meeting

The Committee agreed to schedule a summer meeting and one in the fall. (The summer meeting will be on July 24th; the fall meeting will be on October 2nd. Both meetings will be at 12 noon, Butler/Wu Private Dining Room. Lunch will be provided.)