Thursday, November 11, 2004

12 noon, Butler/Wu, Private Dining Room

Committee Attendees: Michael McKay, Chair; Andy Dobson, Janet Gruschow, Robin Izzo, Cathy Kunkel, Tom Nyquist , Stu Orefice, David Wilcove

Committee Members Absent: Dana Graef ’05, Joe G. Conley, Emmanuel Kreike, Barclay Satterfield, Leila Shabender, Don Weston,

Other Attendees: Jon Baer, Mary Banfield, Dean Chung, Christina Harris, Chad Klaus, Robert Ortego, Lisa Ridolfi, Stephanie Tatham

Michael McKay welcomed everyone to the meeting. The following items were discussed:

1) Mike McKay reported the Facilities Department sponsored a Sustainable Design Workshop in late October. The purpose of the process was to begin developing sustainability guidelines and practices to the design, construction, and operation of campus buildings and grounds in alignment with Princeton’s objectives and resources.

2) Dean T. Chuang ’06, summer intern, gave a presentation entitled “Whitman College: Recommendations for the Right Start”. Dean summarized his report on how the University could adjust to the addition of 500 students by focusing on:

• improving the current energy use policy and practices
• reducing campus waste.

The campus energy use discussion focused on the use/purchase of energy efficient appliances for faculty/staff and students. Dean recommended:

• developing a central policy directing the purchase of all appliances across the campus to be energy efficient;
• increasing campus awareness about energy efficient appliances;
• reducing the need for students to purchase inefficient appliances by providing vouchers/rebates and supplementing current dorm furniture with energy efficient task lighting.

Don Weston stated he will work on identifying the Energy Star products the University currently purchases. Involvement of the student agencies and the U-Store in supplying Energy Star products was recommended. Mike McKay asked Dean to contact Paul Breitman, General Manager for University Services, to see what could be worked out with the U-Store.

The discussion of the solid waste reduction focused on:

• reducing waste generated by Dining Services by promoting reusable beverage containers and improving the visibility of the program;
• reducing student waste generated during student move out period, including clothing, carpets, used furniture;
• improving current recycling practices by supplying sufficient garbage and recycling dumpsters that are well marked so they are not contaminated;
• removing the “hassle” of recycling by providing recycling totes in each dorm room and creating large permanent posters differentiating recyclables from non recyclables.

Mike McKay recommended a student be hired to work on these issues. Janet Gruschow and Dave Wilcove will work on developing a job description for a paid student position.

3) Stephanie Tatham ’04 presented her report “Transportation Options to Reduce Vehicle Use at Princeton”. The report examined the existing transportation patterns at Princeton and the adverse environmental impacts on the campus and options for improvement in two populations - students and faculty/staff. Carpooling, ridesharing, financial incentives, electronic ride board, long-range shuttle service for students to DC and Boston during breaks and holidays, and banning of sophomore parking were recommended.

Stephanie will invite representatives from the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Authority, Laurel Harvey, General Manager, Administration, and Steve Virostko, Project Manager, Design and Construction, to attend the December 9th meeting to discuss transportation options in further detail.

Electronic copies of both reports presented will be sent electronically to the committee. The reports will also be posted to the PEOC website.

The next PEOC meeting will be on December 9th, 12 noon, at the Butler Wu Private Dining Room.